Develop Writing Discipline

Writers, like any other skilled craftperson, must develop discipline in order to be productive. Whether you are a student writer, hobby writer, or professional writer, having a disciplined approach to writing projects is critical for success. One of the ways you can develop discipline is to set deadlines for completing and/or submitting your work, especially if deadlines have not already been set for you by editors, instructors, writing group reviewers, etc. It's important to have a deadline to keep you motivated and productive when your energy and enthusiasm are fading. Another way to develop discipline is to start projects early so that you have plenty of time to fix problems, re-think your project, or start over if you need to. Once you've started a writing project, stay on track with the focus and structure of it. Constantly remind yourself what the purpose and message of the project are. This will keep your writing time disciplined and productive. Another way to develop discipline is to establish a writing routine. Write daily, every other day, weekly, or whatever works best for your lifestyle. Once you've established your routine, stick to it no matter what else is happening. Other methods for developing discipline include formal planning or outlining before beginning a project, using structured exercises as warm-ups, keeping a log or diary of your progress, etc. No matter what method or combination of methods you use, developing discipline will keep you writing and writing well.