IWSG: Scheduling Creativity

It's the first Wednesday! Which means IWSG Day. Today's question: What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?
After you see what I have to say, be sure to check out other posts and our lovely and generous co-hosts:  Tyrean Martinson, The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan,Rachna Chhabria, and Jennifer Lane.
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I used to write whenever inspiration struck. That meant I'd write a lot…sometimes. 
But then it might be months before I'd write again. I'd fall in love with a project, but lose interest before I ever finished anything. I'd lose the flow because I didn't get back to a project soon enough. 

It was that way most of my life. Until (trumpet flourish please): 
Four years ago, I committed to a daily writing habit.

I decided I would write 250 words every day come hell or high water. And at first it was ridiculously difficult. Despite great support from my family giving me time and space of an evening, it would sometimes take me two or three hours to hit that minimum. But I made myself. Even when it wasn't easy, even when I had a headache or really just wanted to go to bed. I wasn't going to let it go this time. 
And it got better over time. I got faster. It got easier. 
Now I've written daily for more than four years in a row. Some days it's only 250 words, but that's not because I struggle to *write* the words, more that some of my days demand so much of me that I can only get a half hour or so and I accept a minimal writing day to save my sanity. My school night goal these days is 800 words. On a day off, I shoot for 2000 words. But it still counts as a writing day so long as I hit at least 250. 
I want to be faster yet. I have so many stories in my brain that want telling. 
Once I got my flow going, I've been trying to get one book out a year. That pace might be a little too relentless for this phase of life, which my mother calls The Busy Years, so I slowed down a bit in 2017. Here at year end, I don't have a book ready yet for 2018, but I still might before the new year is out :-)

In 2018, I'm planning to up the ante. I have to write 250 words of fiction for it to count. I'll still keep up my blog posts and articles and such, but the day doesn't count as a writing day unless it includes at least 250 words of fiction.

I know how my brain works and I have to keep a bit of pressure on to get results. Comfort is complacency all too easily.

This isn't the right strategy for everyone, but it really works for me. Looking forward to hearing what works for you. I *love* stealing good ideas to hack my writing life. ______________________________

If you're not already following #IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group), you should really check it out. The monthly blog hop is a panoply of insight into the writing life at all stages of hobby and career. Search the hashtag in your favorite social media venue and you'll find something interesting on the first Wednesday of every month.