Don’t Write Every Day: 3 Things to Do Instead to Finish Your Book

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Today’s guest post is by Allison K Williams (@guerillamemoir). Join her on Wednesday, Jan. 15 for the online class Organize Your Writing Life.

We’ve all heard the famous writing advice:

“I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That’s 180,000 words over a three-month span, a goodish length for a book.” —Stephen King

“I only write when I’m inspired, so I see to it that I’m inspired every morning at nine o’clock.” —Peter De Vries

“Just write every day of your life.” —Ray Bradbury

Write every day. Build a habit. That’s the only way you’re ever going to finish a book, right? 

Wrong. 

I don’t write every day.

I don’t even write every week.

I’m a “binge” writer. With no children, pets, or family members who need care, I’m able to carve out 3–10 days about twice a year to do personal retreats, in a rental apartment or a hotel room. I try to pick places near grocery stores (snacks!) and where it’s easy to take a long, thoughtful walk between chapters.

My binge-writer friends with dogs and toddlers and aging parents try for a weekend or even an afternoon away from the house, with their phone off so they aren’t tempted to “check in.” It can feel weird to separate yourself so firmly from the people you love. But modeling dedication, focus, and commitment to a creative project is also good parenting!

Perhaps writing on a more regular schedule works better for you. You might have a job you enjoy, or students’ work to read, or be the primary keeper of your home life. You value regularity. Rhythm in a schedule helps you focus. Andre Dubus III wrote House of Sand and Fog 17 minutes at a time, sitting in his car after leaving for work 17 minutes early.

As writers, it’s tempting to agonize over the best system, or try to write with the pattern of a writer we admire. But it doesn’t matter which method works best for you. 

All that matters is that you choose a project, write it, and ask for support.

Choosing

Narrow your focus. Most writers I know have at least two projects rattling in their head, and it’s difficult to gain the kind of deep, sustained focus writing needs when you’re switching from one world to another. Imagine you’re about to walk through a magic door. On the other side is a guarantee you’ll finish a book, it will sell, and people will love it (if only!). But you can only take one manuscript through the door with you. Which one?

Say a gentle “I’ll be back” to your other work, and see what happens when you focus on one.

Writing

Write on the schedule you want—but make that schedule. Notice how you work best, and work that way on purpose. Maybe you are a daily writer who loves the rhythm. Maybe you’re better at the last minute. If you’re a daily writer, block it on your calendar like a class you paid for. If you’re a binge writer, look ahead and choose the hours or days of writing time. Start accommodating that time now—clear your list, let people know you’re out of commission, block the calendar.

Asking

Having a writing buddy to show up for motivates me a lot. Sometimes I meet a friend to write quietly together on Zoom, or at a cafe. Sometimes I make a deal that I’ll send them pages each day I’m writing. They aren’t obligated to give any feedback, but knowing someone’s waiting makes me push a little farther than working alone. If you have children, ask them what they care about finishing—can you schedule family time where everyone is working on their own painting/dancing/video editing/writing, and you come together to report on progress? (Maybe give prizes for making it through a session without interrupting anyone else!)

As a binge writer, I used to feel lazy and fake, because of course a real writer would use their time better. They’d spring from their bed, rush to the laptop, and bang out their daily word count, just like a real job! And since I didn’t act like a “real job” I must not be a “real writer.”

Then I realized how I work. I’m not starting from nothing. I don’t touch my manuscripts every day, but I stay in touch with the practice of writing sentences and micro-essays on social media. I write most blog posts shortly before they’re due, but I know the rhythm of a post and what makes a click-y headline. I keep a long list of blog post ideas. Every day on social media and in my email, I see what writers care about, what challenges they’re facing, and I think about what advice will help, making notes for when it’s time to write.

As you fit your writing process into your life, enjoy the things you value that take time. Very often, I’m neck-deep in someone else’s manuscript, teaching a webinar, or leading a retreat. I love and value doing those things. And while we can half-ass the things we don’t value to make more time for writing (teach the kids to cook! stop answering email!), it’s harder to pull time and focus away from things we care about doing well. Remember that keeping in touch with your writing isn’t always sitting down at the keyboard to make that day’s word count. Sometimes it’s thinking through ideas in the shower, building up your story in your head, making notes in your phone or your notebook. Sometimes writing looks like typing, and sometimes it looks like keeping in touch with your world.

And fellow binge writers? There are plenty of “real jobs” that operate on the model of “have a baseline of skill and resources and then do it all at the last minute under pressure.” Surgeon. Firefighter. Pilot. And in my case (and maybe yours), Writer.

Note from Jane: If you enjoyed this post, join us on Wednesday, Jan. 15 for the online class Organize Your Writing Life.