Any worthy endeavor takes both time and practice. Athletes need to practice day in and day out in order to reach an elite level of skill in their chosen sports. So do sculptures and painters. They need to spend hours and hours on their work. And writers are no exception. If you are a writer, you will need to dedicate a majority of your time in order to achieve mastery of your chosen craft. Sadly though, during this time you may acquire bad writing habits that may impede your progress as a writer. Which is why it is imperative that you break these bad writing habits as soon as possible. Here are 6 Bad writing habits and how you can break them.
- Procrastination
Procrastination is described as the act of delaying or putting off something. And when used in the context of writing, it is the act of delaying the writing process. And of all bad writing habits this is by far the most common and annoying. This is because it is so prevalent and most writers don’t seem to notice that they are doing it. Some writers instead seem to just make excuses and say that they are just not feeling up to the task. In truth procrastination is linked to feelings of stress. And because of this, many great writers tend to waste time during the writing process.
How to break it:
Some writers tend to procrastinate because in truth, they don’t know how to get started. Sure, they have a goal, but they don’t seem to have a plan. Instead, they just find reasons to delay the writing process, and in the meantime scramble for a solution to their problem. So if you want to break this habit, you will need to have a clear cut plan. Make an outline and a schedule for your writing sessions and stick to it. The key word here is discipline. Learn to discipline yourself during the writing process and everything will be fine.
- Not having a writing schedule
Writing can take a great deal of your time. This is especially true if you are writing a book or doing a long term writing project. And it is not uncommon for things to get chaotic during the writing process. This is why you should have a writing schedule to follow. Sadly, some authors would just prefer to wing it and not have a writing schedule. They would soon end up feeling overworked and stressed out. And ultimately would just give on the process entirely.
How to break it:
The simple answer here is to make a schedule for yourself. But it’s easier said than done. In truth, the main question here is how will you keep the schedule despite your other responsibilities in life? This is especially true for part time authors who have to juggle a day job with their writing sessions. So the important thing here is to change your mindset towards the writing process. When you make your writing schedule, make sure that you can consistently follow it for long periods of time. Set it at a time where you are at your most productive and comfortable. It does not matter whether you set it early in the morning, or late at night. Just as long as you can sustain day in and day out.
- Being overly critical of your own work
Aside from not having the right mindset, yet another bad writing habit that is very damaging to the writing process is being overly critical of your own work. Although it is a good thing that you are not overly confident in your skills as a writer, having no confidence in your skills is not a good thing either. Being overly critical of your skills will not only make it hard for you to create new work, but it will also impede your progress as a writer. It may also lead you to develop issues such as writer’s block or procrastination in the long run.
How to break it:
This bad habit could stem from various causes. You could have had a bad experience with a critic early in your writing career or you could just have a lack of self-confidence. Whatever the cause may be, being overly critical of your own work will do nothing but impede your progress as a writer. So the main issue here, is how to achieve confidence and belief in your skills as a writer.
One way of breaking this bad habit is gaining a degree of true mastery in writing. You should practice your craft to such a degree that there is no doubt in your mind that you are a good writer. In order to gain true confidence in your skills you will need to transcend from just good writing to truly great writing. And gaining true mastery is the best way to do that.
It is also a good idea to have other writers critique your work. It may be scary at first, but the more times you have your work critiqued you will see that there is really nothing to be afraid of.
- Being a loner during the writing process
Although there have been many great writers who look for solitude during the writing process, that does not mean you have to be a loner or recluse in order to produce good work. Sadly though, many writers tend to isolate themselves during the writing process, thinking that social interactions will derail the writing process.
How to break it:
In order to break this habit, you should really dispel the notion that you have to be a recluse in order to be a good writer. Many great writers were sociable and had very vibrant social lives. In a way, having a thriving social life will not only make the writing process less lonely, but your experiences with other people will help give your work more depth and substance.
- Not getting enough exercise
Physical well-being has always been overlooked in writing circles. This is because people perceive writing as the realm of the mind, and not of the body. But in truth the physical aspect should also be considered during the writing process, because your physical well-being can also affect your writing. If you are unhealthy then your writing will also suffer. And seeing as being a writer entails you to sit down and write for three to four hours every day, you will have a much bigger chance of gaining weight and developing a chronic condition. Which is why it is important that you get enough exercise every day.
How to break it:
The key to breaking this bad habit is to make a schedule. Any kind of exercise can be hard during the early stages and if you are not consistent with your workouts, you will find your resolve flagging. So it is important that you make a schedule for your workouts. It does not need to be every day, and it does not have to be a specific exercise regimen. The important thing is that you have a schedule and stick to it.
- Losing interest in the writing process
Being a writer can be quite a challenge. You are expected to devote a great deal of your time and effort into the process. This is especially true if you are writing a book or doing a long term writing project. And throughout the process there will be times that you will lose interest in the whole process. You’ll start asking yourself questions like, is it worth it? Am I deluding myself? Can I really make it as a writer? Sadly, this is a common occurrence for writers, and many who feel this way soon start to drift away from writing or stop altogether.
How to break it:
The main reason why some writers lose interests in their craft is because of a lack of inspiration. Anyone who starts writing has a spark of inspiration inside of them. The hard part though, is keeping this spark alive. So the best way to stay interested in the writing process is to actively look for sources of inspiration. It can be anything from the simplest sights to the most incredible experiences. In truth the source of inspiration does not really matter. Just as long as it keeps your creative fires burning.
