As a freelancer, I write for a good chunk of time every day. It's mid-afternoon here as I write this newsletter, and so far today I've (ghost)written:

• A bunch of topic ideas for one client
• An email and four LinkedIn posts to go with a blog post I wrote last week, for another client
• A 2,800 word post for a third client

I definitely have moments when I have to take a little break from the keyboard ... but overall, I'm really happy with my writing pace and stamina.

It wasn't always this way, though! Back in my late teens and early 20s, writing 2,000 words of fiction in a week would have been a great week. 

Maybe you're trying to ramp up your writing output ... but you're struggling to stay focused, or to physically type/write, for any extended periods of time.

Just like with exercise, you don't want to overdo it. When you're working up to longer, more focused periods of writing, it's often best to take it gently.

Here are three ways you can build your writing stamina:

#1: Aim for 10 Minutes of Truly Focused Writing

With a world of distraction at our fingertips, it's so easy to write a few sentences then pause to look something up (or browse the web / look at the news / check what that phone notification was for).

To get into the habit of staying focused when you're writing, start small. Aim for 10 minutes of truly focused writing, when you're just writing, not stopping to do anything else.

If 10 minutes is a stretch, try 5. It's better to write for 5 really focused minutes than to aim for 10 but get constantly distracted.

#2: Set Clear, Small Goals for Your Writing

It can be hard to keep up the pace if you have no idea what you're aiming for.

When I'm working on a freelance piece, something that keeps me going is that I normally have an outline from my clients ... which means I always know where I am in the piece and how much more I need to write! I can set a small goal like "get to the end of this section before I get up and make a cup of tea."

If you're working on your own projects, set yourself little goals. That might be "plan out one chapter" or "write 200 words of this scene" or "revise 2 pages".

#3: Aim for a Writing Streak

I'm trying to write every day this year, either 250 words or at least some degree of brainstorming, editing, or planning. (Ideally, I want to be doing 250 words or 15 minutes minimum, but that hasn't quite been happening this month!) I've missed a couple of days, but overall, I'm happy with how I'm getting on.

A writing streak can be a great way to get a sense of momentum. You might decide to write every day, even if it's just for 5 minutes or 100 words, or you might have a different goal like writing 3 times a week, every week. Keep track of your streak and you'll start to build your stamina not just for individual writing sessions but for writing across the course of weeks and months.

Whether you have a lot of time to write this week or just a little, make the most of what you do have. Try out one of the ideas above for building up your writing stamina so you can stay focused for longer.

Happy writing,

Ali

If you missed last week's blog post, you can find it here:

Are Your Writing Dreams Unrealistic?