Quick tip: Want to learn something new about writing or just feel more motivated? You can find all my past Aliventures blog posts in the Archive.

How's your writing routine going for you?

By your "routine" I'm thinking about when you write, where you write, what you do when you actually sit down in the chair, and perhaps even how you end your writing session (which we covered in last week's newsletter).

Your writing routine might not be working if:

Sign #1: You Feel Drained Before You Even Start Writing

If it always seems like a real effort to sit down and begin writing, and if you find yourself putting it off, or forcing yourself to open up your document before staring at in blankly ... something's not quite working for you.

Sign #2: You Take Ages to Write Anything

It's fine to take your time and go at your own pace (some writers are faster/slower than others) ... but if you feel stuck a lot, or you're very distractable, then you may want to think about if your writing routine is serving you well.

Sign #3: You're Not Writing

Let's face it, if you keep putting off writing (despite your best intentions) then your writing routine definitely isn't working. Maybe you intend to write in the evenings, but you're flat out of energy, or other things take up more time than expected.

And even if things are going broadly okay, it's still worth thinking about whether your current writing routine could be even better.

Here's how to fix a writing routine that isn't quite working.

Step #1: Try Writing at a Different Time of Day

My best writing (fiction or non-fiction) happens in the mornings and early afternoons. Around 4pm, I have a big energy slump ... and while I might sometimes get a bit done in the evenings in the right circumstances, it's not ideal for me.

You might be different! Some writers love mornings, others work best late at night, and some find that writing fits really well into their lunch break.

Even if you think you know your "best" time of day, it's worth experimenting (especially if that ideal time isn't available, e.g. because you're at work).

Step #2: Develop a Ritual for Easing Into Writing

Part of your writing routine is how you begin a writing session. If you find it hard to get going, you might find it helps to have something to gently get you into the writing zone.

Some popular ways to do this are to:

• Have a hot or cold drink you enjoy (being British, mine's generally tea ... but go with whatever suits you!)
• Lighting a candle or perhaps adjusting the room's lighting.
• Listening to music that motivates and/or focuses you.
• Meditating or reading an inspirational quote.

Step #3: Get Your Writing Session Off to a Good Start

If you end up distracted, clicking to another tab before you've even begun, then you might need a better way to get into your writing itself.

You could sit back and visualise your scene, imagining how your characters move through it. Where do they stand? What's their body language like? What are they saying to one another?

Another option is to make a list of things that are going to happen in your scene, like a mini outline for it.

If you're not sure what to write at all, you could simply pick a writing prompt to use (download a set of 10 writing prompts from the newsletter library with the password alinewsletter).

Even if your schedule feels very packed, there are probably ways you can adjust your writing routine. Don't put up with a routine that's hard or tiring ... try something different this week and see whether it makes your writing feel a whole lot easier.