Writing often feels like wrangling a herd of wild thoughts, each one demanding attention while you’re just trying to get a single sentence down. Between distractions, self-doubt, and the ever-tempting lure of procrastination, it’s easy to let your book stay stuck in the “someday” category.
But here’s the truth—there is no perfect time, perfect draft, or perfect writing process. There’s only showing up, putting words on the page, and refining them later.
Whether you’re juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities, or just battling your own inner critic, writing is possible when you approach it with the right mindset and structure.
Here’s how to take control of the creative chaos, build habits that stick, and finally make meaningful progress on your book.
1. Show Up Like Writing Is Your Dream Job (Isn’t It?)
Even if you're only writing for yourself, treat writing like a gig that pays in your creative fulfillment. Clock in, scribble something—anything—and remind yourself that you are, in fact, a writer. Consistency is key. Just like we talked about during our Winter Writing Challenge, even if it's just 10–15 minutes a day, building the habit of daily writing keeps your skills sharp and your momentum going. Even freakin’ tortoises get their books done! Some much faster than wascawy wabbit, ADHD inclined, who begin to write twice a year, and quit on the second or third week.
Where have you found the most success linking your writing to your lifestyle? For me it has evolved from year to year, project to project. As a young single mom, sometimes that 30 minutes every morning was 4:30am. That was the year the Christmas tree didn’t go back into the garage until after Valentines…but guess what? The book got done!
What works for you? Share with other authors your secrets for consistent content and output!
2. Set Deadlines–or Prepare for Your Self-Made Purgatory
Ready to smite a sacred cow? You know that “someday” novel–the one you’ve been dreaming about for years? Newsflash: “Someday” is a myth, like calorie-free cake. It sure sounds light and airy and delicious, but the reality of the lie is anything but. That’s purgatory–telling yourself a lie that will not help you finish the job.
Set a deadline.
On top of that deadline, share your goal and deadline with people. Why? To feel the pressurrrrrrrre. No more procrastination purgatory. I promise, it works! It gets that reticular activating system in your brain engaged on achieving a goal - one that you actually want - when you tie a date to it and hold yourself accountable to you and to others.
One of our authors who is a nutritional and holistic coach and renowned trainer of nurses not only recommends written deadlines for important projects, she instructs clients like you to tie your completion of a goal to a specific date that is meaningful to you. It could be a birthday or anniversary, it could be keeping a promise to a loved one who has passed and you honor your love through your intention to finish on a special date. That’s what she did, and she’s getting her book done. Thanks, Claudean!
3. Create a Sacred Writing Space (or at Least a Less Distracting One)
Find a spot where your creativity flows and distractions don’t. Whether it’s a fancy desk or a corner of the couch where no one bothers you, make it sacred. Bonus points if it includes a snack drawer!
Seriously, I have my pc desk all set up. But sometimes work gets in the way of writing, so I have two or three other “secret” spots in my house and yard that I go to when I’m ready not to check email or watch reels on IG–I’m ready to work!
4. Let Your First Draft Be a Dumpster Fire (Seriously, It’s Okay)
No good or great book ever gets published if there wasn’t a messy first draft in the first place! Besides, no one writes a masterpiece on the first go (except the .0000001% who download word-for-word…you know, that random elite author you want to slap with a glove and challenge to a duel.)
Give yourself permission to write messy, cringe-worthy sentences and paragraphs and pages. When I’m meeting with a client, I let them know we can’t do anything together with a blank page, but we can do all kinds of brilliant work with a messy one! Messy pages have ideas. They have energy and passion. Your essence is on there, imperfect and all!
Editing and rewriting is where the magic happens—but you have to get the words down first. Say this mantra out loud: “My first draft isn’t supposed to be pretty or perfect. It’s supposed to be DONE!”
And if you don’t believe it, ask that 99.999999% of successful authors who don’t download or use AI for their best stuff. They just stuck butts in the seat! They didn’t do it perfect on the first draft. In fact, first draft writing is meant to be a bit chaotic, creative, typo-ridden mess. So stop trying to sound like Shakespeare and just write the dang thing! You can make it fancy later.
I promise, the magic is in the rewrite!
My Author Friends, writers write…or dabble. Authors choose to get published. Quit waiting for the perfect moment (spoiler: it doesn’t exist). Instead, pour yourself another cup of hot delicious, put your butt in the seat, and write like you mean it. One day at a time, your book gets accomplished.
And if you are looking for support, encouragement, and to make a few new friends along the way, check out the Inspired Writers Retreat. If you've been dreaming of writing and completing your book but feel stuck or unsure where to start, the Inspired Writers Retreat is your best starting point.
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