As much as you can and as often as you can.
The end.
Okay, fine. I’ll be serious.
This is a question I often see asked on writing loops, and it leaves me with a feeling of, “Why…?” I certainly think it’s legitimate to ask an established writer what their writing schedule is like. I’m always curious about what other writers are doing and why it works for them, etc. It’s that “should” word that throws me off – how much and how often should you write?
For me – and I know this is true of many of you too – writing is something I do because I love it. Doing it brings me joy even if there’s no audience, no applause, no recognition of any kind. I don’t write stories five days a week because I feel I should. I do it because it’s just what I do.
That being said, I think creating a writing goal for yourself is a wonderful thing. Especially if you’re a “list” person like me. I love to-do lists, but “Write a Novel,” is not something I get to check off my list too often. But when I set smaller daily goals for myself, like “Write 1,000 words” I get that satisfaction of marking it off my list. In this business, you celebrate every stinking accomplishment you can find.
How do you know how much you should write?
I think this completely depends on what’s going on in your life. When Connor was first born, I switched from a daily goal of 1,000 words to a weekly goal. That’s because some days he napped while my daughter did and I could bang out a couple thousand words, no problem. Other days, I barely had 5 minutes to myself. So if your schedule is unpredictable due to rigorous classes, illness, needy pets, whatever, a weekly goal might suit you better.
Or maybe you’re in a similar boat as I currently am – my goal of 1k a day/5 days a week isn’t to help me churn out 5k a week. It’s to limit myself. It’s so I’ll clean out my email inbox from time-to-time. So I’ll build in time to invest in marketing and all the other less-than-fun aspects of my job. If I finish the other tasks on my work list for the day, I happily go back to writing.
How often should I write?
Many wise writers say daily. I work with mostly Christian authors, and they say you should at least take one day off. A Sabbath. I usually just write Monday through Friday. It works for me … although, Monday mornings are noticeably tougher.
Even if it’s a day I can’t write very much, or can’t write at all, I find it really helpful to at least open the word document. To skim the last couple paragraphs I wrote. It helps keep my brain engaged in story world.
We’ve said it like a thousand times on here, but there’s no one-size-fits-all routine for writers. It’ll take trial and error to figure out what works best for you.
If you have daily/weekly/monthly writing goals, please share!