Consistency Matters: 10 Strategies to Use When Writing Your Book

Writing a book is hard work. Use these ten strategies to create the consistency needed to make book goals achieveable.

Be Clear About Your Goal and Why It Matters

Have a clear vision in your head for what success looks like. This will help you track your progress, celebrate your achievements, and stay committed. Be sure that your goal has a real “why” behind it. Why do you want to achieve this goal? How will achieving it help you accomplish your vision or dream?

Reverse Engineer the Path to Your Goal

Like completing a maze by starting from the finish line, your path may become clearer if you work backwards. Reverse engineering how to achieve your goal prevents you from becoming overwhelmed and may make the steps you need to take that much clearer. 

Chunk Your Goal into Micro Actions

Don’t bite off more than you can chew all at once. Instead, break down your goal into smaller tasks–  and then break those tasks down into micro actions. 

Build a Routine

Creating a new habit is tough. Building a routine that works for you and sticking to it can help you achieve your goal by creating a working rhythm that will start to feel like second nature over time. 

Focus on the Writing You're Doing Right Now

Writing a book takes a lot of hard work. Prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed by focusing on your present writing, instead of thinking about everything that still needs to be done.

Adjust Your Schedule to Set Yourself Up for Success

A common obstacle to writing a book is a busy day-to-day schedule. Between kids or pets, running a household, or working a full-time job, it can feel like there’s no time to write. Adjusting your schedule to give you the writing time you need is crucial. 

Create Accountability for Yourself

If you miss a day of writing, what are the consequences? When it’s just “me, myself, and I,” it’s easy to feel as though there are no repercussions for missing your writing deadlines. Use your support network to create accountability to your writing goals or create consequences for yourself. For example, if you fall 200 words short of your writing goal for the day, you’ll write an extra 200 words tomorrow. 

Take Breaks

Don't burn yourself out by writing too much at one time. Take breaks to recharge and come back to your writing with fresh eyes.

Track and Celebrate Your Progress

Creating a fun way to track your progress and celebrating every milestone will keep you motivated and excited to accomplish your goal. You don’t have to celebrate alone– bring your support network into the excitement with you. 

Keep your Commitment to Yourself

Value yourself enough to keep your commitment to writing your book, even when you don’t feel like it. When you choose to watch TV when you should really be writing, you’re letting yourself down. You owe yourself more than that!