How Often Should You Write?

Do you need to write every day or not? This is the big question at some point and time a lot of writers out there ask. I think the better question is, really, what does your writing mean to you right now, and what do you want it to be in the future?

Is writing your therapy?

Did you write because someone said you were good and it was nice to be good at something?

Have you decided to be the best-selling author?

Do you want to just be published in a couple of places?

Always wanted to write the book stewing in the back of your mind?

Do you see now how it is hard to answer that question? 

I think it is easy to say yes, write every day no matter what is happening. Writing daily is a great way to get practice, play, and your voice to really come there. There are so many benefits. You can also get larger projects done faster. 

Something to consider if you feel like writing daily isn’t sustainable all year to pick challenge months for yourself. I do this through writing communities such as Camp NaNoWriMo, StoryADay, and NaNoWriMo in November. During these times, I plug into the community and report daily to push myself. For the rest of the year, I stick to a different schedule. 

My other schedule flows better with my daily life and the obstacles I am faced with. When I look at my life and some of my friends’ lives, writing daily maybe just isn’t always in the cards. Our lives might be overwhelming with illness in families or the busy season at our jobs. There might be children or other people that need us just a little bit more right now. 

In the end, I think either path can be significant. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for what course you are choosing. We are all different. No one writes the same way at the same time. Experiment to find out what works for you. Just remember to make time for yourself and your dreams. Even if you only get 5 minutes, just write.