Writing Habits That Keep Me Productive
The best thing about building a career in writing is that I genuinely love what I do. I write because I want to tell stories that connect with people and to keep growing a career that feels creative and sustainable, but joy is the reason I stick with it. The moment when a sentence clicks or a paragraph finally conveys what I meant to say all along is addictive.
However, even though I love to write, there are days when the words feel clumsy, I start to doubt whether it’s good enough or wonder if I’m moving in the right direction at all. Passion doesn’t protect you from that. If anything, it makes you care more deeply about getting it right.
I’ve realised over time that the key to staying productive isn’t about forcing output but staying connected to that joy. The more I lean into the curiosity, challenge and rhythm of writing, the easier it is to keep showing up.
It’s probably because I spent so many years training as a competitive athlete that this mindset feels familiar. Passion was the thing that got me out of bed hideously early every morning, and got me to spend hours training in the rain as I pushed for the next level. I’ve copied and pasted a lot of what I learned from sport straight into my writing life, and it’s been working surprisingly well.
Here are a few habits that help me stay productive, positive and mostly sane.
1. I write first thing, and yes, I’m team coffee
When I get up, I make myself a strong, black coffee and spend a good hour writing before I do anything else. In sport, we all know that warming up before exercising is non-negotiable, but in every other part of life, we skip straight to the main event without easing ourselves in.
Writing first thing has become my mental warm-up. Playing around with words, testing sentences and making them sound good, wakes up my brain and sets me up for the day. Even if I’m not working to a deadline, I’m still drafting paragraphs or editing something small. By the time I start my day job, I feel sharper, calmer and ready.
2. I set one simple goal: write one sentence a day
It sounds small, and it is, but that’s the point. Setting micro goals helps me build consistency, which in turn builds results. Most of the time I write more than one sentence, because once I start I want to keep going, but on the days when life feels chaotic or I’m tired, that single line helps keeps my habit alive.
In sport, we always worked toward long-term ambitions like medals, competitions or selections, but these were always built on hundreds of small, repeatable actions. Writing is no different. My big goal is to publish more books and secure some exciting deals with the Big 5 (hey, go big or go home, right?), but my daily goal is what will help me get nearer.
3. I keep learning and stay inspired
Reading is the best way to learn how to write. Fiction reminds me why I love stories, while interviews and craft books often spark new ideas or help me see a familiar problem differently. I’m fascinated by how other writers describe their process. There’s a generosity in that sharing, a sense of community that keeps me motivated.
When I read other authors, I’m reminded that there isn’t one right way to write. Each voice brings something new, and observing how others tackle creative problems helps me discover more effective solutions for my own. It helps me reset, rethink and come to my own work with fresh eyes.
Productivity, for me, isn’t about pushing hard for word counts or deadlines. It’s about showing up with intent and finding joy in the act of creating. Just as sport taught me to train on the tough days, writing has taught me to trust the process. Some mornings the words flow, some mornings they don’t but as long as I sit down and write that one sentence, I know I’m still in the game.
