Build a writing habit for your business!
What does your writing habit look like?
When someone comes to me for coaching, whether it’s business or author coaching, I always want to know what their writing habit looks like. Before you slink away, let me explain.
As business owners, and absolutely as authors, we are in the business of communication. For many starting out (and others just cause they love it), hiring someone to do all of the writing to meet the needs of our business is not in the cards.
Can you still create successful emails? Social media posts? Lead magnets? Books?
Yes. Of course you can.
It just means you must develop a writing habit. And habits, as we all know, are born from things we do regularly.
What does your writing habit look like? Have you struggled to make one? If so, then this is for you.
The easiest way to build a writing habit is to consistently find a time in your day when you can designate a specified amount of time to write.
This does not mean you need to complete a whole blog post (or book chapter) in one sitting. It just means that you sit down each day and you work towards the goal.
I know people who have written their entire books with no more than 10 minutes of writing time a day. Sure, it took them longer, but they did it.
Look at your schedule. Where can you slide in 10-30 minutes of writing 3-5 days a week?
Set a goal, and start small. You can always work up to daily.
For many years, I belonged to a group and listened to the podcast The Daily Writer. It was really helpful as I transitioned my career into being a full-time ghostwriter. Through making connections with others, I soon learned that many small business owners listened to the podcast as well.
It did not take me long to realize that they were searching for ways to be a better writer. After all, it still comes down to effective communication in our businesses.
The way we build and strengthen this starts with a writing habit.
A few things you’ll notice as gain traction in your writing habit:
Writing becomes easier the more you do it.
The language you use will evolve, you will find your “voice” and be able to lean into that.
Your vocabularly will expand.
Before you know it, your content library will blossom.
As a ghostwriter, I never had an issue writing for my clients, it was my own personal work that was taking a hit. I spent so much time creating for others that I never prioritized my own content.
Trying to find the time to write for my business and to create my own books was a real struggle.
After reading, The Miracle Morning, (thanks Hal Elrod!) I knew I had to kick things up if I was going to be a successful business owner and writer.
I baked my writing habit right into my morning routine.
I wake up and say my morning prayer. I drink a full glass of water while the coffee or tea brews. With the morning warm beverage within grasping distance, I write.
Some mornings, I work off my content calendar and create something specific, and other mornings, I journal. Some mornings, I splurge and do both!
My writing time started with 30 minutes a day and then increased. If I’ve set a goal or deadline for myself, I can easily add more time or work toward a daily word count. In the beginning, I even had reminders pop up on my phone, “Writing time, did you do it?” I will neither confirm nor deny the presence of vibrant post-it notes that said the same strategically placed where I would see them.
I built a consistent habit!
A cool thing about habits is that we can create the one that works for us. To do that, though, you must start creating it.
So, what's your writing habit plan for the next 7 days? Email me and let me know, mj@mjjames.com. Sharing things like this with people who can support you will help you thrive in your writing habits for business success!
