create a ROUTINE and stick to it

In regard to a writing routine, I don’t particularly have a routine. I work part-time four days a week and have lessons for my masters course twice a week. That leaves just one day for me to focus on myself and primary work I need to be getting on with. To get all of my assignments and freelance done in one day would be a lot of pressure. If I know that I have some hours free before going to work, I’ll get some writing done then and perhaps go to bed early the night before.

The way I see it is, the earlier you get up in the morning the more time there is in the day to get things done. Sometimes, this is easier said than done. And if I sleep in an extra 2-3 hours I’ll often wake up feeling guilty, contemplating all the things I could’ve got done.

This is okay though- I probably needed the extra 2-3 hours more than I realised. Besides, this can be balanced out by staying up an extra 2-3 hours… right?

Sometimes I have a day where I feel I can’t bring myself to write or there’s too much on my mind for me to focus on writing. However if I’ve planned to spend two hours writing, I won’t disregard this completely. Yeah, I’ll break my routine but I’ll focus the time on something I find just as useful for example - Reading scripts available on BBC Writersroom.

If you’ve not already had a browse check them out. There’s lots of content on there.

So even though I’ve broken my routine, I’m doing something just as useful that isn’t causing as much mental strain when I’m not in the right mindset to write.

However, there comes a point when you have to strictly discipline yourself. If it’s been weeks of breaking routine and no writing’s been done, this is the point where you have to question how much you want it. Once you are in a routine it becomes easy to follow. Like going to the gym. If there are 3 particular days you go, you plan your life around them. Once the routine is broken, it becomes more difficult to jump back into the same pattern.

If you’re a dedicated writer, passionate and purely enjoy your craft then I’m sure you’ll find sticking to a routine easier than it sounds.

finding creative FREEDOM

This leads me to the importance of not letting deadlines hold a weight on your shoulders. Giving yourself the freedom to see friends, socialise or just wind down is essential. You will most likely find yourself a prisoner to your desk if you revolve every aspect of your life around meeting deadlines. It’s good to not prioritise work every now and then; it keeps you human.

For me, writing tends to be an immense stress relief. Creating worlds of my own and who occupies them guides me away from the real world and stresses it may be causing me at the time. I feel grateful that it’s a passion as well as a hobby, without it I can’t imagine what other form of escapism would fill the void.

I once read a book quote that said:

“We go to the movies not only to escape reality but to experience a dream state where life and it’s attendant emotions are recreated in a safe environment.”

I read it over and over, reflected, and realised how true these words were.

Once you’re in the cinema, you’re enveloped by the story playing before you. All fictional- Much like a dream. But within the cinema walls, you’re in a safe environment. Outside of them, your car could be getting robbed, your house could be on fire but within those cinema walls, you’re escaping temporarily from that environment.

(… Basically, you can deal with your missing car and ablaze house later…)

your mind palace

Back to writing- I experience the same escapism when it comes to creating worlds and stories within scripts.

If you struggle from a mental health illness: anxiety, stress, depression etc, I really hope that writing has the same function for you. Or if not, I hope you have something else that works in this way.