3 Reasons to Start Writing Every Day
As a writer, I often hear, and even give, the advice to write every day! In
this profession, it is popular and sound advice.
However, writing
every day can have significant benefits, even for those who don’t make a
living stringing words into sentences and paragraphs.
By
Danielle Dahl
Writing is good for your mind, helps make you a better person, and can be a wonderful source of income. Consider these three reasons as you pick up your pen or sit down at your keyboard!
“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood
Writing every day is good for your mind
Writing helps you to reflect on your life and the changes you’re making. This kind of introspection is valuable because it helps us realize why we behave the way do.
If certain situations are causing us to respond in less than desirable ways, writing about it can help us dive deeper into the effects these things have on our psyche.
Putting things down on paper can calm your mind and clarify your thoughts. When we are feeling powerful emotions, those thoughts and feelings can swirl around in our heads. This creates chaos, but writing helps us zero in on our thoughts and create a more logical perspective.
Writing your thoughts down in the moment can also help you sometime in the future. Have you ever had a thought that excited you, only to go about your day and forget all about it later when you tried to recall it? Happens to me all the time!
Writing these things down can help you maintain a bank of ideas, concepts, and even solutions to challenges. Revisiting your older written work, even if it’s in a journal entry, helps you gain clarity and a fresh perspective.
Rereading your previous thoughts can help you identify areas you might want to change or improve. Clearing your mind after a long day, processing your thoughts, and focusing on your growth can all be accomplished with a little bit of daily writing.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” — Anaïs Nin
Writing every day can make you a better person
Most of us wish we could be “happier” people and luckily daily writing can help with that too! There have been several scientific studies that show a link between doing creative things and being happier.
Writing is an excellent outlet for your creativity because it is inexpensive and readily accessible. The only supplies you need are a paper and pen or a computer! You can even write in the Notes section on your phone if you are out and about.
Whenever you write something that someone else is going to read (even if the audience is just one person, you will reread your words from someone else’s perspective. Imagining your reader’s mindset, cultural perspective, and feelings will help you build empathy.
Whenever I write an article about a hot topic that people have polarizing and strong views around, I do my best to consider if each word is appropriate. Are my arguments sound or based solely on emotion?
I try to not alienate anyone, and instead understand how the reader will interpret the message. This is, of course, helpful to writers, but even if you aren’t a writer, this skill will be a useful tool. You might understand the people around you better. Opening up our minds to the feelings and views of other people helps us all have a better, more empathetic, understanding of the world.
“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.” ― Ernest Hemingway
Writing every day can lead to an excellent source of income
The technology of today’s world has made it so much easier for writers to earn money. Writers have self-publishing options like Medium and Word Press. There are also freelance options like Upwork and Fiverr that can offer some ghostwriting and other projects.
Writing can be a great side hustle, or a full-time income, depending on what your goals are. Writing every day will improve your writing and help build your audience, which translates into more money or more clients.
If you aren’t looking at writing for money, daily writing still has the potential to increase your income. Good writing is essential in things like sales and marketing. Many technical jobs even require some sort of writing or documentation.
Regardless of what you do for a living, improving your writing will make you a more viable candidate with an in-demand skill. The more you write, the more you will use those writing muscles, and the better you will get!
Writing persuasively will also help you get better at persuading people to change their minds because you have to think about things from all angles. Writers also choose each word with precision and thought. This is another marketable skill that will spill over into your regular work life.
“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.” — A. A. Milne
Tips to help you make sure you write every day
The first thing to make sure you write every day is simply to commit to doing so! Set a certain time of day to work on your writing and make sure you get it done. Any time of the day will work. Pay attention to your body’s natural rhythms and your schedule and pick the time that works best for you.
Early morning before everyone wakes up, or late at night in the dark? The choice is yours. If you are new to writing or this whole thing seems a bit intimidating, then just start small! You don’t have to write a whole 1500 word article every day!
Start with an idea and write a couple of hundred words at a time. Want to tackle a novel, go at it a chapter a day! Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you don’t have to become Stephen King overnight. In fact, you couldn’t!
“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
It doesn’t really matter what you write every day
Now, if you are trying to make money, you might take this article to mean, “Write an article on Medium and publish it every day,” or “Work on your writing for clients every day.”
You wouldn’t be wrong, but even if you are writing like that for work, consider doing some journaling or fun writing every day.
However, if you are not looking to publish articles or do paid work, then the type of writing you do each day is entirely up to you! You could write in a journal, work on some poetry, or even a fictional story.
There are some fun ways you can make this a habit in your life. My son wrote a story the other day for his writing class, and I really enjoyed it. I sent it to a friend of mine who lives states away, and her daughter read it and loved it.
The kids are the same age and both like writing. I asked my friend if she thought her daughter would want to do a round-robin type thing, where they took turns writing a chapter. The pair have been at it a week now and they are having a blast.
Writing doesn’t always have to be a solitary adventure. You can turn it into an activity that you do with a friend, no matter how far away you might be.
What are some things you enjoy about writing? Or do you have a favorite quote about writing you want to share? Let us know in the comment section below!
“Writing is its own reward.”— Henry Miller