Learning to Be A Disciplined Writer

I’ve never struggled with discipline. My parents were busy growing up and being the youngest of three, their attention was focused on my sister, who struggled with behavior and school. I had no authority watching over my grades and demanding anything of me. But, even as a child, I worked hard enough to maintain decent grades. I wasn’t an overachiever and some classes I barely tried. But I was disciplined enough to graduate with decent grades.

My personality and nature, enjoys structure and routine. But, I also crave freedom and independence. I never took writing as a career option. I thought it was as plausible as wanting to be a supermodel. It was something people want but most people never get. So I wrote purely as a hobby.

When I started training for endurance events, I learned that even hobbies, even the ones in which I have no talent, require discipline. I appreciated the slow build of mileage by following a routine that half marathon and triathlon finishes required. One day it hit me. I put so much time, working toward a goal at which I’m dismal. I’m one of the back of the pack slow girls. It never bothered me to be one of the last to huff and puff my way across a finish line. But, I wondered what it would be like to have natural talent. What if I were naturally fast? What could I do with this amount of effort? Then, I remembered that I’ve always had an easier time with writing than other people. It seemed plausible that if I put the same effort and energy into writing, perhaps I could create a career out of it. I questioned why I didn’t apply my same work ethic to writing that I did to endurance events. Especially because with writing success was within reach.

I reasoned that I’m an artist. I don’t want to write when uninspired. I was hired by a local newspaper and my justification was shattered. I was expected to turn in 2–3 articles on time each week, regardless of inspiration. I did it. The articles weren’t always great. Mistakes were made, but I could do it. I was fully able to write when the sun and sky weren’t exactly right

I also reasoned that I was above pushing my work on others. I mean Picasso would not demean himself by holding online art sales on Facebook. I’m no Picasso. But I wondered, would he? Maybe, if he needed to pay the rent and didn’t want to wait tables. Maybe he would. We put in our heads that overnight sensations become that because of their unique talents. We don’t acknowledge the hustle behind it all. Youtube sensations, typically put hours in behind the scenes learning how to boost following. It’s not always that they were just so interesting, so talented that they got millions of followers and started making ad money. It’s that they did the leg work. That aspect sounds undesirable to me. I want people to like my writing and organically follow it. However, any successful artist is out there working to sell their product. Prior to the release of a big movie, the stars will make a press tour to talk about the film. Cardie B talks about researching rap music and figuring out what would sell. She acknowledges that she didn’t just pop on the scene without doing the work. How long was Billie Eilish creating music and working on Sound Cloud before Bad Guy hit the radio? There’s art and there’s natural talent. But unless you put in the work, you won’t be discovered by some miracle or random lightning strike. If you want it, you need to work for it.

The following ideas are things I’m implementing into my writing routine in order become a more successful writer

Start each day brainstorming for 10 potential articles to write. This is a process that gets your brain active and working. In fitness terms, it’s like getting up and doing a bit of cardio before heading to work. You won’t be the buffest guy at the gym. But it will kick start your metabolism and get the body to move from sleep to function mode. The routine of it will help your brain go into think mode. I started doing this last week and I find myself adding to the list all day long. When I sit down to write, I’m not chewing on a pencil trying to come up with an idea.

Log some miles. I have not attempted the 30 articles in 30 day challenge. But I do think practice makes perfect and logging writing miles every day is good. I log miles on days that are not training days either. I’m trying to prepare my body and grow my muscles. In training, logging miles on rest day is called active recovery. Yesterday, I ran a 40 minute trail run. Today I’m going to shake some of the lactic acid from my legs by taking a gentle two mile walk at a non cardio pace. I won’t push hard. It will feel easy but I will recover from the challenging work faster. Sometimes, I have a big, heavy article to write. It can take an emotional toll. My most popular articles always do as they seem to resonate with my audience more. Rather than relax after I’m done for a few days to unwind, I’m going to attempt to shake the lactic acid from my brain and write something less intense. This, for example, is less intense for me.

Set an attainable realistic goal for yourself. This applies to fitness and writing. In fitness, if you set your goal at a 15 minute 5k, and you haven’t even reached a sub 30 minute 5k, you are setting yourself up for failure. Failure makes quitting easier. Don’t set your weight loss goal at 50 lbs in one month. Make it realistic and when you hit it, you’ll be motivated to keep working. My goal is to replace my reporter income in one month here. My reporter income was not enough to support a family. It was enough to afford me a few extras each month. An extra night out, ballet classes for my daughter, that sort of thing. Being a reporter did not make me wealthy. It brought me joy. While I’m out of work, I want to work here on medium, to replace that income. It’s not a super high goal, but in my research (more on that soon) I realize that it’s a challenging time to make that goal. I’m hearing from the pros, that people aren’t reading as much during the pandemic. So, I don’t have a time limit for my finish line. Like my slow 5k’s, I’ll huff and puff my way until I make it across.

Do your research and take the advice you want. I refuse to be a niche writer. I know what brings me joy is to write about what brings me joy at the moment. There’s something beautiful about having that freedom. Most articles say that I should focus on a niche. I have a few major ones that I will devote my attention to but that’s advice, I’ll leave behind for now. For now. Maybe I’ll change my opinion in the future. While I’m walking my two easy miles, I’m going to listen to Consider This, by Chuck Palahnuik. It’s writing advice by an incredible author . I also utilize my medium membership to read and study all the writing advice I can find. Part of that research is learning how to apply to write for publications. I get my biggest audience when my article is published in a publication, or curated by Medium. Much like other social media platforms, followers, and response to your work reflect your income. Brand new, and getting crickets? Go find writers to follow and give them love for their work. I almost always reciprocate a follow from someone. I don’t if the person doesn’t publish anything. But, don’t follow with the singular hope of getting a follow back. Follow what you love and what enriches your life. There are so many talented writers and interesting subjects, no need to be disingenuous.

I’m no expert. But I’m going to attempt to reach my goal using these strategies. I plan on providing monthly goal updates. It could take a year, maybe longer to hit my goal. But, it took me forever to run a full 5k without walking. I’ll keep pressing forward, one foot in front of the other and keep you posted on my progress.