Do you write every single day? I try my best to, but to be honest, there are days when not a single word makes it on to the page. My excuses vary, but they’re usually some variation of I have writer’s block, I don’t have time to write, I’m just too tired, or I can’t decide which project I should work on.

Maybe you can relate to these excuses. It’s a pain in the ass to over come that lack of motivation or will power to write. That being said, it’s hard to build confidence in a skill you don’t practice regularly.

So, how do you overcome that lack of motivation? It’s so easy to say “just write,” but that’s really the key. I wanted to share with you some tactics that have helped me trudge through that lull in motivation we all experience and just write.

Block Time In Your Calendar for Writing

At the risk of sounding like one of those nerdy productivity people on YouTube, I highly recommend blocking out time in your calendar for writing. Time blocking in general helps me be accountable for whatever it is I’m doing on a particular day. Pop-up and email notifications nag at me, reminding me I should be writing at a specific time and place.

While this sounds annoying, if I don’t have writing time blocked out in my calendar, odds are I wont write at all.

If you don’t use a calendar/planner on the regular, be it digital or old-school pen and paper, I suggest giving it a try. On top of keeping me accountable, it helps me see what is a realistic amount of time to spend writing. Saying you’re going to spend two hours writing everyday may seem doable—but is it, though?

Set Up A, B, and C Writing Goals

It’s a new year, and of course, it’s a new me. This is the year of Eric. And as such, I set up new writing goals to go with my unfounded confidence. Seriously, though, last year I came across a concept that changed the way I approach my daily word count goals. Every day, I aim to hit one of the following A, B, or C word counts:

A. 1000
B. 750
C. 500

My primary goal is to reach 1000 words a day, but if I don’t, then I opt to hit 750 or 500. Essentially, this approach helps me feel better about not reaching that 1000 word mark. Plus, it gives me some wiggle room for when lift gets crazy.

Track Your Writing

To make sure I’m hitting my A, B, or C goal, I of course have to keep track of my word count. While this sounds a bit excessive, there is something about seeing a number go up that makes me feel giddy. There is a kind of high that comes with seeing your progress on a certain skill displayed as a number.

I keep track of my word count using Notion, but in the past I’ve used Excel, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Loop. There are thousands of Notion, Excel, and Google Sheet templates out there I’m sure can help you do this. Here is one I created to help you get started.

Find those Micro-Moments

If there is a tactic you should take away from this blog post, it’s to find those micro moments when you can just write. I’m rarely in an ideal situation for writing, which for me is a coffee shop on a sunny day with not-too-loud music playing in the background.

More often than not, I’m writing during my lunch hour in a cold conference room, on my couch just before heading to work, or in my car while I’m doing my laundry at the laundromat, on the toilet while I’m…well, you get the picture.

It’s important to take the opportunity to write when you can, even if it’s in those briefest of moments.

On your bus ride to school or work.
For 10-30 minutes during your lunch break.
In the waiting room of your dentist’s office.

You may not think it, but some amazing work can be done in those micro moments. Even if you don’t end up writing something you’re going to use, it is sharpens your skill as a writer and helps you build confidence. And that is more than worth it.

Again, the most important thing to build your confidence as a writer is to just write. Some of what you write may be crap, but at least you’re getting your reps in. I encourage you to try one of these writing tactics within these next few days.