The Simple Writing Practice That Separates Dreamers from Doers
Success is just structure in disguise
As someone who’s written a memoir and guided others through theirs, I’ve learned this simple truth: writing a book doesn’t begin with a great idea. It begins with a habit.
Why is it important to create a writing habit?
The English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge put it best: "He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration."
You might already have a powerful story — but if you haven’t cultivated the skill to tell it, you might miss the opportunity. A writing habit ensures you’re ready when the story demands to be told.
A writing habit is a bit like a beloved plant – you have to tend to it with the same care to see the fruits of it grow.
It’s not going to thrive without you putting care into it or accommodating its needs.
Creating a writing habit requires a few disciplines:
Create timing for it
If you’re not getting paid to do it yet, you have to commit time to it.
Build it into your schedule like it’s already your job — or like your life depends on getting this story out.
Your structured schedule becomes your compass — something to return to when you’re lost or unmoored.
Make your writing time work for you
That means making time for your writing and doing it when you are at your creative peak.
Do it at a time when you can commit to it – because you’re most lucid, most creative and least disturbed. Know when you can do the most mentally intensive work, whether that’s first thing in the morning, in the evening, or during a break in the day.
Measure progress your way
How will you define success for yourself, based on the time and energy you’re investing?
Perhaps it’s a particular word count or page count.
It could be completing a chapter.
Or just getting through a difficult section.
Whatever it is, finding a way to track your progress makes the process more satisfying.
Stick to it
When you create a habit rather than flying all over the place it’s easier to stick to it because you know what needs to be done and when.
Make room for your work, create the space for it, work at it when you’re at your creative best, measure your progress, and stick to it.
All this amounts to catering to your writing habit and tending to it like something you want to grow and cultivate.
Because it won’t get done unless you do the work. Just like that plant won’t grow if you just look at it and hope it will grow.
Writing doesn’t have to feel like a struggle. Once it’s a habit, it becomes something you return to — not something you fight with. Like watering a beloved plant, it becomes second nature. And eventually, you look up and realize: it’s grown.
What would it look like to protect your writing time the way you’d protect something sacred?
Dreaming of writing your memoir but feeling stuck?
Most people who tell me they want to write a memoir say they’re blocked because they don’t know where to start, they’re overwhelmed by structure, or they find it hard to stick with the process.
If that sounds like you and you’re ready to finally make progress on your memoir—with support, structure, and guidance—I have a small number of spots open for one-on-one memoir coaching this season.
Reply to this email or comment with the word ‘story’ and I’ll send you the details.