Develop a Writing Plan. This exercise is intended to have you think consciously about your writing, develop a writing plan to suit your strengths, and use that plan to schedule writing into your workweek, creating a writing habit and an identity as a writer.

(Remember that writers write.)

A. Answer the following questions:

• When do you feel most alert when writing?

• What time of day is best for you to write?

• What obstacles prevent you from writing?

• How can you manage writing obstacles?

• How will you make time to write?

• What things and conditions do you need to write?

B. Post your answers in a prominent place in your writing area. (You do have a writing area, don’t you? If not, create one.)

C. Find an accountability team. You could do this via a Facebook group, for instance.

You will use this team for support and encouragement to show up and write.

D. Create a writing schedule for a project you want to complete. Consider the following:

• What deadlines will you create? So many words a day? X amount of time X times a week for a writing session?

• Where will you write?

• Who is on your accountability team/ writing group?

• What is your reward for writing?

E. Use a permanent marker to write in your plan on your calendar. Honor your commitment.

F. Reward yourself for engaging in your writing habit.