[Free PDF] How To Get In The Habit Of Writing This Year

Did you happen to see the free Writing Challenge ebook I shared with you in my last post? Readers have been sharing some great feedback on the Challenge so far. But if you're having trouble getting started or making the time, no worries. Today's post is for you.

If you’re in a leadership position (or you aspire to be), it’s easy to see the value of writing and publishing. 

Effective, consistent communications are how you build an audience, deepen your reputation, establish your brand, make an impact with your thoughts and ideas.

And yet, so many of us struggle to write consistently. 

It’s understandable. Most of us are busy AF. Finding time to write amid a sea of deadlines, meetings, fires to put out, and life’s demands can feel impossible. 

Even if you do find the time, finding the mental and emotional energy can be a whole other story. Writing can be hard. It’s one thing to have ideas, it’s another to get them down on paper. 

The problem of course, is that if we don’t spend the time thinking and writing, our best ideas will never see the light of day. 

So what do we do? 

Make it a practice. A small, unassuming, daily practice. 

Here’s the concept: Make time in your day, even if it’s just 5-10 minutes, to write freely, uncensored, with no one looking over your shoulder. 

This is your time, removed from deadlines, expectations, and any other humans judging your work. 

You don’t have to come up with anything brilliant or original. The prompts in this ebook will make it easy by helping you focus and channel your thoughts. You don’t have to come up with something to write about; that’s what the prompts are for.

Taking a few minutes to write for yourself may seem frivolous, especially if you’ve got loads of urgent work on your plate, but I’ve seen this method work wonders for busy people — including Executive Directors, business leaders, and solopreneurs who struggle to find time for themselves. 

Here’s why it works:

1. It gives you time to think and reflect. This is essential to becoming a thought leader (after all, if you want to be known for your thoughts, you need time to think!) If you’re used to being pulled in 1000 directions, you likely have little time to simply reflect. And trust me, if you want to be recognized for your ideas or unique point of view, reflection needs to be part of your daily practice. Getting in the habit of reflecting for a few minutes a day will build this foundation.

2. Prompt-based writing will help you identify story ideas you didn’t know you had. Communications of any kind are helped significantly by use of examples, anecdotes, and personal stories that can help you make your point, demonstrate your ideas, and give depth and breadth to your personal brand. But what stories do you tell? It can be easy to overlook the stories you have in your arsenal, or to get overwhelmed by the concept of coming up with new ideas. Prompt-based writing can help you unearth new stories and/or ways to tell them.

3. Establish habit. Thought leaders write and communicate regularly. Period. At a certain point, this becomes a habit — something we prioritize naturally. But habits don’t establish themselves overnight. If you want to get in the habit of writing regularly, a few minutes per day is an excellent place to start. 

4. Improve your writing. The more you write, the better it gets — and the easier it becomes. Yes, there are many ways you can improve your writing (including through coaching and collaboration.) But if you want to improve, first you have to start. Write and repeat.

Want to try it? 

Grab your free 30 Day Writing Challenge E-Book here: camilledeputter.com/30daychallengeoptin

Within the e-book, you’ll find daily writing prompts to inspire and guide you, along with tips for how and when to write. 

Know of someone else who might want to join you in the challenge? Please share it! 

(And if you’ve already started the challenge, write me back and let me know how it’s going.)

Whatever your goals this year, I believe in you. You got this. 

And if you need help, I’m here for you. Reach out to me at any time, or hop on my Wait List here: camilledeputter.com/waitlist.