In a guest post on C.S. Lakin’s blog, Nina Amir offers advice for starting a reliable writing habit. “To become a writer, you must first be a writer,” she says. “No…I’m not taking you in circles. I’m talking about identity because identity leads to action.”
Often, aspiring writers think they need something before they can write – a degree, more time, a great idea – but the truth is, the writing comes first. When you decide to be a writer, you will start writing. “Identity leads to action—even writing daily,” Amir writes. “In the process of doing what a writer does, you create results—written work. And you develop a writing habit.”
Amir suggests fives steps you can take to choose the writer identity and develop your writing habit:
- Describe a writer, blogger, or author, including information about their mindset, daily activities, schedule, commitments, character, values, and life in general.
- List the writing-related activities of a writer, blogger, or author, including writing, speaking, platform building, or revising.
- Use this information to describe your new identity. Pick a pseudonym if you need one. How will this person be like the writers you described above?
- Decide today to embody your new identity. Start your new habits.
- Repeat Step 4.
“When you are done writing, reaffirm, ‘I am a writer. Writers write,'” Amir recommends. “Be a writer. Every. Single. Day. If you do, you’ll have a writing habit in no time.’
