Tool: Always have something to write with

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten was from a professional photographer: "if you want to get good at something, keep your tools with you all the time." A photographer should always have a camera. A writer should never be without something to write with. A musician should keep their instruments close. While this is probably easier for a flute player than a cellist, it should be even easier for a writer. All you really need is a pen or pencil and a small notebook. Or even just your phone (I wrote the draft of this on Google Docs on my phone on the subway).

Having something to write with allows you to be prepared to write anytime you have a free moment, or to capture the ideas that flit through your head. Keep it by your bedside; tuck it in your purse, bag, or pocket; live with it as much as you can. Just having something at hand can be an inducement to write. One of the tricks to finding more time in your day for your hobbies is learning to do them in the small bits of time between other tasks. Waiting at the doctor's office. In line at the post office. Riding the train. If you can squeeze an extra ten minutes of writing into your day, that's dozens or hundreds of pages a year. The first step is noticing when you have those moments, and learning to take advantage of them.

What you put in the notebook is up to you. I fill mine with a mixture of journaling, freewriting, quotes from books I'm reading, notes for blog posts, thoughts, sketches, and scenes for whatever I'm currently working on. I've gone through fourteen notebooks since starting this habit. Number fifteen is starting to fill up tomorrow.

Challenge:

• If you have "pretty notebook syndrome" (you know who you are) try this. Open a new notebook to the last page, write "Scribble page" at the top. And then scribble on it. If you need to, ask a toddler or a friend to make the first mark.
• Remember to date your entries! And I especially like Delany's note to put in the location you are writing as well. Get into the habit as early as you can. It it surprisingly helpful to know when and where an entry was written. And your future biographer will thank you.
• I start all my entries with the day of the week, the time of day, and where I'm writing. So I never have to think about what to write first. If I can't think of what to write next, I describe the place that I'm in and things usually flow from there.