If you’ve ever started a writing project with what felt like endless enthusiasm and motivation, only to fizzle out a few weeks (or even days) later, you’re not alone. Why does this happen? Well, a lot of reasons, but in large part, because life just gets in the way. Maybe you started your project on Sunday, with the whole day stretched ahead of you just to immerse yourself in your new fictional world. But then Monday hit, and so did the to-do lists and appointments and work responsibilities and, and, and…
Suddenly, those long, uninterrupted hours are gone and, with them, your motivation. After all, if you can’t spend hours every day writing, why bother?
Spoiler alert: You don’t need to spend hours every day writing in order to keep up that momentum.
Most writers believe those long, focused stretches are criticial, and without them you can hardly even call yourself a writer. But who among us can really dedicate that kind of time and energy? The good news is, you don’t really need hours. You don’t even need pages. You just need one sentence a day. Or maybe ten minutes a day. Or two lines a day. Whatever it is exactly, all you need is a small daily commitment.
These tiny goals are powerful because they lower resistance, build momentum, and turn writing into a natural part of your life. And over time, they add up to something big.
Why Small Goals Work
There’s a reason habit experts (like Gretchen Rubin) recommend starting small. Actually, there are four reasons:
They reduce resistance. No matter what’s going on in any given day, it’s much easier to sit down for “just one sentence” than to promise yourself 2,000 words.
They build momentum. Once you’ve written one sentence, you often want to keep going. If you can’t keep writing right then and there, you’ll likely find yourself looking forward to tomorrow’s micro session. And the one after that, and the one after that.
They create a history of success. Writing daily—even in small doses—reinforces your identity as a writer. The more you show up, the more you see yourself as someone who shows up for her writing, and the more you see yourself as a committed artist.
They survive busy seasons. A daily micro goal is flexible enough to fit into back-to-school seasons, holiday seasons, even vacations. 3-hour writing sessions may work once in a while, but micro-sessions work all the time.
How to Start Your Own Micro Writing Habit
Want to bring daily writing back into your life with micro goals? Try these strategies to get started:
Set a tiny, non-negotiable goal. One sentence is enough. Five minutes is enough. In We Need Your Art, Aimee McNee recommends setting a goal so small it would be embarrassing to fail.
Pair writing with an existing habit. From taking morning meds when you brush your teeth to meditating while the shower heats up, we love a good habit stack! Think about your already-ingrained habits, and consider which one you could pair your micro-sessions with. For example, write your sentence while your morning coffee brews.
Track your wins. A calendar checkmark or journal note—or, even better, a sticker chart—helps you see your consistency build, proving to yourself that you can be trusted to keep your commitment.
Keep it low-pressure. The goal is consistency, not brilliance. Don’t worry about producing a Pulitzer-worthy sentence each day. Don’t even read back what you wrote! Just flex that creative muscle and let yourself have fun on the page.
Common Pitfalls to Micro Habits (and How to Fix Them)
“I forgot today.” Don’t stress. That doesn’t mean it’s over or you’ve failed. Just pick it up again tomorrow. (Gretchen Rubin writes about self-compassion in her book Better Than Before, and I break it down in item 4 of this blog post.)
“I feel silly writing just one sentence.” First of all, writing just one sentence every single day builds up stronger and faster than writing 2,000 words once in a blue moon. Second, remember that your goal is a floor, not a ceiling. Most days, you’ll write more.
“I keep skipping when I’m tired.” This is where the habit stacking comes in. Tie your micro-goal to something automatic, like brushing your teeth or letting the dog out, so it becomes second nature. When you’re exhausted, the mental load of deciding when and how you’re going to get your writing done is often enough of an obstacle to shut it down all together. When your habit stacking makes that decision automatic, the cognitive burden disappears.
Kickstart Your Habit with a Two-Week Writing Challenge
Sometimes it’s easier to stick to a goal when you’re not doing it alone. That’s where my free Writing Challenge comes in. It’s designed to help you build this micro-habit with a variety of supports:
Daily encouragement emails to keep you inspired
Creative prompts so you never have to wonder what to write
A supportive framework that helps you prove to yourself that yes, you can write every day
A fun sticker chart to help you celebrate your progress
The challenge is evergreen, which means you can start anytime and move at your own pace. I’d love to have you!
The Perfect Time Is Now
You don’t need to wait for the “perfect” season of life, the perfect block of time, or the perfect idea. Like so many important things in life, waiting for the ideal circumstances can mean never really getting started.
No matter what season you’re in or how many plates you’re juggling, writing can be a routine part of your life. You just need to start small.
If you’d like structure and encouragement to help you build and solidify that new habit, register for the free Writing Challenge. A small daily goal—and two weeks worth of pep talks from me—could be the shift that finally helps you make consistent progress on your writing dreams.