Written by Emily Wilson

Edited by Tiffany Dai

The Impact of Effective Writing Habits

Writing well isn't just about talent; it's also about process. These five habits won't make writing effortless, but they will make it less stressful and more consistent.

1. Always have an outline

In many ways, writing is more like being a wilderness guide than a reclusive creative genius. As a writer, it's your responsibility to guide your reader through your text. Moreover, depending on who your reader is, you must design a route that is either well-reasoned and orderly or laden with carefully constructed twists, turns, and compelling mysteries.

If you don't know where you're going, you cannot guide someone else there effectively (let alone do it with style). Outlines force you to always keep your destination in mind, which has a two-fold effect.

First, it saves you the stress of writing into a shapeless void. Second, this habit encourages concise writing because, in knowing where you want your reader to go, you'll be more likely to create compelling, direct routes there (rather than, say, sending your reader down a series of unrewarding side trails).

This isn't to say that you should never deviate from your outline. Some of the best writing occurs that way. However, writing with an outline in mind increases your chances of enjoying a stress-free writing process and encourages you to be clearer and more concise in your writing. 

2. Take strategic breaks

Writing is intense creative work. You cannot do it on autopilot, and you cannot do it well when you are running low on creative energy. Most people can't write for eight hours straight every day.

It is absolutely necessary to balance your writing time with routine, non-creative tasks. This gives you the time and space you need to refresh your focus and return with a clear head. These breaks save you the stress of creative burnout, and they help you keep the quality of your content high. If you're not exhausted, you'll be much more likely to craft thoughtful, concise sentences rather than desperately forcing out a string of words to meet your word count.

If you're having trouble incorporating longer breaks into your schedule or are under a very tight timeline, consider giving the Pomodoro Technique a try. This popular technique involves focusing for a 25-minute chunk of time before giving yourself a five-minute refresher break. It can be very effective if you have many distractions in your workspace, such as kids, that require frequent attention.

3. Give yourself permission to write badly

Many writers struggle with perfectionism. It's a massive source of stress in both the writing and editing industries. Constantly questioning the quality of your work and trying to make every sentence perfect (particularly while writing your first draft) is a recipe for disaster. It's a time-consuming habit that will make your deadlines come screeching toward you.

Embrace the fact that first drafts are for mistakes. Moreover, for the health of your writing process, it's important to let write an imperfect first draft. Great writing isn't some magical process that happens in one grand coffee-fueled go. Rather, it is a multi-step process that requires lots and lots of revision.

Your first draft is where you'll be able to see what works, what doesn’t, and what's clear or muddled within the context of your entire work. Looking back and thinking that your first draft was horrible is a good sign. It shows that you're improving your current writing project while improving your long-term writing skills.

If you've started using AI tools to generate a rough draft, this habit matters more, not less. An AI-generated first draft is still a first draft. It needs your judgment, voice, and revisions to become anything worth sharing.

4. Get an outside perspective

Anyone who writes knows the value of a good editor. Whether it’s from a friend or a professional, an outsider's perspective on your writing is worth its weight in gold. That being said, hiring a professional is often the best way to obtain an objective opinion or keep the peace if your family and friends are tired of reading your drafts.

Besides its many other benefits, editing is a valuable opportunity to take your writing out for a test run. It's a chance to see what resonates with your reader and what might be confusing. This is especially useful if your reader may not have as much in-depth knowledge as you do about a non-fiction topic or if you are introducing your reader to a fictional world that they are unfamiliar with.

Investing in a good editor helps reduce your overall stress. Writing is a solitary pursuit, and simply inviting someone else into your process can be a relief. For example, with an editor, it's not just you stressing about incorrect commas or typos. Now, you have the support of a trusted individual to help you catch errors, correct muddled text, elevate your tone, and prepare your writing for its debut.

AI writing tools can flag grammar and suggest synonyms, but they can't tell you when your argument loses the reader, when your tone shifts unexpectedly, or when a section that makes sense to you won't land for your audience. That's what a professional editor does.

5. Know when to stop revising

Revision is a necessary part of the writing process. It helps you improve your writing skills and develop clear, concise writing. However, like all good things, too much of it can be a problem. Theoretically, you could continue editing your work forever. However, if you do, you're effectively stifling the impact your words could have made in the world. If your revisions are changing words but not improving overall clarity, it's time to let go.

Learn to trust that your work is enough. Editing is important, but don't use it as an excuse to avoid sharing your work.

Start Building Better Writing Habits

It takes time and patience to implement any change; however, these habits are well worth the effort. With practice, you'll be a better and less stressed writer.

Finished your draft? Hand it off to an expert.

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