News Flash: Writing Every Day Doesn’t Mean Writing Better

The downsides to *consistency* no writer talks about.

On online writing forums, the most common advice for new writers looking to make a mark seems to be: “Be consistent. Write every day.”

This advice is so oft-repeated, that few take out the time to pause and reflect on its essence. Why write every day? What’s the secret about consistency that makes a person a better writer?

I’ve been writing for a decade now, and I’ve mentored hundreds of writers from all over the world. I myself have adviced many new writers that they need to be consistent for at least a year before they see any real results.

But if you want to make it big in the world of online writing, simply being consistent isn’t enough. If you dive in blind without knowing why you’re fighting the battles you’re engaged in, you’ll feel lost and demotivated. You’ll soon run out of juice, and feel all yours ideas are done.

What then?

How do you remain consistent when every fiber in your being is protesting?

That’s what this article is about. I’m sharing insights from my decade-long writing career, and sharing a detailed roadmap to writing strategy that you can apply to your publishing journey. Excited? Read on.

Understand your “why”

If you really want to improve your writing skills and see progress, you can’t just rely on the generic advice– “Write every day”.

You need to be strategic about your writing process and analyze what’s working for you and what’s not.

Know why you’re writing.

Is it to earn money, build a personal brand, hone your writing skills, or share your expertise?

Your goal will shape your content strategy.

For example:

• If your goal is to build a following of 1000 readers within six months,
• your strategy should be to focus on articles in popular niches like personal development, technology, or productivity.

This will help you build a sustainable writing habit that you can track and modify according to the results you get.

Know who you’re writing for

Once you know the why behind your writing process, figure out who you’re trying to reach through your content. Because writing online means you’re writing for an audience, not just to indulge your inner creative.