We talk a lot about writing habits at the Daily Writer. Why? Because a writing habit ensures that you get the writing done.

Without a habit, you will only write when you happen to have time available or the mood strikes you. That’s not the way professionals approach their work.

You may agree with the importance of a writing habit, but how do you put it into practice? What is the method for actually getting your writing done?

In this post, we will explore four foolproof methods. If you follow any of these techniques, you will be more successful in writing more.

Method #1: Writing Sprint

A writing sprint gives you the opportunity to write in a short burst of energy. Just like doing a running sprint in middle school gym class, a writing sprint lets you accomplish a little bit in a short amount of time.

This is the method we use on Thursdays in the Daily Writer Community. We have a block of several hours we set aside, and people generally pop in and out of the Zoom call as they are able. We take ten minutes to talk about our goals for that session, which lasts 50 minutes. Then we turn off the mic and camera and focus on the task at hand.

I find that writing sprints work best when you’re doing it with others. I often use the analogy of running and walking when it comes to writing sprints. You can walk alone, or you can run with the group. A writing sprint gives you a focused time to dive into your content and make serious progress.

Method #2: Pomodoro Technique

This is a popular productivity method where you set a time for 25 minutes, do focused work, and then take a break for 5 minutes. It’s similar to a writing sprint except the bursts are only 25 minutes vs. 50 minutes for a writing sprint.

The other difference here is that the Pomodoro Technique is normally done alone, whereas writing sprints work best when you are doing it with a group.

I like the Pomodoro Technique a lot because almost anybody can fit in a 30-minute time block into their day, or perhaps even several of them in a row. It’s very do-able. It also works with shorter pieces of content, like a blog post or social media posts.

If you have short pieces of writing that you need to get done, Pomodoro will probably become your go-to technique.

Method #3: Morning Pages

The idea was popularized by Julie Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. The method is simple: first thing in the morning, write three long-hand pages without stopping. No editing, no filtering, and no over-thinking. You simply write what’s on your mind and let the words flow.

This is more a creative-writing technique rather than a system for getting pre-determined writing done. But it’s very effective in helping you break creative blocks and get ideas flowing.

Why do it in the morning and not other times? Because that’s when your mind is the freshest. Your thinking is not clouded by the hundred other interactions and activities of the day.

I don’t practice Morning Pages that often, but when I do, the results are incredible.

For example, I remember doing Morning Pages one time in a coffee shop. There was a guy sitting a few seats away, and he was talking loudly to his friend that was sitting right next to him.

I recall being pretty irritated by this guy because I put a high value on social awareness and being polite. So I started writing about him in my journal, talking about how he was so impolite and had no social skills.

Then, just like it often does when you’re doing free writing, a light bulb went off. I suddenly realized how judgmental I was being. I had gotten irritated at such a small thing, and I felt a little ashamed of my bad attitude.

That is what often happens when you just let the words flow and you get your conscious mind out of the way. Morning Pages are a fantastic way to do that, especially if you want to become more self-aware. Even if you don’t practice it in the morning, it’s still an incredibly valuable practice.

Method #4: Writing Prompts

This is another creative writing technique is that is not about productivity, but about discovery.

Writing prompts are a simple yet powerful way to get you thinking and writing about things you would otherwise not explore. For example, if I said, “Pretend you are the villain in your favorite movie. What happened in your childhood that made you so evil?”

That’s a silly question, but it will engage your imagination and storytelling abilities. Your mind will go places it would not normally go. This is valuable because we get into creative ruts unless we have something to interrupt our thinking patterns.

This is the core of what it means to be creative. Creativity means the capacity to create. Creativity comes from taking two things and then making something new that did not exist before.

In this case, when I ask you to write about the villain’s childhood, it’s probably something you’ve never thought about before. And therein lies the opportunity to create.

The underlying assumption behind writing prompts is that your mind is absolutely packed with creative ideas. But it’s hard to mine those creative ideas in the rush and routine of ordinary life.

That’s where writing prompts come in. It’s like dropping a hook into the water and catching something.

If you’re wondering where you can get writing prompts, you’re in luck. I’ve put together a package of 365 writing daily writing prompts. When you subscribe, you’ll receive one prompt per day over email for an entire year.

This is the ideal way to receive writing prompts. If you bought a book of prompts, you would use a few and then probably set the book aside.

But when you receive one each day via email, you can focus on that single prompt instead of being overwhelmed by a massive list of them.

Click here to check out the Daily Writing Prompts.

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So there you have it: foolproof methods for writing every day: writing sprints, the Pomodoro technique, Morning Pages, and writing prompts. I encourage you to choose one and try it every day for a week.

When you do this, take note of how productive or creative you were. Then try a different technique depending on your writing goals to see what works best.

Or, you may already have a great method for writing every day. If so, fantastic! The goal is to use what works for you so that you reach your goals faster.

These methods can help you overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and creative blocks. Pick one and give it a shot today.

These are four different ways to actually get the words down. When you try them, note how productive you were and how you felt when doing it, or when you completed it. After trying two or three of them over a period of time, compare what works best for you.