Five Things I Learned from My Best Writing Day

Another one of my Twitter friends requested a particular blog post. This time, he asked about my best writing day.

More than anyone, I understand that writing is tough work. The most difficult part of writing is actually writing. Sometimes it feels impossible to sit in the chair and move your hands across the keys.

With that being said, I have had a few good writing days. They were days in which I felt like my brain was on fire in the best way possible. Everything I wrote was magic and I was unstoppable.

Consequently, on my best writing day (#WeekendWriteFest, when I wrote 8K words), I learned these five important things.

1. Attitude is everything. If you go into a writing session dreading the work, your bad attitude is going to show through your words. Be optimistic. Visualize becoming fully immersed in your work and loving it. You'll be surprised how much of a different a shift in attitude can make.
2. Take frequent breaks. Although it's tempting to write without stopping when you're on a roll, it's important to step away every so often to refresh your mind and care for your body. When you write, make sure you're eating, drinking, and using the bathroom at regular intervals. If you feel like you need a break, take a break. The work will be there when you get back. Taking breaks is the key to avoiding burnout.
3. Check in with your support group. I am so thankful for my writing tweeps. The writing community on Twitter saves me on a daily basis. During #WeekendWriteFest, I expected them to hold me accountable. By checking in with my word counts, I was able to receive encouragement and to encourage others. Community is indispensable when it comes to staying motivated.
4. Celebrate your successes. Whenever I finished a page, I took a break. I got on Twitter or played a game on my phone for a few minutes as a reward. This step goes hand-in-hand with #2. I don't think I could've been as disciplined without a rewards system in place.
5. Set attainable goals. Like I mentioned, whenever I finished a page, I let myself have a reward. I focused on writing a page at a time. By separating my goal into manageable chunks, it was easier for me to reach without getting discouraged. Instead of worrying about writing a novel, focus on getting the first sentence down.

I know these things seem pretty basic, but I'm hoping you were still able to take something away from this post. Sometimes it's the simple things that are the most profound. If you have any other blog requests, be sure to let me know!

What did you learn from your best writing day? How can you replicate it in the future?