I know, I’ve been so focused on my own writing of One Cause that I’ve been delinquent in sharing any coaching tips so let’s get into today’s Write On Purpose Coaching Tip that is dedicated to and inspired by my new client, J. S. I’m looking forward to seeing historical novel completed and published in the not-too-distant future.
If you’ve ever said, “I know I should write more, but I just can’t seem to stick with it,” you’re not alone. Aspiring authors everywhere struggle with making writing a consistent habit. But here’s the good news: it’s not your fault.
Yep, you read that right.
You don’t lack discipline. You’re not lazy. You’re not doomed to be an author who never actually writes. The problem isn’t you. It’s the way you’ve been taught to approach habit-building.
The truth? The secret to developing a powerful, daily writing habit isn’t in sheer willpower or waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s in designing your writing habit so small that it’s impossible to fail.
That’s where Tiny Habits, a groundbreaking method by BJ Fogg, and the insights from Atomic Habits by James Clear, come in.
Let’s dive into how you can use purpose-driven habit design to make writing as natural as brushing your teeth.
Step 1: Make Writing Goals Stupidly Small
(Yes, even one sentence counts.)
The biggest mistake aspiring authors make is setting a goal that’s too big—like committing to writing 1,000 words a day when you’re struggling to write even once a week.
Fogg and Clear both emphasize starting small—absurdly small. Think:
One sentence per day.
Opening your writing app and typing a single word.
Jotting down one idea for your story.
This sounds ridiculous, right? How can one sentence a day turn you into a published author?
Here’s the magic: When you lower the bar to an effortless level, you remove resistance. The hardest part of writing isn’t the writing—it’s starting. And once you start, chances are, you’ll write more than just one sentence.
It’s about creating momentum. No more staring at a blank page and dreading the session. Just type one line and call it a win.
Step 2: Anchor Writing to Something You Already Do
(“After I make my coffee, I will write one sentence.”)
The key to making habits stick is to tie them to something you already do daily—a concept called habit anchoring in Tiny Habits.
Think of something you do every day without fail:
Brushing your teeth
Drinking your morning coffee
Opening your laptop
Sitting down at your desk
Then, attach your writing habit to it. For example:
➡ After I pour my morning coffee, I will open my notebook and write one sentence.
➡ After I check my email in the morning, I will write one sentence in my manuscript.
➡ After I close my laptop at night, I will jot down one idea for tomorrow’s writing.
By linking your new habit to an existing one, you create an automatic trigger, eliminating the need to remember to write.
Step 3: Celebrate Small Wins
(“YES! I wrote my sentence today!”)
We often think habits require motivation, but what they actually require is reward. Your brain needs to feel good about the action in order to reinforce it.
BJ Fogg recommends celebrating every tiny success—immediately.
Fist pump? Yes.
Whispering "I’m a writer!"? Absolutely.
Smiling and thinking, "I did it!"? Perfect.
It may sound silly, but celebration wires the habit into your brain. When you feel good about writing—even just one sentence—you’re more likely to do it again tomorrow.
Step 4: Troubleshoot Without Blame
("If I’m not writing, how can I make it easier?")
If you struggle to keep up with your writing habit, don’t blame yourself. Instead, adjust your approach.
Ask yourself:
Did I set the bar too high? (If so, make it smaller.)
Did I forget to write? (If so, anchor it to something already in your routine.)
Did I feel resistance? (If so, make it easier—open your document the night before, so it's ready for you.)
Building habits is about design, not discipline. If something isn’t working, tweak it instead of giving up.
Step 5: Let Small Habits Grow Naturally
(“I wrote one sentence. Might as well keep going…”)
Here’s the sneaky power of tiny writing habits: they expand naturally.
You may start with one sentence, but soon you’ll find yourself writing two… then a paragraph… then a page. Some days, you’ll stop at one sentence, and that’s fine. But most days, you’ll write more because starting is the hardest part.
James Clear calls this the Gateway Habit Effect—once you do the tiny action, it’s easier to keep going.
Your Tiny Writing Habit Recipe
Now it’s your turn. Create your habit statement:
➡ After I [anchor habit], I will write [tiny habit].
➡ Then, I will celebrate by [simple celebration].
Example:
After I pour my coffee, I will open my Scrivener document and write one sentence. Then, I’ll smile and say, "I’m a writer!"
That’s it. No overwhelm. No pressure. Just one small step.
Final Thought: Writing Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Aspiring authors often struggle because they think they need more motivation, discipline, or time. But the real solution is much simpler: design a habit so easy it’s impossible to fail.
Once you get started—one tiny sentence at a time—you’ll be amazed at how quickly writing becomes second nature.
Now, go pour that coffee, open your notebook, and write one line. You’ve got this.
Brad (Your Write On Purpose Coach)
As a Write On Purpose coach, I support aspiring authors, especially those in the second half of life to move from aspiring to actual authors, guiding them to write and publish books that leave a lasting legacy, positively impacting readers across generations and enriching their own lives with purpose and meaning.
What was your number one nugget of gold insight that if you added a little action to it, would make the time you invested in this article worthwhile?
I’d love to hear what it was. Leave a comment below.
