Why I Don’t Write Every Day

The single piece of writing advice I’ve heard more than any other? Write every day. On its face, I see its wisdom. The idea is to make writing a habit, a rhythm of getting in the chair each morning and writing whether we feel inspired or not. If we want to write a book, keep up a blog, or write full or part time, I fully endorse writing when we don’t feel like it.

But the mantra to write every day doesn’t work for me. It stirs up guilt that I could and should be doing more. I do write! I have published two books so far with a third releasing next year, write for my social media channels, and maintain two websites. Here’s my unapologetic take: I don’t write every day.

While I don’t write every day, I do work on my writing every day. I may not sit down at my keyboard each morning, but here are three essentials that form my writing routine. 

1. I live fully present in my day.

My calendar, like yours, is full. Some days, I’m watching one or two of my grandlittles or helping with my youngest daughter’s dance company. Some days, I’m meeting new widows over coffee or planning new events with my ministry team. I’ve had intense seasons of caring for mom at the hospital or back-to-back traveling for speaking engagements and conferences.

Instead of seeing busy days and seasons as taking away from my writing, I lean in and let them shape my writing. I collect stories from days with grandkids. I listen to the needs and struggles of that new widow over coffee. And I note the lessons God is teaching me at a hospital bedside or at a conference. When we live in the present, we not only show up for the day as God intended, but we also have a reservoir of experiences, illustrations, and divine insight to draw from when we write. 

2. I handle writing-adjacent tasks.

Becoming a writer means acting as CEO, CFO, COO, and VP of every department for your work. While I outsource some tasks, I still spend whole days on administrative work or back-end website tasks, such as updating my speaking page or creating the email flow for a new subscriber opt-in.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve worked on taxes, updated affiliate links on my site, and created a speaking reel. I’ve spent hours responding to important emails and connecting with guest writers about contributing to one of my sites. I could have been writing. But these critical nonwriting tasks sustain and grow my work as a writer.

3. I write most days.

Even if we can’t write daily, we can write most days. When other things vie for our time, we need to guard our writing time. When I began writing, my seven children were still at home, and I would often get up early or stay up late to write. Now, I set aside mornings or schedule whole days to write. Take your laptop with you to write in the car line or plan a few days away for a writing intensive.

Writing most days may mean hitting a specific word count or setting a timer. It may mean starting a new article or editing yesterday’s draft. It may entail an afternoon of brainstorming or a deep dive into Scripture to study a topic. This consistency will lead to improved writing and finished projects.

While I don’t write every day, I agree with the encouragement behind it. If we put off writing until we have an empty calendar and inspiration hits, writing will stay a someday dream. Writing won’t just happen. We have to intentionally carve out time on most days, even if it’s an hour before work or during naptime.

And on the days we’re up to our necks living the life in front of us, let’s observe. Listen. Witness. And take notes. They will be fuel for the words we tap out when we sit down to write.

Cheering you on, 
Lisa Appelo

What one change, big or small, can you make to guard your writing time most days? Share in the comments, and let us cheer you on!