I love working as a consultant to help writers finish their manuscripts. While I only have a few clients here and there, I find myself answering similar questions related to how to schedule time for writing. Start with 20 minutes whenever you want. One thing I recommend is daily writing for an audience just to practice your written voice, just to learn to be OK with imperfection, and just to enjoy not overthinking your sentences. Go ahead and start a blog for others to read that you deliberately don’t spend a lot of time thinking about. If you notice, so many of you like to help me edit when I’ve made an error, and it doesn’t create a shame response or embarrassment. I encourage my students to do the same thing. Just write. Don’t overthink. Imagine a loving audience. Let it be all wrong.
When people email me or send notes, they often say, “I’m so nervous since you’re a grammar expert. Please don’t judge my writing.” Know this: I’m not judging anything. I love your words. I love your heart. I love when you try to put language to what’s in your mind. It might be the bravest thing you’ve attempted in a while.
Write a little today. Don’t edit. Don’t overthink. Try to get to a state of flow, of a lack of self-consciousness, and of freedom. Then, do the same thing tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.