One Weird Rule I Use to Maintain Consistent Writing Progress
Guess what? I’m using it right now.
Late last year I started the habit of writing one article every week for my website.
Last week, I didn’t pull through.
I started a new part-time job, I was pushing myself too hard on my new years resolutions and the tiny cold I had been fighting bloomed into a full blown flu replete with body aches, complete lack of energy, and copious amounts of mucous production.
All of my goals and aspirations diminished to one burning desire: to get as high as I possibly could on DayQuil and binge watch Killing Eve until I became one with the couch.
Great show btw - If you are a fan of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and or Emerald Fennel, you will love this. They were both writers and executive producers.
Habits and dreams can feel exciting when they’re shiny and new, but when you’ve been putting the effort in for a while, not much is really happening yet, and you’re faced with the fact that you actually have to work to accomplish something… it can be easy to fall off.
Throw in something legitimate like a sickness or life emergency? Forget about it. It’s not getting done.
Falling off a habit for a day is inevitable.
But missing 1 day can easily turn into missing 2, which can easily turn into missing 3, and suddenly it’s 4 months down the line and you haven’t done jack shit. The habit has evaporated.
That’s why it’s imperative to have a way to get back on when life knocks you off course.
The rule I use comes from James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. Like everything he does, this rule is simple and effective:
Never Miss Twice
Last week I fell off writing my article. I didn’t make it. It happens.
This week? Fuck no. I’m making this deadline and here it is - see?
“Never Miss Twice” doesn’t only apply to writers who have a daily writing habit.
If you write Monday, Wednesday, Friday and you miss Wednesday, just make sure you get back on Friday. Miss Friday? Don’t miss Monday. Get it?
In screenwriting, consistent practice is key to both completing any sizable project and mastering the craft. Small daily efforts, even when they feel negligible, lead to significant improvements over time.
This rule helps screenwriters navigate the early stages of habit formation, often marked by slow and unnoticeable progress, which you might be happy to learn, even has it’s own ominous name: The Plateau of Latent Potential.
Adopting the 'never miss twice' rule can be a game-changer.
It offers a practical and forgiving method to maintain a consistent writing habit.
By focusing on making progress, even in small steps, you can achieve significant improvements in your writing over time. This approach is about persistence and the power of cumulative effort, which are key to succeeding in the art of screenwriting.
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