In February I set a goal to write 50 pages for my next book. I wrote exactly ZERO! If you’re also setting goals for your work in progress and missing the mark each month, it may be time for you to reset your writing routine.

I always preach about the importance of scheduling your writing time. But that’s only half the battle. You’ve got to actually WRITE!

Throughout the month of February, I was scheduling my writing for times when I had absolutely no energy to write.

Here are the questions I asked myself to revamp my writing routine.

What’s working, what isn’t, and what am I going to do about it?

I write for a living and I know that I’m a deadline-driven writer. So I need to find a way to incorporate deadlines with my personal writing projects as well. I could do this through an accountability partner or by setting a goal to enter my manuscript in a contest.

So, deadlines work. What doesn’t work is trying to write on Saturdays which was my plan for February. On Saturdays, I want to have fun with my friends or binge-watch Netflix. I don’t want to work on my book.

When do I do my best writing?

I do my best writing in the morning. But I often use the morning hours to do writing for freelance journalism and content writing gigs. So I either need to work on my book on Sunday mornings or choose a day of the week that will be for working on my manuscript and devote the morning hours of that day to my book.

Another option is to wake up earlier, but this is my last resort. I woke up at 4 am for eight years while I was juggling teaching with writing and running See Jane Write.  I’m tired! I don’t want to do this again and honestly, I’m not sure that my post-cancer body can.

How can I plan my day or my week based on when I do my best writing?

Another idea I had was to use my journaling time as manuscript time. Basically, I would journal my book, which doesn’t sound like a bad idea since I blogged my first one. I always start my day with journaling, and I do my best writing first thing in the morning, so I could focus my journal entries on writing content for my book.

Related Reading: How to Create a Writing Routine

And just like that, I have a new-ish writing routine. My new writing plan will be to work on my book as my journaling time each morning. I’ve also set a deadline for completing my manuscript based on a contest I want to enter.

If you need more help with living your best writing life, join me for one or both of these FREE workshops:

The Writerpreneur Workshop, set for Sunday, March 5 at 4 p.m. CT is all about the business side of writing and learning how to get paid to write. Sign up here.

Your Best Writing Life, set for Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. CT, will help you fit writing into your busy life, set and achieve writing goals, and find your writing community. Get registered here.