3 Quiet Habits That Created 435 Articles in 22 Months (With a 9–5)

How I cracked the code and became a consistent writer

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I’ve been writing on the internet for 22 months.

I’ve built a profitable business ($3500/month) alongside my day job. It’s been a wild ride. What’s happened has blown my mind. I feel blessed and grateful. I never planned this. I started writing to see what would happen.

And there’s no reason why this can’t happen to you. If I were to narrow my success down to one single ingredient. It’d be this:

Write consistently over a long time

This sounds easy. But it’s incredibly difficult. Nothing else matters as much. Consistency doesn’t guarantee success. But inconsistency guarantees failure.

What if you became a content machine? Where would you be if you wrote consistently for 12 months? I’ve written 435 articles. It’s (almost) impossible not to find success when you do that.

Anyone can have a burst of energy. But to write day after day. Week after week. For years. This is tough to do. I struggled at first.

Let me show you 3 tactics that turned me into a writing machine.

1. Defeat your enemy

You start by facing your biggest problem.

If you fail it’s not:

• your readers

• the algorithm

• your boss or family

It’s you.

When I started writing I thought my biggest battle would be the blank screen. Or finding the secret to growth. Or crafting the perfect sentence. I was shocked to discover the internal enemies I needed to fight:

• procrastination

• perfectionism

• insecurity

This is a battle you have to win.

Study yourself. Notice your reaction. Try out a few solutions. Each person is different. But here’s a few ideas that have helped me. Use what’s helpful.

Realise no one cares

It’s so nerve-wracking to publish your thoughts.

We imagine people mocking our efforts. Friends, family or our boss laughing behind our backs. This stops us writing. But the brutal truth is no one cares.

Everyone is obsessed with their own life. The few sentences you post are irrelevant.

Write something terrible

Reset your expectations.

Your goal is to write. To publish. If it’s terrible that’s ok. You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. Persistence is an essential trait.

And relax. You don’t have to get it right the first time. This is not brain surgery.

2. Build a routine

Your feeling of enthusiasm is useless.

It’s an unreliable foundation to build on. Your motivation might feel strong today. But trust me it’ll desert you when you need it most. So develop a system. We are creatures of habit. 90% of our decisions are automatic.

Today, you won’t remember deciding…

• how to take your coffee

• what route to take to work

• when you brush your teeth

We decide once. Then set it to automatic. Use this to become a consistent writer. We don’t rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our routine.

Here’s how to set up a routine (that works!).

Use your golden hour

Schedule when you’ll write.

You don’t need to write daily. But it needs to be regular. Writing is a demanding creative activity. So write when you’re at your best. For me, that’s early morning. Do what works for you.

Create triggers

Attach your writing to something.

Don’t rely on your decision to write. Link it to a time, place or previous action. Think of the bell used by Pavlov to trigger his dog to salivate. Triggers are powerful.

Habit stack

Stick a bunch of habits together. And it becomes an effortless conveyor belt. Step on the 1st one and you get carried along.

For me, that’s my morning routine:

• shower

• coffee

• pray

• write

Once it’s set up it takes no effort. I get up and do this every day without thinking.

Rewards

Triggers and habit stacking happen before the writing. Adding a reward to boost the incentive. This is crucial in the early days.

This can be anything you enjoy. 15 minutes on YouTube. A walk. Talk to your partner. A nice coffee. I read my favourite book after my writing session.

Environment

You don’t need a log cabin in the woods.

But writing in the same place every time trains your mind. Decide what helps/hinders your writing. Music? Clear desk? Visible quotes? Closed door? Create a place you want to write in.

A routine is a writer’s best friend.

3. Ideas fuel your writing

Ideas are the best way to boost performance.

When I’m excited about my content. The words flow. And the energy tingles through my fingers. But when I don’t know what to write about. Or I’m bored by the topic. It’s like giving birth. A slow agonising experience.

Find a way to generate fresh ideas. You want a bursting idea bank overflow to choose from. I consume quality content most days. And dump the best ideas into Evernote.

I pay close attention to readers’ comments. Looking for ideas I can use. Notice what resonates most. Or problems they raise. How can you help? Listening to readers activates your creative juices.

Don’t wait for inspiration. Hunt for it like your writing life depends on it.

To get ahead. Set yourself to write for 12 months. Use these strategies to become consistent. Knowing if you do. Good things will happen.

Derek

PS. If you want to make 2025 the year you become an online writer. Register your interest in my Starter Kit here. It’ll contain everything you need to get started.