The Consistent Writer: Remind Yourself

 

By Marilyn Nutter

Consistency is defined as steady and reliable. It doesn’t happen randomly or by accident, or we’d be unpredictable and inconsistent. My observations tell me that consistent writers have discipline and persevere in their craft. They operate at a steady pace with a routine and a calendar. They have goals and healthy habits. But they don’t operate as a solo act. They look for accountability in writers groups and communities. When they meet obstacles like re-writes, rejections, or writer’s block, they see them as opportunities for redirection, or perhaps needed rest.

Those are the observations, but how do you get there? Developing our personal consistency begins with how we think. Consider adding these on post-it notes on your desk.

·       Remind yourself of your calling and that your calling has different assignments; perhaps a book, a contribution to a compilation, or an article.

·       Remind yourself of your purpose and that writing is not only a calling and a professional responsibility, but also a ministry.

·       Remind yourself of your gifts and skills.

·       Remind yourself of your creativity. You were made in the image of our Creator.

·       Remind yourself of ministry: to teach, encourage, inform, or inspire others in different assignments.

·       Remind yourself that failure is a comma, not a period on your path.

·       Remind yourself that your competence comes from God.

·       Remind yourself that you have a unique design. You don’t look like another writer, and you don’t write another writer. You have a unique voice.

·       Remind yourself of the need to grow as a person. Your priority each day is to be consistent in reading the Word and prayer. Seek His direction and instruction as to how He wants to fulfill His purposes for you. Learn to listen carefully to what He has to tell you.

·       Remind yourself you are dependent on the Lord.

·       Remind yourself to grow in your craft through a writing partner or community for critique and accountability.

Readers won’t be the recipients of our work unless we consistently write. Remind yourself that there are different definitions to success. Sometimes success looks like selling 10,000 copies of a book. Sometimes it looks like touching one reader with a blog post. Both start when we’re disciplined and consistent. 

Remind yourself  … consistently.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

 

Marilyn Nutter is the author of Hope for Widows: Reflections on Mourning, Living, and Change and co-author with April White of the award winning book, Destination Hope: A Travel Companion When Life Falls Apart.  Her devotional Mourning Glories: 40 Devotions on Grief, Faith, and New Seasons for Widows was released in June 2026. She is a frequent contributor to online sites and compilations. Visit her at http:/MarilynNutter.com.

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