5 Rules for Writing Every Day
Writers tend to despise rules. That kind of independence is what inspires us to express ourselves, and we use words instead of voices or music or visuals (or property destruction) to make our point.
The rules about writing below aren’t necessarily rules; maybe they’re more like tips or guidelines, but whatever they are, they help a busy but lazy guy like me get some form of writing done almost every day.
If I’m going to write every day, I’m definitely not going to use one of these! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In every writer’s class I’ve taken and every writer’s group I’ve been in, there was always somebody who said that the most important rule to writing was to “write every day.” I’m usually pretty good at following rules, but this one has always been stated with such pomposity that I’ve wanted to argue, except I’m a quiet person who doesn’t like to make scenes, so I’ve always kept my mouth shut.
Writing every day is a great rule if you’re a full-time writer, but I have a full-time job that has nothing to do with writing, and I have a family, so it’s not easy to simply “write every day.” Life is stressful, and trying to write every day (when I tried it) made it even worse. In order to write…
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Dysfunctional Literacy 
I don’t write every day. There is simply no time for it and when I try to shoehorn it in, get up early, stay up late, let my kiddo watch unfettered TV, a few things happen. A) first it starts to feel like a job. B) The worst paid job ever. C) that I suck at. D) now I’m depressed. LOL
So now I write when I want, edit reasonably often, and remind myself it’s a fun hobby I love.
I totally get how writing every day is hard! I have a little notebook and also a journal so if I can’t squeeze writing a full length piece in at least I’m recalling my day!
Yes, the old ‘write everyday’ advice is great for those who don’t work / have no kids / have no partner or want to gain weight / become short sighted / OD on EMFs / lose all contact with reality. But it’s not practical or healthy for us all. Your approach is much better – structure without beating yourself that your not producing the kind of word count Stephen King professes to. A habit is good, though. Trains your brain which makes you more creative.