What disciplines/habits are used to stay focussed on one novel over a long period of time?

Question

One of my biggest issues is staying focussed on a single novel. My imagination is always creating new and wonderful ideas. I write a few chapters on this story, a few on that story, but never finish.**What disciplines / habits can I put into place to stay focussed and finish a single novel?**

Answer 1

This is an issue many writers face and there are multiple disciplines that you could incorporate into your everyday writing habits. One that works for most (as well as myself) is "routine, routine, routine". Sometimes you have to just stare at that blank page and focus on what you are writing on at that time. Try to have a set time and place that you do your writing in order to create a habit that will compel you to write. If your mind wanders to other worlds, ideas, or fantasies try to figure out how those may be adapted to fit the story you are writing at that time. Remember, writing does not have to be completed linearly, it can bounce around to different points and plots and then you get to have the fun of tying them all together. Having a white board or index cards also help to jot down those off the topic ideas in order to come back to them later, but by writing them down it helps to quiet your brain from screaming, "Work on Me!" Finally, I would suggest looking into a book by Anne Lamott entitled Bird by Bird. Fantastic book that was required reading for me in college, and that I loved so much I kept it and still use it for ideas today.