Intentional Consistency: 8 Habits That Help Writers Stay Faithful to Their Calling

From Edie: Discover eight practical habits that help writers practice intentional consistency, protect their writing time, and stay faithful to the calling God has placed on their lives.

Intentional Consistency: 8 Habits That Help Writers Stay Faithful to Their Calling

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

The idea of intentional consistency may sound too obvious to mention. But stay with me for a moment.

Life is incredibly busy. Most of us are dividing our time into smaller and smaller portions, juggling responsibilities, opportunities, and obligations. And when life gets crowded, writing is often the first thing to slip through the cracks.

But I’ve come to believe that writing doesn’t belong in the leftover spaces of our lives.

We’ve been given a gift. We’ve been entrusted with a calling. And ignoring that calling—or only tending to it when life calms down—can quietly turn into poor stewardship.

So I’ve been working to practice what I call intentional consistency in my writing life.

And if you’re like me, you’ve probably discovered that no matter how good your intentions are, life still intrudes.

That’s why consistency has to be intentional.

Here are eight simple practices that have helped me stay faithful to my writing, even in busy seasons.

8 Habits That Help Writers Practice Intentional Consistency

1. Identify your most creative hours

I’ve determined when I’m most creative and blocked that time on my calendar. For me, that window is the morning—anytime before noon.

Truthfully, I’m not able to spend every single morning writing. But when the time is blocked off, it forces me to weigh other opportunities more carefully.

When writing has a reserved place on your calendar, it becomes harder to treat it as optional.

2. Set weekly goals instead of daily ones

I prefer weekly goals over daily goals because they’re more flexible.

If I miss a day, I still have the rest of the week to meet the expectations I’ve set. Sometimes those goals are based on word count. Other times, they’re based on tasks.

For example, when I’m working on a devotional project, my weekly goal might be:

• Edit three devotions
• Draft two new ones
• Finalize a section for submission

Weekly goals create forward movement without unnecessary pressure.

3. Write regularly—even when you don’t feel like it

No, I don’t write every single day. I believe writers need a Sabbath rest.

But I do write when I don’t feel like it, as well as when I do.

We are all busy. We all have important responsibilities. But if we call ourselves writers, then writing must be one of those priorities.

We can’t just:

• Talk about writing
• Critique other writers
• Plan to write when life slows down

If we do, we risk becoming like the rich man in Luke 12 who planned for the future but ignored the present. We are not promised tomorrow. We cannot afford to squander today.

4. Respect your calling

This required an attitude shift for me.

Through prayer and study, I’ve realized that God expects obedience in every area of life—not just the hard or unpleasant ones. Obedience is meant to be foundational.

For a long time, I loved writing so much that I subconsciously assumed it wasn’t important. After all, it was enjoyable.

But obedience isn’t measured by difficulty or income. It’s measured by faithfulness.

Whether or not my writing earns money, I’m called to be obedient with the gift God has given me.

5. Let God set your priorities—even when it means saying no

I try to model my life after Jesus. And when I study His life, I see something striking.

He was never controlled by someone else’s agenda—even when the need was urgent.

He walked away from:

• Crowds who needed healing
• Hurting people
• Confused disciples

Why? Because He followed the Father’s priorities, not the pressure of the moment.

Everywhere around us are good needs:

• Ministries that need volunteers
• Children who need babysitting
• Loved ones who need help

But we are not God. We cannot be everywhere at once.

When God says no, I go with it.

When He says write, I sit down and write.

6. Enlist a support team

Actually, I have more than one.

I have:

• A prayer team that prays specifically for my writing ministry
• A group of writers I meet with regularly

Both groups provide accountability and perspective. They help me remember my priorities and make wiser choices.

Writing may be solitary, but writers shouldn’t be isolated.

7. Take time off

I’ve tried the “work every waking hour” approach. It doesn’t work.

It makes me:

• Cranky
• Tired
• Difficult to live with

It’s also unfair to my family and friends. Relationships matter. When my life is out of balance, my calling isn’t the only thing that suffers.

Rest is not the enemy of productivity.

Sometimes, it’s the very thing that sustains it.

8. Nurture your relationship with God

This is the foundation. Without it, numbers one through seven lose their meaning.

I make these a regular—daily—priority:

• Prayer
• Scripture study
• Quiet with God

I’ve learned—usually the hard way—that the crazier life gets, the more time I need with Him.

Consistency in writing begins with consistency in our walk with God.

Why Intentional Consistency Matters for Writers

None of these eight practices is earth-shattering. In fact, most of them sound fairly obvious—until we try to apply them to our own lives.

For me, these changes required a significant shift in thinking and habits. But the results have been worth it.

Intentional consistency:

• Protects your writing time
• Strengthens your calling
• Builds steady progress
• Reduces guilt and frustration
• Keeps your focus on faithfulness, not just productivity

Writing isn’t something we squeeze in around life.

For those called to it, writing is part of the life God has given us.

Now it's your turn. What does intentional consistency look like in your writing life? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your experience may encourage another writer today.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

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Intentional Consistency: 8 Habits That Help Writers Stay Faithful to Their Calling from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. She’s learned to embrace the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others call on God’s strength during challenging times, often using creativity to empower this connection. She also knows the necessity of Soul Care and leads retreats, conferences, and workshops on ways to use creativity to help strengthen our connection with God. 

She and husband Kirk have been married 44+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains.