How many times have you heard that writing is all about determination - the ability to sit down faithfully every day and write your 500 words (or 1000 or a chapter)? How many of you feel guilty because that never seems to work for you?

Or, for those on the opposite side, how many of you sit down and write so many words every day but wonder if you are really a writer because you crank out those words like a machine and never seem to have the lightning bolt of inspiration that you hear of other authors experiencing?

Well, I am here to tell you not to feel guilty any more (and not to look down your nose at others either) for either being unable to “write every day” or unable to “write whenever I feel like it.”

There are 3 Main Writing Style categories which I believe most authors fall into: 1) Scheduled 2) Pattern 3) Burst.

1) Scheduled. These writers can determine ahead of time (i.e. put it on their schedules) when and where they plan to write. Monday and Tuesday, 8am to 6pm, at the library. Wednesday to Friday, 2pm to 4pm, at the park. Saturday and Sunday, 6am to noon, at home. They are the “write every day” type crowd. Very regular. Sit down and type. No problem.

2) Pattern. These writers are similar to the first group in that they too can “write every day” if needs be, but they differ by having a pattern that determines when and where the writing flows. Some can only write in the mornings. Do something else in the AM, and try to write after lunch? Welcome frustration and continual “writer’s block” until the next morning when suddenly it flows again. Others can only write at night. Same with their space: only in the park, or the bath, or the library, etc. These writers work best if they can determine their pattern (library, every afternoon).

3) Burst. These writers deal with guilt the most because they cannot just “write every day.” They write when “inspiration strikes.” Sometimes that is 16 hours a day for 3 weeks, then nothing for 2 months. They need a little more input from other sources to light the match that fuels their fire. My husband is this type. He learned to help the bursts come around more frequently by reading, watching videos, or talking to others on the subject he was writing about. I’ve learned to give him space when he goes into a writing marathon and ask him questions about his book when the burst is slower than usual in coming.

So, which style best fits you? Scheduled, Pattern, or Burst?

Figuring out which category you fall into helps you to be the best writer you can be. No more trying to change yourself into doing it like another author, even if they have 101 reasons why you should do it just like they do.

Embrace who YOU are and change the world one word, one sentence, one book at a time.