The No-One-Size-Fits-All Guide to Building a Writing Practice
Why trial and error is a good practice.
I used to believe there was a perfect writing process, a single magical method that could transform anyone into a productive, consistent writer. If you just found the best tools and followed the best steps, the thinking went; everything would click into place.
If this were true, I would be a wealthy woman selling the secrets to a foolproof writing process!
Instead, what I’ve learned through years of writing, coaching, and teaching is that there’s no cookie-cutter formula for success. There are plenty of strategies, sure, but finding what works for you requires experimentation, reflection, and a willingness to adapt. Writing isn’t just about putting words on the page—it’s about building a process that fits your life, your brain, and your priorities. And that process is, well, a process.
Trial and Error Is Part of the Journey
Developing a sustainable writing habit means trying things out, seeing what sticks, and being okay with scrapping what doesn’t. Maybe you’ve tried writing first thing in the morning, only to discover that your brain doesn’t really wake up until after coffee number two. Or maybe you’ve tried long weekend writing marathons, only to end up exhausted and resentful of your laptop by Sunday evening.
This is all useful information. Every attempt, whether it feels successful or not, is a chance to learn more about what works for you.
But here’s the thing: you can’t just experiment. You also have to reflect.
Reflection as the Secret Sauce
Reflection is what turns trial and error into progress. It’s how you figure out why one strategy worked better than another. Maybe journaling after a writing session helps you see patterns in your energy levels. Maybe chatting with peers reveals new ways to tackle a tricky section of your manuscript. However you choose to reflect—whether it’s through a quick note in your planner, a conversation with a friend, or even a voice memo you record on the go—it’s essential to making your writing process better over time.
Reflection also helps you build self-awareness and self-compassion. Instead of beating yourself up for not writing as much as you planned, you can look at what got in the way and adjust. Writing isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence and progress.
Experimentation and Reflection in Flourish
This cycle of experimentation and reflection is at the heart of Flourish. The course is grounded in experiential learning theory, which means you won’t just get writing advice—you’ll get the tools and support to try strategies, reflect on your experiences, and refine your approach.
We’ll talk about finding what works for your life, not someone else’s. That might mean writing in 20-minute sprints between classes, carving out a dedicated day each week, or rethinking what a productive writing session looks like. And when something doesn’t work? That’s just another opportunity to learn and try again.
In Flourish, you’ll learn to approach writing with curiosity, confidence, and the tools to keep moving forward.
In Sum
Your writing process doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s—it only has to work for you. The journey to discovering that process will be full of experiments, surprises, and plenty of adjustments along the way.