Wouldn’t it be nice to see your name in print, in a magazine or a newspaper (as the author, not the subject), or to walk into a bookshop and see your book displayed on a table?

I don’t know if writing every day and firing off query letters will make such aspirations materialise, but I do know one thing: not writing won’t work either.

I keep meeting people who tell me that one of these days they are going to write a book, or start writing articles to pitch to magazines. Really? Why “one of these days”? Why not today, or tomorrow?

Yes, I know we’re all busy, which is why I don’t write books or blog posts along the lines of “How to write your PhD thesis in 5 minutes a day”. I find there are plenty of occasions when I have the time to write, but not the mental energy, while at other times I’m overflowing with ideas but life has taken over and there just isn’t the time to sit down and do any writing.

However, I always intend to write, and not just in a “one of these days” kind of way. When my circumstances allow, I write every day without fail, even if it’s just a quick blog post. Having to think of just the right word, and just the right turn of phrase, is great discipline. It’s important to do it even if what you write is not intended for publication, and even if nobody else will ever read it even if it is published.

Professional musicians practise every day. People who aspire to be professional writers should aim to do no less.