How to Build A Sustainable Writing Practice With Dr. Bailey Lang
You know that feeling when your writing routine just falls apart?
Maybe you committed to writing every day at 5 am. Or you promised yourself you'd finish your novel by the end of the year. But then life happened. You missed a day, then two, then a week. And suddenly, that beautiful writing streak you were so proud of? Gone.
But the problem isn't you.
In this week's podcast episode, I sat down with Dr. Bailey Lang, a book coach, editor, and writer who specializes in helping authors build sustainable writing practices.
With a background in Rhetoric and Writing Studies, she has spent years researching how writers actually get work done and what impedes them.
Today, she's sharing the 8 Habits of Mind: curiosity, openness, engagement, creativity, persistence, responsibility, flexibility, and metacognition.
These aren't just mindset tips; they're practical habits that help you proactively build the writing life you actually want.
What Are Habits of Mind (And Why They Matter)
Dr. Lang explained that Habits of Mind are grounded in research in Rhetoric and Writing Studies. A field focused on how people get writing done. They're intellectual and practical methods that help you build a successful writing practice.
When we talk about a writing mindset, we usually focus on the tough stuff. Imposter syndrome, writer's block, and everything in between. But we don't spend enough time thinking about how to cultivate practical, positive orientations toward becoming a better writer.
Below is a break down each of the eight Habits of Mind and what they look like in a real writing practice.
#1. Curiosity: Getting Interested Instead of Getting Stuck
Curiosity is the habit that keeps writers from spiraling when something isn't working. Instead of jumping straight to judgment or frustration, curiosity asks questions. Why does this scene feel flat? What’s confusing me here? What might I try differently? This shift matters because curiosity keeps you engaged with the work long enough to learn from it, rather than shutting down the moment things get uncomfortable.
Dr. Lang explained that curiosity creates space between you and the inner critic. When you approach your writing with interest instead of pressure, you’re more likely to experiment, revise thoughtfully, and keep moving forward. Curiosity doesn’t demand immediate answers. It simply invites you to stay present and explore what’s happening on the page.
#2. Openness: Your Willingness to Try Something New
Openness means the willingness to consider new ways of being and thinking. In your writing practice, it's about how willing you are to experiment.
Feeling stuck? How willing are you to try getting up an hour early and writing during that time, just to see what happens? The key is going in without preconceived ideas. Give it an honest try, then reflect.
This also means finding inspiration in unexpected places. Always reading the same genre? Pick up something completely different. Go to a museum. Do something totally unrelated to writing.
This applies to story craft as well. We need what I call a capacity for zero—the ability to break down Act One and say, "That didn't work. I need to start over," and be open to something different.
#3. Engagement: Staying Mentally Present With Your Writing
Engagement is about how present you are when you sit down to write. You might technically be at your desk, but mentally checked out, distracted, or already slipping into self-doubt. Dr. Lang described engagement as the habit of fully showing up for the work, even when motivation is low or progress feels slow.
Many writers assume their problem is time or discipline, when it’s actually engagement. When you’re genuinely engaged, even short writing sessions can feel meaningful and productive. This habit helps you reconnect with your story, notice what’s happening in your draft, and respond intentionally instead of avoiding the work or going through the motions.
#4. Creativity: Giving Yourself Permission to Explore
Creativity is often misunderstood as something that either shows up or doesn't. In this conversation, Dr. Lang reframed creativity as a habit you actively practice. It’s about giving yourself permission to explore ideas without immediately deciding whether they’re good, useful, or worth keeping.
When writers feel blocked, it’s often because creativity is replaced by evaluation too early in the process. This habit invites you to separate exploration from judgment. You’re allowed to write badly, try strange ideas, and follow threads that might not pan out. Creativity thrives when there’s room to play, test, and discover without pressure to get it “right” the first time.
#5. Persistence: Showing Up When Everything Feels Hard
Persistence is one of the habits Dr. Lang works on most with her clients, and I totally understand why.
It's easy to devalue our creative practices. "I'll write when I have time, when things calm down next week." But next week never comes. This week is always busy.
Persistence is about sticking with a project when you're in that messy middle where nothing feels like it's working. When it's easier to binge Netflix than stick with your story.
Dr. Lang asks a powerful question: Is telling this story important enough to you to stick with it?
Almost everyone says yes. They want their story out in the world. So then it becomes: How do we build that muscle? How do we prove to ourselves that we can see a project through to completion?
It's rewarding when you have that evidence for yourself. When you can say, "Yeah, I can finish a book."
#6. Responsibility (Or Better Yet: Devotion)
Dr. Lang reframes responsibility as devotion, and I love this shift.
"I'm responsible for cleaning the bathroom" doesn't inspire us. But "I am devoted to my craft"? That changes everything.
When you're devoted to your craft, of course, you're going to show up. You're in love with writing. You'll make time and space for it.
This keeps you focused on love rather than obligation. And that's when magic happens.
#7. Flexibility: The Habit Writers Resist Most
Flexibility is one of the habits people resist most.
Many of us believe a writing practice has to look one way. We get these narratives about what a real writer does, and we lose our ability to adapt.
But when life disrupts—when your child gets sick, you get sick, anything happens—it can derail your entire routine. If you don't practice flexing how you approach writing in those moments, it can throw off your entire practice.
Dr. Lang mentioned writing streaks as a perfect example. They can be helpful, but if you're devastated when that streak breaks, you probably shouldn't use them. You need a more flexible approach.
I don't know anyone whose life allows them to write every day at the same time in the same way. We need flexibility. We need to adapt. And we need to not beat ourselves up when we have to.
#8. Metacognition: Thinking About Your Thinking
Metacognition may sound complex, but you likely already do it.
It's the ability to think about your own thinking. If you journal about what's going on emotionally, or notice when you're stuck in a loop, that's metacognition. Mindfulness meditation is also metacognition.
Recognizing patterns—"Oh, that's imposter syndrome. There's that loop again."—That's what this is.
This habit is valuable because it helps you step back and see what's actually happening in your practice, rather than just being swept up in it. It gives you the power to make intentional changes.
How to Actually Implement These Habits
You might be thinking: "Do I wake up tomorrow and try all eight habits at once?"
Nope. The trick is to start small.
Here's what Dr. Lang recommends: Choose one habit that seems interesting or achievable. Spend a week just tracking it. Notice when it appears in your writing practice and outside of it.
If you're interested in persistence, pay attention. When do you get stuck and want to quit? What helps you see something through? Where do you need more support?
By noticing, you're also practicing metacognition—a two-for-one.
Then spend a week or two practicing that habit more actively. Give yourself a small experiment. If persistence is your focus and you usually give up after an hour, try sticking with the full two-hour session.
The key: if an experiment doesn't work, that's not failure. It's information. You tried something that didn't work, and now you can do something different.
The Transformation That's Possible
Dr. Lang shared a client success story that stuck with me. One client progressed from a couple of chapters to completing two-thirds of her book in just a few months.
She began noticing what she needed in her writing practice to feel good. Not "I should be doing it this way," but "How can I build this so it works with my life, my brain, and what feels satisfying to me?"
Her productivity skyrocketed.
As Dr. Lang said, the work isn't about unlocking anything that's not already there. It's about giving people permission to write in the way that works best for them.
Stories Are the Truest Form of Magic
At the end of our conversation, Dr. Lang said something beautiful that I want to leave you with:
"Stories are the truest form of magic that we have access to. In a very literal way, storytelling is a magical act. And if there is a story that you want to tell, do everything you can to tell it. Give yourself the permission to tell it. Let it be fun, let it be beautiful, and call in your whole support network to be with you during that process. You do not have to do this by yourself."
I completely agree. Stories are magic, and they can change lives. They're so important. And you don't have to navigate this journey alone.
Whether you're stuck, burnt out, or your writing practice just isn't working the way you want it to, I hope these 8 Habits of Mind give you a new framework. A way to build a foundation that makes finishing your book feel possible—and even enjoyable.
Because building a writing practice shouldn't feel like throwing yourself at a brick wall. It can feel sustainable. It can feel joyful. And it can actually work with your life, not against it.
Start with one habit. Notice where it shows up. Run small experiments. Give yourself grace when things don't go perfectly. And remember: you have a story worth telling, and these habits can help you tell it.
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