Welcome back to the Christian Story Lab! This week, we're tackling a huge obstacle for writers: consistency. How do you write regularly without burning out, getting distracted, or losing your rhythm?

After studying over 500 of the greatest writers of all time, I have found a common thread: great writers don’t rely on fleeting motivation—they have a system. 

They create a structure that makes creativity sustainable. And that’s exactly what we’re exploring today.

Consistent Writing: Creating a System that Works

If you’re like most writers, you’ve dealt with these:

• Struggling to find time

• Perfectionism or over-editing

• Getting distracted (hello, smartphone!)

• Feeling overwhelmed by your own standards

• Inconsistent routines

You’re not alone.

These are some of the biggest hurdles faced by Christian creators in The Lab, our online community. Many have shared their struggles with distraction and inconsistency, especially as we head into the final stretch of the year.

Instead of trying to push through with sheer willpower, let’s take a page from one of the most productive minds in advertising: Eugene Schwartz, dubbed the “Godfather of Advertising.”

Schwartz built a writing process that prioritized focus and stamina over inspiration. His routine is a masterclass in getting the most out of each writing session.

Schwartz's writing routine can be categorized as constraints:

1. Cadence

2. Space

3. Activity

We are looking at all 3 today!

1. Cadence

Writing every day can be one of the hardest things in the world.

But instead of focusing on the struggle, Eugene Schwartz reframed it, viewing writing with the same commitment and structure that athletes bring to their training.

To write consistently over the long haul, you need more than fleeting motivation—you need a reliable system.

As Schwartz discovered, a schedule beats motivation every time. For him, “writing daily” wasn’t just a vague goal; it was a concrete, actionable routine:

• Write 5 days a week

• For 3 focused hours each day

• Starting each morning at 9 a.m.

This routine wasn’t just about producing words.

It was about building a habit.

He trained his brain to associate that time with writing by showing up at the same time each day.

Your rhythm may look different based on your schedule, but the takeaway is clear: set a predictable writing cadence.

👉 Action Step: Pick a time each day when you’re most likely to write. Start with a 33:33 minute timer. That was Schwartz's favorite writing timer time.

2. Space

Eugene would grab a cup of coffee and a small kitchen timer. He’d walk over to his desk and sat down. Eugene had one place where he always wrote.

After he sat down with his research notes, coffee, and timer, he’d set the timer for 33.33 minutes and hit start.

• Schwartz’s setup was boring.

• Schwart's setup was powerful.

He limited his writing tools to a timer, pen, paper, and coffee—keeping his workspace clean and distraction-free.

As we think about our tools and writing space, we should focus more on having less:

• No phone

• No extra tabs open (I currently have 8 open)

• Absolutely no social media

Find a place where you can zone in. This doesn’t mean booking a crappy hotel room like Ian Fleming did when he wrote James Bond (in 2 weeks, by the way). It just means creating a setup that cues your brain into “writing mode.”

My desk is the motherload of distractions.

3. Activity

Schwartz had a young son who’d love his attention; I’d rather be on a run with an Audible book in my ears. You likely have a hundred things that seem far more appealing than sitting down to write.

That’s where the third constraint comes in.

When Schwartz sits down to write, he gave himself two options:

• Do nothing.

• Write.

That’s it. No busywork, no easy distractions—just staring off into space or getting words down. And when it’s just those two options, writing wins out quickly.

The 3 Constraints:

• Where you are.

• What tools you use.

• What activities do you allow?

Last year, I built a fence in my backyard, which is closing in my yard on all four sides. Now, my two young boys have all the freedom they want in that safe space.

In the same way, think of these three constraints as your way of narrowing down your options and directing all your creative energy in one direction.

The right restraints don't limit; they protect, empower, and lead to better stories.

This Week’s Christian Creator Highlight!

Matthew Snider is a member of The Lab, and his newsletter Word Nerd blows my mind every week. Every Thursday he unpacks a single word from the Scriptures to better understand the Biblical narrative and God Himself in a new and profoundly intimate way.

This is not a paid endorsement. I genuinely enjoy reading this nugget of wisdom every week, and you can have it in your inbox by subscribing here. 

For example, in the verse, “For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” That word highlighted is Yada and is used in a deep sense of knowing (like spouses know each other). God knows you more than you could ever imagine.

Pure gold. Keep it up, Matthew!

Write on 🤙

Payton