One of the hardest things for aspiring writers (and some accomplished writers) is to complete this equation.

As we know all too well, doing the laundry or washing the lawn never looked as good as it does when you’re supposed to be writing.

So how do you get yourself in the chair? Here are a few tips:

1. Just do it. Yeah, I know you’re groaning now, but give me a second. It’s obvious that a big part of this is getting yourself in the habit, right? Well, you can’t start a habit by waiting for motivation to come, that’s for sure.

Whether you write or end up doodling for half an hour, sit at your desk at the same time every day. If you can’t swing the same time every day, at least do it for the same amount of time every day. It takes three weeks to get into a habit, so start now.

2. Mind drain. This is useful no matter what you’re doing. If you find yourself getting distracted or caught up in other things, take some time to do a mind drain. Pick a notebook and for a certain amount of time or pages (I usually do it for a half an hour each morning before starting work) write without stopping.

Get everything off your mind and onto the paper. Keep a notepad there, too, if you find you are checking back to the page because you wrote a to-do list.

3. Close the door. This advice comes from Stephen King. The first draft of any story you write is strictly for you. You are telling the story to yourself. When it comes time for working on the following drafts and editing, then you can open the door.

Get to it and get writing.