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The Daily Writing Process That Keeps the Time Tunnel Moving
One of the best decisions I ever made was committing to write something every single day. Not for perfection. Not for massive engagement numbers. Just for the discipline and the love of the craft.
As someone who puts out The Daily Chronicle — my pro wrestling history newsletter on the Territory Era — plus work on books like my upcoming The Life & Times of Dory Funk, Sr., I’ve learned that consistency beats talent when the deadline hits every morning.
Here’s what my daily writing process actually looks like in 2026 — the real, sometimes chaotic version that actually works for me on the Richards Ranch in Kentucky:
1. Morning Brain Dump (10–15 minutes) Before coffee fully kicks in or I dive into research on guys like Skull Murphy or Kurt Von Poppenheim, I open a blank note. I spill whatever is rattling around — a half-remembered story from an old wrestler interview, something that frustrated me about modern wrestling, or even a random observation from life. Last month on my birthday, that brain dump turned into a reflective letter to subscribers that felt more personal than any planned piece. Most days it’s still messy. That’s exactly why it works.
2. The “One Good Sentence” Rule I don’t force a full 1,500-word feature every single day. Some mornings I only aim for one sentence I’m proud of about a territory wrestler or a forgotten angle. Once I nail that sentence, I give myself permission to stop or keep rolling. Many of the best entries in The Daily Chronicle started exactly that way — including the deep dive on Pat O’Dowdy that readers told me brought back strong memories for them.
3. Capture → Connect → Craft •
-Capture: All day long I throw raw ideas, old program scans, quotes from wrestlers I’ve interviewed, or links into one “Inbox” note.
-Connect: Later I look at the pile and ask: “What story does this connect to? What pattern from the 1970s or 80s territory days am I seeing?”
-Craft: Only then do I shape it. Some days it becomes a full career retrospective. Most days it’s a tight newsletter section or a short note that still teaches something real.
4. Publish Imperfectly Early on with the Substack, I wasted too much time polishing. Now I set a timer — usually 45–60 minutes max once the research is done — and hit publish. The feedback from subscribers (some of whom lived through those territories) has been far more valuable than sitting alone trying to make every piece flawless. That approach helped the newsletter grow and even earned me the 2026 James Melby Award.
5. Reflection (2 minutes) Before I close everything down, I quickly ask: • What did I learn about the business or about myself while writing today? • What felt true to the history? • What surprised me in the research?
That tiny step is why writing daily has made me a sharper historian, writer and a clearer thinker overall.
Writing every day isn’t just about becoming a better writer (though that definitely happens). It’s about staying connected to the stories that matter — whether it’s the grit of Texas Death Matches or the quiet lessons from forgotten territory “policemen.”
The pieces I write when it’s just me, my notes, and the quiet of the ranch are often the ones that resonate most with readers. If you’ve been putting off consistent writing — whether for a newsletter, a book, business content, or personal reflection — this is your reminder.
Start ugly.
Start small.
Just start today.
What’s one wrestling memory, life lesson, or idea you’re going to write about today?