Improved Writing Productivity

Improve your Writing Productivity

If you are a writer struggling to write, you will like this writing tip (and, you’re normal). If you are writing you will know that there are days when you write one paragraph, and others when you write ten pages. What’s the difference? How can you create more ten page days? The answer is simple, if you are willing to:

Writing is like exercising. When you exercise you create a routine to strain and train your muscles,. When you write, you create a predictable routine that allows your muse to show up. If you change everything all the time, its hard to “get in a groove.” Personally, I write better in the morning than in the evening, for example. How did I come to know that? I tried both, and found that over time I was more productive in the morning.  I am more refreshed in the morning, and my mind hasn’t had a chance to be tained with the concerns of the day yet. Also, if I write just after I dream, I have some ideas that I can take from my sleeping hours into my waking hours. If you write in the morning, you may just find that your muse has been working while you have been asleep.

Changing things up may seem to contradict what I just said, but let me explain. If you are going to spin your wheels and get no where, it is better to do something than to do nothing. If you are sitting in your chair for hours on end, and you have produced nothing, then you need to change something. You could try plotting, doing a character sketch, or thinking about a scene before you write it. Write standing up. Put away the computer, and write with pen and paper. Try going somewhere else to write. The net result needs to be you figuring how what situation, environment, smell, taste, place etc. you need to best drive your creativity and productivity. You have to understand yourself. You have to find your muse. So, do something different! Do something productive!

People are habitual – we just are. So this is simple. Turn off the internet. Put away the mouse (no more pointing and clicking). Lock up the video games. Close your doors. Turn off music. Create expectations with your spouse. Plan ahead of time. Write at the same time every day. Carry a notebook with you. Keep pen and paper near your bedside. Use a bedside lamp. Read. Wake yourself up in the middle of the night and write down your thoughts. Only open your writing document. Keep your hands on the keyboard. Write in the bathroom. Go to bed early. Wake up early. Write at lunch. Draw. Create something.

I don’t know about you, but it takes me a while to get worked up to a fluid state of mind in which you can write the quality of prose that you want to. But heavens, once you get in that mode don’t stop! If you need to start earlier so that you can get into your flow earlier, and last longer, then do that. However, don’t stop once the writing comes. Don’t slow the flow.

Do other creative activities like drawing. You may not be a great artist, but it can help you use the other side of your brain, and get your creativity flowing. If you can’t just seem to describe your character, perhaps its because you don’t really know what he/she is like. If you draw your character, sometimes describing what is right in front of you can make it a whole lot easier – at least to get you started.

This may sound like a pitch for the metaphysical, but its really about getting some turned-off time. If you think about all the sensory input you receive in a day, you might be a little overwhelmed. Take time to relax, and be alone with your thoughts. Close your eyes, and stretch. Sometimes when you let your mind recover, or when you let it go, then it starts working on your story in the background, and the ideas start flowing.

I hope you find some of these writing tips useful. If you do, please digg or stumble this post so others might benefit as well!

Happy writing.
Justin