Five ways to become a more productive writer

Want to become a more productive writer?

You can, just keep tapping that keyboard. Here are five tips which will help you:

1. Set process goals for your writing

I'm big on processes. Writing itself is a process - it doesn't happen all at once. See "Write more when you separate planning, writing and editing." I set process goals for the month, week and day.

My daily process goals usually limit themselves to word counts - I set the number of words I want to create the next day the night before. Sometimes I meet the goal, sometimes I don't. However, having the goal makes all the difference.

2. Make writing the first thing you do every day

If you're not a full-time writer, get up an hour earlier than usual, and write. No checking email. :-) Just do the necessary, splash cold water on your face, grab a cup of coffee, and write. Set your process goal/ word count the night before.

3. Get comfortable with chaos - you don't have to know what you're writing

When you separate planning, writing and editing there's lots of chaos. Often, you won't know what the heck something is supposed to be until you're editing it. The biggest hurdle you'll jump when you make the leap from new writer to seasoned pro is that you don't care about the chaos. You realize that your subconscious mind is in charge of much of the writing process and happily wait to see the results, which become visible sooner or later.

Meditation helps with this. I've been meditating for many years, and I encourage you to start a meditation practice. Get instruction if you can, or learn from a book. Over time, you come to realize that meditation is like writing: the process can be uncomfortable, but that's OK, it's just the way your mind is operating at the time. It doesn't mean you're not doing it right.

4. Get over yourself - no one really cares

You can waste a lot of time worrying about what other people will think about your writing: editors, publishers, critics, family - whoever. Eventually, you realize that no one is paying attention, even if you want them to. Each and every one of us has his own worries, challenges and concerns.

Don't discuss your writing with others. It's pointless. Since writing is a process, only you know when a piece of writing is "finished" and what you want to do with it.

Even people who can buy your writing - editors and publishers - only care about your writing when it helps them to achieve their goals. When you receive a note which says "Not for us" it's a rejection of the writing, not of you as a person. And "not for us" only means "not for us".

5. Learn to write by writing

Want to write a suspense novel? Write it. Find a suspense novel you love  that's similar to what you want to write and outline it. Work out the number of chapters, and the number of scenes in each chapter. Count the number of characters. Then write your own. Writing teaches you about writing.

Even if your first attempt at a novel, article or screenplay is woeful, and the chances are that it will be, it's valuable. Writing teaches you with every word you write.

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