11 tips for becoming a more productive writer
Your time is valuable and with so many things needing your attention (hello, work) and so many things distracting you (hello, social media), it can be hard to find time for your creative writing.
But, if you want to be a writer and are working toward being a published author, you have to make time for your writing!
When you’ve found the time for your writing, the next step is getting the most out of your writing sessions by being super productive. Being productive during writing time takes practice and dedication, just like getting better at writing.
If you’re having trouble focusing during writing sessions, whether you can’t stop checking your phone or just don’t feel in the zone, you might want to review these quick tips.
Get the most out of your writing sessions with these productivity tips!
1. Make it a habit
Stop waiting for inspiration or the “perfect moment” to write and just make it a part of your day. Once it’s a part of your regular routine it won’t seem like such a daunting task. I know I feel overwhelmed when I have time set aside for writing and am worried I won’t get enough done or what I write will be crap.
Just do it. Make writing a habit to become a more productive writer.
2. Write in your golden hours
We all have productivity peaks, which is why we designate some people as early birds and some as night owls. Maybe you can knock out 1,000 words first thing in the morning with your cup of coffee or maybe that sounds like the worst idea you’ve ever heard and you know from 9 – 11 p.m. each night you are in the zone!
Figure out when your creativity is at its peak and write during that time.
3. Run a time audit
Struggling to make writing a habit as other things are occupying your time? You need to run a time audit on yourself to see how you’re really spending your time and if you’re wasting any of it.
We all say we don’t have enough time for things, but we do, it’s just how we organize our time and make the most of it. I’ve found myself getting ready for a writing session and then realize 20 minutes have gone by while I was scrolling through Instagram. It’s insane how quickly time can fly when we’re doing mindless things like checking social media, browsing the web, or watching TV.
Start tracking your time like you’re a lawyer or work at a marketing agency to really see if you’re using your time wisely.
4. Stop checking other things
Put your phone away, exit out of Facebook, and close your inbox and other tabs on your browser. The world will still be waiting when you’ve finished your writing session. I put my phone in another room when it’s time for a writing session so I’m not tempted to check texts or social media.
5. Write a list of other to dos
Stop getting distracted by other things you should be doing, like the dishes, laundry, or replying to that email your aunt sent three weeks away by putting everything that’s running through your head down on paper.
Make a list of things you don’t want to forget or need to remind yourself to do later, after your writing session. By knowing you’re keeping track of these things you can stop letting them nag you and just focus on writing.
6. Have your outline handy
Have your outline in front of you or on a second screen so you know what chapter or scenes you’re working on in this session. Knowing where your story is going can help you stay focused on the scene at hand instead of daydreaming about what else could happen in the scene and eating up all of your writing time.
7. Set goals
Working toward a goal can help you stay focused and maximize productivity. If you know you need to write 500 words, you’ll be more motivated toward accomplishing that goal instead of getting distracted. You may even want to tie rewards to reaching your goals for an extra dash of motivation.
Set deadlines for yourself to stay accountable for moving your story forward. Like NaNoWriMo, everyone is typing away to reach a goal of 50,000 words in one month.
8. Set a timer
Having worked for a marketing agency in the past, I’m no stranger to tracking my time with a timer and I’ve found it works wonders for helping me stay in the zone and block out distractions.
Lots of productivity experts recommend the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25 minutes straight and then take a five or 10-minute break to check your phone or do whatever else would normally be distracting you during a session. You can write for 25 minutes with no breaks or distractions, I promise!
9. Write like no one’s reading
Have you ever found your diary or creative writing essays from when you were a kid? You might cringe now but your past self got something down on paper without fear. Go back into that mindset and write like your younger self without trying too hard or worrying about showing, not telling. Just get the words out!
It might even look like a bad transcription of a movie scene at first as it’s very basic. Something like: Tony went into the restaurant. He was mad. He never thought Ava could hurt him. The waitress was scared of his expression. He sat stock-still as he waited. Ava arrived.
Definitely not Shakespeare and will need revision, but it gets things moving and is a starting point. At least there are words on the page.
10. Do not edit
Don’t look back, don’t reread the scene looking for things that need tweaking! Just write. You will be editing your story at another point in time and don’t lose your momentum on something that doesn’t matter right now.
11. Be held accountable
Finally, an easy way to be more productive is to partner up with someone as an accountability buddy. Maybe it’s a family member, friend, or fellow writer, but it’s someone who supports you and wants to make sure you reach your own writing goals. Maybe they check word counts, see how you’re meeting your goals, or maybe they check in on you during writing sessions to wrestle your phone out of your hands.
Do you have any great tips for being a more productive writer? Share them in the comments section or on Twitter!
