10 Strategies for Writers to Stay Productive
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou
If you’re a writer, you know how important it is to stay productive. The key to success is finding the techniques that work best for you. Here are my top ten:
1. Keep a To-Do List
Organizing your tasks and goals is essential for staying focused. Whether you use a notebook, a software solution (Trello, Evernote, Obsidian, ToDoist, Notes, etc.), or a combination of both, make sure to create a to-do list of the things that need to be done. If your list starts to become too long, try this: every day, write down five tasks that you should be working on. If you manage to complete three of them, it counts as success!
2. Reduce Distractions
If you haven’t yet completed the three items on your to-do list, then working on anything else is a form of distraction. Use technology wisely to stay focused: set a timer, turn off your phone, and use tools like ColdTurkeyWriter (this one’s been a game changer for me). If you’re having difficulty concentrating, try the Pomodoro Technique: break down tasks into 25 minute segments with 5 minute breaks in between. Pro tip: if you think it’s time to quickly check emails or social media — it isn’t.
3. Keep Your Workspace Organized
It’s just that. A tidy workspace can make your work go much smoother and faster.
4. Set Reasonable Goals
This one’s important: set realistic expectations when it comes to your writing! It’s better to make progress through small steps than to become overwhelmed by the magnitude of the big goals. Never set goals that are too ambitious (“I have to write a novel this year!”) or you’ll just end up overwhelmed and disheartened. Set realistic goals (“I will work on my novel for 30 minutes every day”) and you’ll be more likely to reach (and exceed) them.
5. Reward Yourself
Do this. It’s important. Celebrate milestones and accomplishments with rewards like taking a break or treating yourself with something special. This is how I discovered that there is a coffee version of Bubble Tea — I forgot the name. However, the staff at Bobalism know I’ve done great things when I visit them.
6. Listen to Music
Listening to the right kind of music can help you stay focused and improve your creativity. Choose music that helps you get in the right writing mood. Tools like FocusAtWill can be extremely effective.
7. Change Up Your Environment
Sometimes it’s helpful to change up your environment when you’re feeling stuck. Take your laptop to a cafe or work outdoors in a park, lie on the kitchen floor, work standing up, write at the bus stop… a change of scenery will give you a creative boost.
8. Again: it is not the time to quickly check emails or social media.
9. Take Notes
Many notes. When you have an idea, be sure to take notes. No matter how good the idea is, you will forget about it eventually if you do not write it down. Be sure to differentiate between your notes (which can be a creative mess) and your to-do list (which is part of your tidy workspace). Personally, I like to keep my to-do list with Obsidian on my laptop, while taking notes with pen and paper whenever possible.
10. Use AI writing tools
It’s 2022 and there is no excuse: with AI tools like MidJourney or GPT3 you can create inspiring images, loglines, or character bios in minutes. Use them!
