The 2 Easy Steps To Become a Prolific Writer

“You must not come lightly to the blank page.”

Writing, like life, is simple.

It’s the people that make it complicated.

The truth is there are only two steps to the craft of writing. Preparing to write, and the writing itself.

And 99% of beginner writers get hopelessly stuck on the first step. They think about writing more than they actually write!

I can relate, I’ve been there.

We got the process backward. You see, aspiring writers stress so much about writing that they often lose sight of why they wanted to be a writer in the first place. The process of writing should be fun, good writing shouldn’t bore anybody — least of all the writer!

However, the lead up to writing, the preparation, the mental flexing of fingers, should be infused with iron discipline.

1. Prepare Like a Professional

“You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair …Come to it any way but lightly.

— Stephen King, On Writing.

Don’t fret about writing when you’re not even prepared to write.

Your desk is messy, your laptop cluttered. The TV is blaring and you haven’t scheduled time for your craft. You don’t have a topic, an outline, nothing. You can’t write, because you’re not prepared to write.

As Sun Tzu said in his Art of War, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

I’ve had 4 MMA fights and countless Jiu-Jitsu matches. This unique experience taught me to approach writing like a professional athlete. You have to be prepared.

Prepare to write the same way you would prepare for unarmed human combat.

Anything but lightly.

2. Write Like a Child

Writing must never be boring! It must not bore the reader, the writer — it must not bore anybody!” — Charles Bukowski

So many of us fret over our words so much that we’ve forgotten that writing is supposed to be fun.

There’s nothing like the heady joy of creation. Ultimate freedom, to make and unmake to your heart’s desire. To be who you want, say what you will, and do what you wish. A god with a quill.

I’ve written about that here. Write for your readers, yes, but don’t forget to write for yourself!

If writing is fun — like it’s supposed to be, you’ll want to write again and again. You’ll block off time for it, schedule your life around your craft.

And that’s how you become prolific.

By loving what you do.

In Summary

Treat the lead up seriously — but treat the act itself lightly. Steel yourself for the task at hand, and when you finally put pen to paper, enjoy it.

Now go.

Prepare to have fun.