Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

ay 84 of my daily blogging streak.Now, I don’t have to find the muse. I can create it whenever I want! Only one compulsion ( which is the preference for most writers ) is this: availability of a quiet environment.Even when I feel uninspired, I take a brisk mindful walk ( without phone ) in nature to come up with ideas. Or just select anyone from my idea book. In most cases, walking works like a charm. I trust walking more than idea book because walking helps with fresh ideas. The idea book is a kind of insurance.<h1 id="0c5d">Crush adversity in the face.</h1>Nowadays I don’t do writing as the first task in the morning every day because of an injury in my left sole. The morning workout schedule is disturbed, so is the writing one.When an injury occurs in a region where pain receptors are highly sensitive, it will excruciate even with minimal physical activity. Nevertheless, I have developed the habit to write any time of the day now!Since I don’t need to force myself in writing, the action comes naturally. Nowadays, I publish on Medium sharply around 11:50 PM. Yes, the last 10 minutes of the day is near.The current ( in contrast to the morning one ) modified plan is to start by 11 PM, finish the first draft by 11:30, edit manually till 11:40, then 5 minutes on Grammarly. The schedule then stretches till 11:55 because some steps often take longer. That’s why I set to publish at 11:50, to have a 10-minute window before midnight for any extended activity.<h1 id="bc30">Today’s writing challenge</h1>Today’s challenge was: I started at 11:15 PM and set a 10-minute time-trial to see if I could come up with at least a 3-minute read with nonstop typing.Honestly, I set a timer, and when it goes off, you see me type something weird. I promise I won’t disappoint you! You can directly skip to the end to see the all-caps word if you want. Have fun!<h1 id="b99c">Success for the day</h1>I’m more than halfway done. I know I will come up with something in the end because that’s how your brain works under artificial pressu

Options

re that you build for yourself. It doesn’t work always, but I have developed self-trust from more than two months of daily practice.We just need to think about a specific topic and have a direction in mind while proceeding. Like, today, I was thinking about how to make the best out of 10 minutes. I imagined myself in an extempore speech competition. That’s what I am doing right now: <a href="https://readmedium.com/listening-to-my-mind-and-writing-in-heavy-rain-211d45bd2b85">talking about the present.</a>I challenged my creative writing skills. I want to see the power of focused writing. So far, so good, 35 seconds to go.Editing took around another 10 minutes because, why not! The rule is: never release bloopers before airing the show!Before I wrap up, here is a good congratulations to me for making it this far, and if you have read till now then: BOOPLA BOOP. Times up!<h1 id="c3f9">Final words</h1>I had so much fun in this speed-writing experiment. I finished the challenge even before reaching the flow state. I was halfway through the flow state — if “halfway” is a state, LOL!I hope you also felt the speed while reading. If you are up for a challenge, try speed-reading this piece in 2 minutes — my personal best for this article.You can try the same challenge to test how fast your brain works when you put a constraint and race with time. You’ll feel the writing ( or whichever activity sparks you) high before even reaching the flow state! My next challenge is a 7-minute read in 20 minutes! See you!This blog belongs to a series of posts I am publishing in this 100-days streak. Today is day 84. Navigate to the end of <a href="https://readmedium.com/your-phone-is-a-distraction-only-if-you-want-it-to-be-3ea75dfb081b">article 22</a>, for the references from day 23 onwards. If you would like to read the ones before day 22, here is the <a href="https://readmedium.com/21-90-rule-combined-with-seinfeld-strategy-df9f7457dc11">first one</a> that documents in the end.~ Sanjeev</article></body>

How Speed-Writing Can Test Your Creative Muscles

A 10-minute time-trial on writing about the present to test the brain’s speed.

Why challenge?

Challenges teach you to bring out your best version. Even when you couldn’t crush it, mostly you are satisfied in the end because you gave your best anyway.

You know you exploited the chance in the best possible way. This experience will motivate you to strike harder in the next attempt because there was still room for improvement. For me, the next time is tomorrow because I write every day.

Today, the challenge is to come up with a 3-minute read by typing for 10 minutes nonstop. This one will be my personal best!

Your habits are your strength.

I generally used to wake-up early in the morning, freshen-up and the first thing I did was writing (blogging explicitly).

Before the writing streak started, my first activity after waking up was strength training. Now, the schedule is a bit changed because I added writing in the morning too. Why I did so was to develop a writing habit so that once I reach the auto-pilot ( I am close ) mode, I won’t need to force myself to show up every day.

That’s why I blocked 10 minutes. It is just me and my computer in a zero distraction environment. I want to test how well I can perform.

When ideas don’t come, see it as a challenge.

Since showing up every day is a proven practical approach, it did work like magic. Today is day 84 of my daily blogging streak.

Now, I don’t have to find the muse. I can create it whenever I want! Only one compulsion ( which is the preference for most writers ) is this: availability of a quiet environment.

Even when I feel uninspired, I take a brisk mindful walk ( without phone ) in nature to come up with ideas. Or just select anyone from my idea book. In most cases, walking works like a charm. I trust walking more than idea book because walking helps with fresh ideas. The idea book is a kind of insurance.

Crush adversity in the face.

Nowadays I don’t do writing as the first task in the morning every day because of an injury in my left sole. The morning workout schedule is disturbed, so is the writing one.

When an injury occurs in a region where pain receptors are highly sensitive, it will excruciate even with minimal physical activity. Nevertheless, I have developed the habit to write any time of the day now!

Since I don’t need to force myself in writing, the action comes naturally. Nowadays, I publish on Medium sharply around 11:50 PM. Yes, the last 10 minutes of the day is near.

The current ( in contrast to the morning one ) modified plan is to start by 11 PM, finish the first draft by 11:30, edit manually till 11:40, then 5 minutes on Grammarly. The schedule then stretches till 11:55 because some steps often take longer. That’s why I set to publish at 11:50, to have a 10-minute window before midnight for any extended activity.

Today’s writing challenge

Today’s challenge was: I started at 11:15 PM and set a 10-minute time-trial to see if I could come up with at least a 3-minute read with nonstop typing.

Honestly, I set a timer, and when it goes off, you see me type something weird. I promise I won’t disappoint you! You can directly skip to the end to see the all-caps word if you want. Have fun!

Success for the day

I’m more than halfway done. I know I will come up with something in the end because that’s how your brain works under artificial pressure that you build for yourself. It doesn’t work always, but I have developed self-trust from more than two months of daily practice.

We just need to think about a specific topic and have a direction in mind while proceeding. Like, today, I was thinking about how to make the best out of 10 minutes. I imagined myself in an extempore speech competition. That’s what I am doing right now: talking about the present.

I challenged my creative writing skills. I want to see the power of focused writing. So far, so good, 35 seconds to go.

Editing took around another 10 minutes because, why not! The rule is: never release bloopers before airing the show!

Before I wrap up, here is a good congratulations to me for making it this far, and if you have read till now then: BOOPLA BOOP. Times up!

Final words

I had so much fun in this speed-writing experiment. I finished the challenge even before reaching the flow state. I was halfway through the flow state — if “halfway” is a state, LOL!

I hope you also felt the speed while reading. If you are up for a challenge, try speed-reading this piece in 2 minutes — my personal best for this article.

You can try the same challenge to test how fast your brain works when you put a constraint and race with time. You’ll feel the writing ( or whichever activity sparks you) high before even reaching the flow state! My next challenge is a 7-minute read in 20 minutes! See you!

This blog belongs to a series of posts I am publishing in this 100-days streak. Today is day 84. Navigate to the end of article 22, for the references from day 23 onwards. If you would like to read the ones before day 22, here is the first one that documents in the end.

~ Sanjeev