How To Be Crazy Successful Writing In Medium (Part 4 — Daily Grind).
Success compounds. To reach that state, we have to visit the daily grind (Consistency to write). This is like the returns to equity in our stock investments. How would we get the dividends if we do buy the stock in the first place? We have to commit to the effort and time. This is what this story is about.
Small things matter. They are rarely isolated events. Every small droplet of water is harmless unless they add up to become a river, and then a flood as it accumulates volume, over time.
Yes, I believe in writing daily. And that is not because I am good at it. I am not good enough. Therefore, I have to write a lot to squeeze the improvements out of my mind and fingers.
Magic happens when we write. I am not sure if you understand what I am driving at, but there is a difference between using our hands to write the words into our journals, versus typing it out into the Word Document.
I find that memory retention is weaker when I type. Neurological pathways seem to develop and mature, as we put pen to paper.
I didn’t realize this because I journal daily. The more I look at the cursive words I scribbled, the more I recall. It is not the same as reviewing a Word document draft.
Writing Daily Rocks. Effort And Improvements Compound.
Writing, just like knowledge, expands, due to the accumulation process. We learn by stack iotas and ounces of knowledge on top of those we registered yesterday.
Over time, that little red brick becomes the foundation for a skyscraper. Yes, the keywords are, over time. The reason is simple. We need time.
The time compounding factor comes in when we think about what we wrote. We will start thinking about improvements when we review the way we write. We will start finding ways to write better. Sometimes, it is about conveying the same meaning with fewer words.
Sometimes, it is about using fewer bombastic words that confuse.
Improvements to our existing stories come when we show more of ourselves in our words. Our expressions are not limited to grammar.
As a matter of fact, our choice of words reflects us as a person.
As we write more, our vocabulary bank expands. When our vocabulary bank expands, we get to express intricacies with precision. And precision is the key that top writers have. They write without creating miscommunication.
In short, there is no friction between their writing, and when we read their stories. There is no what is he talking about?
And that is why it becomes critical to write daily. We do not have to chase after the claps, at least for now. As we invest and work on ourselves, the claps and readership will come and chase after us. I genuinely believe in that.
And that leads us to the next question.
How Much Time Do We Need To Invest In The Daily Grind?
Your time and willingness are the constraints. Nothing else really matters. If you want to be the top writer, then the thing that you have to focus on …. is writing.
Write to start the process. Write to improve, and write to share your knowledge and viewpoints.
Push the edge of the envelope from 3-minutes to 4 to 5 to 6.
Even if we can only spare 30 minutes — Hey, there is Medium Short Form now.
What Can We Do To Put Ourselves In The Best Position To Grind?
- Set aside writing time daily.
- Find time slots that are conducive for writing. For me, first thing in the morning works.
- Time-box writing efforts. If we need 90 minutes from start to publish, plan 90 minutes.
- Have a writing ready working-desk. The laptop, notepad, pens must be there the night before. All it takes the next morning is to start, not prepare to start.
- Have a list of headlines ready to work on when you are at your working desk.
- Prepare your headsets.
- Listen to music in a language you don’t understand so your mind will not be distracted from the writing at hand.
- Japanese-Pop, Korean-Pop works for me.
- My friend listens to Buddhist chants. I respect that. Do what works.
What Can We Do To Minimize Disruptions?
- Plan for them. We know what they are. I mean, we know what distracts us, Am I right?
- Take biological breaks before heading to the working desk. Pees and poos disrupt our state of flow.
- If you are a caffeine junkie, prepare a cup of coffee and have it ready at your desk before you start work.
- Make sure you do not drink the coffee before the start of writing. You will have to pee in the middle of your writing. Start drinking only at the midpoint of the writing time. If you plan to write for 40 minutes, start drinking at the 20-minute mark.
- Shut the door.
- Hang the sign Beware of Dog at the door and mobilize your Chihuahua to be on standby.
- Inform Snoopy that you are ready to activate him.
- Shut the door behind the door.
- Flip your smartphone screen facing downwards. Don’t be distracted by the latest deals from Amazon or other e-commerce platforms.
- Remove the Flattenholic live-size plush toy from your working desk. They always siphon your attention. I always have the urge to punch my spouse’s plush toy in between writing.
- Stop checking your earnings on Medium. Do not sign in until you are ready to upload your story and hit the publish button.
- Stop checking the stock market.
- Stop checking emails.
- Stop checking the mirror.
The list goes on.
There Are Many Ways To Facilitate Focus.
I wish you happy grinding.
That is important.
Because we become better writers when we grind when we write.
I see no other way.
The next topic will be on Story Distribution Part 1 — Publications.
Stay tuned.
Get Started And Happy Writing.
Aldric
Related Stories from the Author — The Writer’s Starter Pack.
About the Author:
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure.
Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.
Because simplicity adds value.
And with clarity — We grow.
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