How To Quickly Find Your Own Writing Process
Your daily routines are your “writer’s genetic fingerprint”
If you think you’re going to read one more article about what’s the best strategy to boost your writing business, you’re absolutely wrong.
I’m not gonna give you a listicle with the 7 ultra-efficient tools to be a 24/7 writing moron.
I love to read writers share their own strategies, but I assume it’s their own way to find success. When someone comes to me with 1,000 ways to be ultra whatever thing they imagine they want to be, I don’t believe 90% of that shit.
First, because those who write that garbage don’t execute it.
Second, because you don’t have to be 24 hours occupied with micro strategies to be successful.
Remember one thing: life is simple.
You don’t have to transform yourself into a Robocop and suddenly start acting radically different from what you usually do.
If you usually procrastinate, keep doing it.
If you usually sleep until 12 AM, keep doing it.
If you usually eat one Happy Meal a day, keep doing it.
Yet, if you want to be a full-time writer, write every day. But you can start writing after 12 AM and still be a mogul writer.
You can procrastinate half a day and be a top writer on Medium. Ayodeji Awosika, one of the top writers on Medium shared in one of his last articles he works four hours a day. And he’s a beasty writer.
Whatever you think is the most comfortable routine you find to your balance, just be consistent in your writing. Write at least 1,000 words a day. Every. Single. Day.
So, why am I sharing my writing routines? If 100 newbies read this article and 10% of them identify with these processes, I already won the day.
So, let’s start, shall we?
Things you hear about procrastination are BS.
Procrastination isn’t a sin. Actually, I use procrastination to fill my energy tank, and when I sit down to write, I’m about to burst with imagination and willpower.
I have researched Elon Musk’s work on Tesla and SpaceX. The way he built the new factories, using vertical integration to overcome a series of obstacles, makes it ultra-efficient. And he spared the bureaucratic processes and paperwork to check.
Elon is one of the richest and most relaxed men on the planet.
In a brilliant article, Tim Denning shared some critical deep-thinking about this matter:
Hustle culture is demotivation for the average person who doesn’t have superhuman time management and willpower.
Quantity and quality are two very different concepts. And if you don’t reflect on them, you’ll find the truth the hardest way.
Remember, you’re a human being. We humans need time to go for a walk, have a drink with friends, go see our older family members, or travel with our loved ones.
If you focus on quality, you’ll find that your life turns into a minimalist menu.
You don’t need to have thousands of things to do. Instead, you need thousands of hours to do no-work activities.
I turned into a full-time writer to find more time to spend with my daughters, friends, and family. I’m still finding my minimalist menu, but I can assure you I’m getting there.
In my procrastination style of life, I get up at 7:30 AM, go get my bottle of water, and sit down to edit my draft from the previous day.
At 9:00 AM, I’m finishing my editing and go get my breakfast.
While eating, I watch my favorite YouTubers. I usually hear subjects related to innovation, technology, and cryptocurrencies. I look at the highlights from the NBA games from the previous day as I drink my coffee. I wash the dishes to keep myself upright and do some stretching.
Then I sit down again to start a new article. Until 12:00 AM, I’m not available to anyone. At noon, I finish my morning work and sit on my sofa to watch WandaVision.
Then, I procrastinate for long hours.
Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest.
In my long walks, sometimes for 5 or 6 hours, I have space in my head about imagining new ideas.
Sometimes, the conversation with Bruno plunges into in-depth discussions. He has ten times more culture than me. I have constantly to look for new sources of information to debate with the least of intellectual decency.
In this soup of thoughts, new ideas always come up for new pieces. I don’t miss an opportunity and write notes on my cell phone while our minds wander in the most complex worlds of the past, present, and future.
The cool thing about long walks with friends is that you are doing several important things simultaneously.
You’re taking care of your health. You’re hanging out with your friends. You’re collecting new ideas on subjects other people are thinking about. You’re procrastinating on your work by not being sitting on your desk. You’re breading clean air and getting vitamin D for your skin.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.- Leonardo da Vinci
With my mind clear and fresh, I get home, have a fabulous shower bath, eat a tasty snack, and sit on my desk to finish the draft I started that morning.
I usually only spend half an hour finishing my draft, and until dinner time, I watch my online courses.
I’m doing an online course on Grammar and Structure and another one on cryptocurrencies. Why?
As a non-native writer, I want to spend as much time as I can learn how I can improve my writing skills. If I want to be a top writer, I have to master all writing skills possible.
Second, about cryptocurrencies, I love to write about Bitcoin and the blockchain. Some of my top articles are in the technology and innovation tabs. Knowing about cryptocurrencies gives me more tools to build well-founded articles. All I want is to enrich my readers’ knowledge.
I’m buying online courses at Udemy.com. At only 19.90€, you can purchase outstanding online courses about whatever theme you want. It’s amazingly cheap, and it’s the best way for you to improve your knowledge of anything you want.
Ignorant is no place to be, especially to a top writer. You have that remarkable restlessness to always find something new to write about. Or to get better and better about a specific issue.
Final Thought
I’m spending 6 to 8 hours a day working on my writing. I know I can make it in less time in the future.
Yet, I’m on Medium for ten months. I have a lot of work ahead to make a living. I have to improve my following rate. But also build a strong structure in my writing style to keep increasing my earnings at a constant pace.
With only 600 followers, I’m earning near $500 a month. The next challenge is to reach four figures. I think it’s closer than ever. Last month I created my first publication, so I spend 12 days building an article portfolio. Naturally, I got a few tractions for my profile, but with the other 16 days of writing on other platforms, I earned $476. If I was publishing in the regular publications, I’d reach near $700.
In this daily routine, I’m always in a relaxed mode. I take two afternoons per week to be 100% focus on my two daughters, and that feeling of freedom is something unique.
As for my minimalist menu, I know I’ll have more time for myself in the future. Building a fortress in my management schedule, I will deserve my freedom.
I quit my job to procrastinate at my responsibility. That made me realize procrastination is a process to find more energy, not a magic potion that will drag you to hell. Earning freedom is also understanding that you can do as little as needed and be a very successful person. It means you understood that quality is king.
If you empower yourself with tools to be a wonderful human being, mixed with the knowledge to share with those who trust you, you’ll find out the magical formula.
If you cannot do greater things, do small things in a greater way.- Napoleon Hill
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