Feeling Uninspired? Try These 5 Productivity Tips for Freelance Writers
These 5 impactful tips will help you rediscover your creativity, write more efficiently, and require less editing.
I have been writing for the last 20 years. Most of that experience was while I worked in government, consulting, and small businesses. I only recently left that behind to become a freelance writer. And while I love it, there has been a learning curve!
There are plenty of days when my words seem … lost. The best I can do is come up with doggerel like ‘Matt walked up the hill. It was hot. He was tired. He took a nap.”
I exaggerate a little bit, but maybe only a little…
Learning to be productive as a writer differs from being effective as an employee.
- As an employee, I can stare off into space for a bit and still get paid.
- As an employee, I can move on to another task if I’m stuck.
- As an employee, I can take a vacation or check out early on a Friday afternoon.
None of that is possible as a freelance writer. If we don’t write — and write well — we don’t get paid.
Writing Can be a Bit Like Groundhog’s Day
I got my first long-term paid contract in March of 2022. It was a gardening publication called All About Gardening. If you’re a gardening nut like me, you’ll love it. You can check out my work here.
The client was great. They provided a content queue, words per week, and strong editorial guidelines. And because I have gardened for years, words seemed to flow.
At least for the first month or so.
As time continued, the work became repetitive. Many of the topics centered around SEO and seasonal search terms. After writing three articles on powdery mildew, I was ready to write about something — anything — else.
That’s when I realized that writing wasn’t about only writing glamorous articles. It was about showing up at your computer every day to do a job. I was there to write intelligent articles that educated people about growing plants at home — nothing more, nothing less.
Once I realized that I didn’t have to be entertained to write well, things opened up for me. And I focused on being productive for my paid clients, so I had time to write for myself.
5 Productivity Tips to Make You a More Effective Writer
Drink lots of coffee. The end.
I’m kidding … mostly…
Beyond coffee, let’s look at some productivity tips to help you use your time effectively and write more consistently.
1 — Prepare to Write Anywhere
This was pretty huge for me. I — like most people — have a hectic schedule. One of the biggest things that take me away from my desk on a daily basis is my son’s competitive swim practice. Those kids are in the pool for 90 minutes five days a week. We leave the house at 4:00 and don’t get home until 7:00. That was a downtime for me until I realized I could take my laptop to the pool.
Armed with headphones and my personal hotspot, I could write with no distractions for a solid hour. When my brain needed a break, I could watch the kids swim for a few minutes.
Remember that it isn’t realistic for the world to stop because you want to write. Schedules are busy, kids are loud, and the day always moves faster than you think. You’ll never meet your goals if you only write at your perfect desk amidst the perfect quiet. We, as writers, have to set up an internal space that facilitates writing, not depend on an external one.
If you stay flexible, you’ll find plenty of hidden minutes and hours in your day to get words on the page.
“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood
2 — Use Distractions to Reset Yourself
Many experts say that the internet and your phone are detrimental to productivity. I disagree. I find that my stress levels rise if my phone isn’t nearby. I also get bored. And antsy.
I find it almost impossible to sit at my computer for hours on end without some kind of break.
Here are some of my favorite distractions that help me get back into the right frame of mind.
- I take 10 minutes to walk the dog
- I fold a load of laundry
- I research a topic online while standing in another room
- I read a book for 10–15 minutes
- I stare out the window and let my mind wander
You can see why my dog is such a great distraction. She’s adorable!
Purposeful distraction for productivity is a technique that requires self-control. If you don’t think you have enough self-control, remove those distractions. Put your phone in another room, lock the door, and buckle down. But if you can learn to do this right, you’ll find yourself refreshed throughout the day instead of burnt out.
3 — Create Outlines
I utilize this technique a lot for my paid writing clients. Articles with one of my clients are typically between 2,000 and 5,000 words. If I don’t take the time to outline at the beginning, I find myself wandering aimlessly for a while.
This also works well if you’re feeling uninspired or dealing with some writer’s block. I often start writing in the middle of my article with a more informational section. I’ll leave the areas containing personal anecdotes until the end. This helps me get into a writing flow without worrying about being pithy or creative. Once I’m warmed up, those more inspired words come easier.
4 — Ideas First, Then Grammar (But Eventually Get to the Grammar!)
I am a perfectionist. I have been since I was a kid. But I’m horrible at grammar. I write in a passive voice, am overly wordy, and often include modifiers dangling all over the place.
If I focused on grammar while writing, I would need to find another line of work.
“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” — William Faulkner
Instead, I write until I’m finished with a piece, read it for flow, and then plug it into an editor like Grammarly. The editor is effective but infuriating. As I’m drafting this article, it says I have 52 things to fix. Now, make that 53.
Spend your writing time writing. Do your editing with a glass of wine in front of the TV.
5 — Know Your Body Rhythms — Schedule Your Time
Each of us has times during the day when our energy is higher. We also have parts of the day when our energy is exceptionally low or non-existent. I’m far more creative and efficient in the morning. I have a sweet spot from 8:00–11:00, where I can get a lot of words on the page. My lowest time is mid-afternoon. I am a writer who deals with chronic migraines, so I sometimes need to nap or disengage from screens for a while. I’ll use that time to lie down, read a paper book, or listen to a podcast or course I’m interested in.
You must schedule your time to write around your peak productivity. This is different for everyone, so do not allow someone to tell you that the only time to write is in the morning. Or the evening. Or midnight. Find the time that works for you and stick with it.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is to DO THE WORK! By implementing these 5 productivity tips, you’re on your way to becoming a more consistent and more engaging writer. Remember, even 500 words a day adds up to novels by the end of the year.
Happy writing!
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