Surefire Writing Tips To Help Raise Creativity And Productivity
There is a connection between our productivity and our creativity. Here are some simple ways to harness their synergistic power.
Creativity and productivity in writing are connected. The motivation to write varies as much as the genres of writing. Some write as an outlet to process their thoughts and feelings. Some write from a dream of being published or even famous. Others write to satisfy the creativity within themselves. Whatever the reason, productivity will fuel creativity.
The act of writing helps build our writing muscles. When we write daily, we exercise our brains even if the quality of the content is lacking. In the same way, movement helps us to stay flexible and healthy; flexing our writing muscles allows us to stay sharp. Taking an extended break from writing will likely cause your creativity to atrophy.
Creativity breeds creativity. Whether listening to music, taking in an art exhibit, or reading a great book, you will find your creativity inspired by doing these things. Similarly, if you build a daily writing practice, even if some days your time is short, your writing skills will advance, and you will find yourself popping with ideas for your next piece. Simply put, the more we write, the more creative our writing will be.
I struggle with exercising regularly. But I find that committing to doing something each day, even if it’s just a walk around the block, helps me to want to keep exercising. The more I move, the stronger I become, and I find I can increase my workout options. When I skip days in my movement routine, I don’t want to start back up, even if I miss only a day or two. The same has been confirmed with my writing.
I enjoy writing immensely. There have been times when I haven’t been able to write for several days due to circumstances beyond my control. When that happens, I feel sluggish when I return to writing and often find myself sitting in front of my keyboard, unable to come up with any good ideas. The opposite happens when I am diligently writing daily. The creative side of my brain seems to explode with ideas for articles or books. The more I write, the more creative I become and the more I want to keep writing. Just like exercise, writing is a skill. We won’t improve if we aren’t practicing, learning, and receiving feedback.
Here are a few helpful tips to get your writing back on track if you find yourself in a creative slump. Consider doing something outside your usual writing style. I found a renewed passion for writing when I entered a short story writing contest through Reedsy. I didn’t usually write short stories, and doing something just for fun was addictive. It also had an element of competition, making it even more enjoyable. Switching genres is somewhat like cross-training in sports.
Reedsy is a terrific organization for creative writing! If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll receive five weekly writing prompts and hear about their weekly writing contests. Contest stories can be as short as 1000 words or as long as 3000. Winners receive $250 as well as recognition within the Reedsy community. Medium pubs also put out writing prompts, which is a great way to challenge and inspire your creative writing skills.
If you find you need to take a rest day from a challenging work in progress (WIP), spend 15 minutes on your rest day(s) journaling. Taking the time to mind-dump without following grammar or context rules is a helpful way to stay sharp. If you can, avoid writing-free days.
If you lack motivation or need some support, look to your social media outlets for writing communities. I belong to a small group of women writers on Twitter that has been invaluable to me. I find myself inspired, challenged, and supported. Similarly, several writing challenges on the internet provide inspiration, discipline, and a virtual community.
At the beginning of every summer, Jami Attenberg hosts a challenge called 1000 words of Summer which encourages writing at least 1000 words every day for two weeks. There is a hashtag on Twitter so you can share your progress with others participating in the challenge. It’s a fun way to stay productive.
Another great resource is NaNoWriMo, a non-profit organization that supports writers. Each November, they host a challenge that focuses on writing a novel by the end of the month. Then, in April and July, they host Camp NaNoWriMo, which is a month-long virtual writing camp where you set your own goal for the month. Their website allows you to join communities of like-minded writers, find buddies, and update your daily progress. I have adored participating in Camp NaNoWriMo!
Lastly, make your schedule work FOR you. Determine the best way to structure your week to garner the highest productivity. I find splitting up days an effective way of keeping my ADHD brain satisfied. Scheduling set days for research or editing, keeping you in the game but playing a different position, has been super helpful for me.
If you write various topics on Medium, consider setting certain days of the week for those specific topics. Also, don’t forget to set aside time to read and comment on other Medium writers’ articles. Engagement on Medium is one key to succeeding on this platform.
I hope these simple ideas help you remain creative and productive in your writing journey! Please drop a comment about your favorite writing tips so we can all learn from each other!
©Kim Kelly Stamp, all rights reserved
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