For Bloggers, Writers & Authors: 11 Productivity Tips In Writing

Becoming a productive author takes practice and using certain habits. Today’s author faces demand to write books, create blog posts and other materials to sell books and grow their career. Use these productivity habits to get more work done each day. Let’s get started with these 11 productivity hacks for authors.

1. Set Daily Writing Goals

Writing a book may appear overwhelming at first – there are thousands of words to be written! To get over this anxiety and concern, start by setting daily writing goals. Some Authors encourage aspiring authors to write 500 words every day.

Set a writing goal that you will keep for the next month. For the best results, use word count (rather than pages or paragraphs) since it is easier to measure.

2. Write With Ear Plugs

Background noise is frustrating. If you work in a cubicle or open office, the noise can become overwhelming. Authors recommend wearing ear plugs when you need to focus and get a lot of writing done. There’s also a bonus benefit – people are less likely to distract you when you wear ear plugs.

3. Use A Mindmap to Plan Your Book

Facing a blank sheet of paper (or an blank computer screen) gives some people writer’s block. Rather than sitting there and feeling frustrated, consider using a mindmap instead.

4. Read Outside Your Field

In order to study the craft and art of writing, you nee to commit to reading books, becoming a fantasy author means reading in many fields. Go and read outside of your comfort zone, go and learn stuff.”

5. Use “Distraction Free” Writing Tools

Writing on a computer makes life easier for authors in many respects. You can cut and paste text. Many common spelling errors are easily detected and corrected. Yet, computers are also full of distractions! If you are struggling to focus, consider using a specialized writing tool.

6. Use Writing Templates

You can use templates to help you write a book faster. For example, a template for a chapter in a business book might include: define the problem, present two case studies and finish with suggestions to solve the problem. You can create your own templates by studying the structure of popular books in your field.

7. Tell Stories Not Just Facts

Stories give life and excitement to your writing. Even if you are writing a non-fiction book, look for ways to include stories. For example, include case studies, tell how a person overcame a problem, or share a story from your own life. Even better – the drama of a story often makes for faster, more productive writing.

8. Carry and Use An Idea Notebook

It is an easy way to quickly note down ideas as they occur. You may be coming home from the gym and finally get an idea – use an idea notebook to gather those ideas. Those who prefer digital tools may prefer to use Evernote. You never know when inspiration will strike!

9. Schedule A Set Writing Time Each Day

If you are writing your book and have other demands on your time (e.g. a corporate day job), consider setting a fixed schedule for writing. If you take a train to work, you could use your commuting time to write parts of your book.

10. Outsource Non-Writing Tasks

Creating a successful book requires more than words. The book needs a cover, layout, marketing and more. If you are struggling with all the non-writing aspects of being an author, look for a way to outsource some of those tasks.

11. Write An Outline First

Writing an outline first is a great way to improve your productivity as an author. Start by writing out all of the chapter titles of your book. Next, you can write the headings for the various sections within a chapter. Spending an hour or two to create a rough outline for your book will significantly improve your productivity.

Also read: 5 Tips To Stop Embarrassing Yourself on LinkedIn