BECOME A MORE PRODUCTIVE WRITER
By Lisa Arnold
Basically, there are two types of writers, those who talk about being a writer and those who write. One the hardest things for writer to do is find time to write. Our busy schedules and lifestyles do not allow much time for writing. However, to be a productive writer it is imperative to find time to write.
The best way to become a more productive writer is to write everyday. Whether you have a half an hour or several hours a day to write you must devote time to writing on a daily basis. If you do not, your writing will not be as effective.
For those of you with a limited writing schedule, you must learn to utilize your spare time. Take ten minutes to write in the morning before going to work. Write for five or ten minutes during your lunch and or work breaks and a half hour or so before going to bed. These short writing sessions will add up in a week.
If possible, before hand, make an outline of what you wish to write during those spare moments. If you have, five to ten minutes here and there schedule in those times with a specific writing project. For example, write a poem or a few paragraphs of a short story, article or novel. Be sure not to set your writing goal too high. Make sure what you set out to write can be accomplished in the allotted time.
For those more fortunate writers, who have several hours at a time to devote to writing, make a weekly plan. Decide what you want to write for every day of the week, set goals and be sure to meet every goal. For example, if you decide to write four poems on day one, write those four poems. Do not settle for writing less than what you planned to write for any given day. Follow through with your schedule for every day of the week and in a week’s time you will have a short story or several pages of a novel or poetry collection completed!
No matter what, you must eliminate distractions during your writing period. Turn off the cell phone, iPod, DVD player, Blackberry, radio, television and any other device that would distract you from completing your scheduled writing goals. If you take five minutes to answer a call from a friend or ten minutes to listen to a few songs, your writing time will be compromised. So whenever possible, avoid any interruptions while writing. Your writing and readers will thank you for that.
Whatever your writing schedule, limited or full, leave your weekends free. You will want to use this time for planning your schedule for the following week and to take a much-needed break from writing.
If you apply these simple, yet effective guidelines to your writing schedule, you will become a more effective and productive writer in one week.
