---at
least about doing the writing work.
So what ‘rules’ am I going to show you? What rigid ‘do it this way’ ideas
will I present?
I’m going back to basics and nothing is written in stone, ever. I read
tips all the time and I admit I’m guilty of writing them. Rules though, even
suggestions are tricky. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for
another. But, there are some strong basics I suggest. Simple, but powerful.
1.
Wake up and bring energy to the time you write.
Really, face the day with enthusiasm, joy and energy and you’re going to write
much better. So, how do I do this you say? It’s a mental thing (yes you can add
caffeine) and a body thing. Maybe take a walk before you write (I walk even
when the snow is knee-deep and the chill considerable). It wakes the body and
stimulates the mind. If that’s not for you, just move, maybe walk up and down
stairs a couple of times if you have them, play with the dog, do some stretches,
whatever it takes to get the blood flowing a bit. If you have challenges and
can’t do that kind of movement, THINK about it. Seriously, picture yourself
doing it. Wake up, center, really feel enthusiasm for what you’re about to
undertake. Creativity is dampened by boredom, exhaustion and low energy. Act
first to bring yourself up to speed. You’ll see a definite difference in your
writing.
2.
I’ve found more and more that a to-do list or some
sort of planner really does smooth the way. It helps me keep organized and know
what’s up next on my calendar of projects that need to get done. And, planning
out the next day or at least the beginning of it means when I sit down (or stand up) at my desk I know exactly where to start and am far less likely to
find myself cruising the web or checking endless email and social media. Those
are fun, yes, but they can be terrible distractions. Also, if you have recurring deadlines of any
kind a simple ‘month-at-a-glance’ calendar is a great help. I have both on my
desk, the calendar and a simple list of things that are coming up that I need
to get done. Try it, see how much more you get accomplished.
3.
Finally do the most important things first. If you
want to get some wordage out there, do that first. Write. If you’ve promised a guest blog post
somewhere, get that done. Whatever it is, prioritize. I keep a highlighter
handy in a couple of colors and when I create my list for the next day’s
launch, if there’s something that really needs my immediate attention I
highlight it with one of the colors. There may well be more than one, so I keep
one color for the most important, highlighting that most important with one
color and something of less importance with another. Then I check things off as
I get them done.
Try out these three tips and you’ll find the simple approach with propel
you forward in creativity as well as productivity.
Give it a try. And if you already do these things, post below if they
help you and how they do. Comments always appreciated.
And don't forget to check out the new comic series we're creating - see more on www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs as well.
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