Writing can be incredibly challenging, especially as a career. Getting into the habit of writing routinely without writer’s block or burnout requires a simple, stress-free routine. Successful authors sit and write pages of novels for a living—how do they get it done without pressure or delays? While some stress or writer’s block is inevitable even for the Stephen Kings of the world, triumphant writers use many universal methods to keep the words flowing and the keys pressed.
Keep to a Schedule
You’re not working consistently if you write infrequently at varying times or days. It’s much easier to work when it is expected. Some flexibility is acceptable, especially when working from home, but you will want to have a daily hour or word count goal to ensure you’re productive. A predictable daily routine can also eliminate stress or uncertainty about meeting deadlines or how your day will go.
Stay Focused
Writing comes with many distractions. One moment, you’re researching medical conditions for one of your characters, and then you end up in a research hole with no end in sight—and there are still zero words on your paper. Other times, you’re inspired to write a new novel and leave your work-in-progress in the dust. Avoid this behavior. Gather the research you need, and return to the work at hand. If you find yourself getting distracted, turn off your phone or close your extra tabs and do research at another time. Work on only one novel at a time. You can write down your new novel ideas to help jog your memory, but don’t work on too many projects simultaneously; your attention will be divided.
Write Daily
You may not be in the mood to write daily—most people aren’t. There may even be some work days where the words aren’t flowing. This is fine, but you should still write regardless. Even if the phrases and sentences come out badly, keep writing and worry about editing later. You can even free-write, a technique for writing whatever comes to mind as an effective warm-up. As long as you’re writing, you’re productive. Once you get into the flow and rhythm of writing, you may be surprised at how effective you are.
Use a Team
As an author, most of the editing should be done by an editor. Focus on writing and hire other professionals to form a team for your book or project. The writing can suffer if you focus on editing, marketing, or cover design. Hire professionals with experience and backgrounds in the same genre your book is. Find fantasy editors for hire for your novel. Choose a children’s illustrator for your children’s book. Keep your eyes on the writing.
Choose the Best Environment
You may thrive writing in a bustling diner setting with forks clinking and boisterous laughter filling the room. Alternatively, you may only be able to write in complete silence, requiring headphones and a private office space. Whatever method you prefer, choose the best one to boost your productivity. There isn’t any wrong place to write as long as it’s a suitable environment for you to focus. Loud, busy places can be distracting, but those good at focusing can thrive in these environments. A private, quiet space is usually preferred, however.
Take Breaks
While flexing your writing muscles daily and keeping a productive schedule is essential, this doesn’t mean you should write with no end in sight. Consider closing your Word document when your work day is done. Writing too much can contribute to burnout and stress, causing you to avoid writing on other days. Take frequent breaks to rest your hands, get some fresh air, and grab some refreshments. Reserve your momentum and productivity for the next work day.
Avoid Comparisons
Your book will not be the next Pride and Prejudice or Frankenstein; this should not be your goal. You want your book to be successful in its own right for a lasting audience impression. Don’t compare yourself or your work to other authors or works. Use inspiration from your skills, experiences, and creativity. It’s okay to be uniquely engaging—you’ll likely be more successful this way. There is nothing wrong with being inspired by other novels or authors, but you shouldn’t aim to compare or imitate them.
Keep Momentum
If you feel your writing day isn’t going well, keep going. Write sentences that don’t make sense. Avoid pausing to reread or change directions. Let the story take you where it’s going. You will want to keep the momentum and writing going unless you take a break or end your work day. You may even write a hundred pages you won’t include in your final copy. Every bit of writing is essential and helps you stay productive.
Edit Last
It may be tempting to reread sentences endlessly to make sure they sound engaging and clear. Avoid doing this. Outside of correcting a red-underlined spelling mistake, your editing should come last. Taking frequent breaks to edit constantly will take too much time and interrupt your momentum. Leave the editing to the editor. You can always reread your final work when you’re finished. Saving the editing for last is another way to keep momentum going.
Create an Outline
Writing without direction or plan is excellent for warming up or free writing techniques, but it’s usually a bad plan for a novel. You want to have at least a vague idea of your story’s direction. Even if it’s very broad, you’re going to want to outline the sets of events that will take place in your novel. You can refer to your outline to get your desired inspiration when you’re struck with writer’s block or memory loss.
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