By Shree:
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”
Stephen King
Writers all over the world have different methods of writing, in different niches, but the one thing that many writers aim to be is a prolific writer. That is, writing a lot of pages, a ton of books, in a high volume that readers have more material to choose from. No writer wants only one book to his name, or only a few articles or poems. But the lack of daily writing habits, chasing perfection, self-doubt, etc. can keep writers from achieving their goals.
Writing a lot can be a daunting task but when broken down, it’s actually quite simple and easy to follow. Many writers such as Isaac Asimov, Stephen King, Agatha Christie and more are known for their wonderful novels, but mostly because of the amount of writing they have done in one lifetime. To a beginner or an amateur writer, their volume of writing seems impossible, but I’m here to let you know in 15 simple steps on how to breakdown your writing habits into easier, achievable goals.
1. Write at the same time each day, even just a sentence.
This one is such common writing advice that it almost seems cliché, but just because its common does not make it false. The second part of the phrase “even just a sentence” is key, since it lets writers know that it’s okay to not achieve the daily lofty goal of x number of words or pages, but what is more important is the act of showing up everyday to build a writing habit. Write even if it’s just a sentence, write badly if need be, but show up daily, possibly at the same time each day, and you will be closer to your writing goals with every new sentence.
2. Editing cannot happen during writing, only after.
This is again for all the perfectionists out there. Nitpicking your writing at the earliest stages will only steal your time and keep you from finishing your work. Editing at the early stages can also discourage you from your project as you are too critical of your writing too early. Fight the urge to edit early on and only do so once the entire thing is written down.
3. Listen to white noise.
This may vary from person to person. I like to switch from white noise to ambient music when writing my novels, but sometimes I switch off any music or noise for deep focus. This works well if you live in noisy neighborhoods or around kids or roommates who may distract you from your writing process. Keep your door locked and search on YouTube, Spotify or other places for white noise or soft music, like classical piano music, and start writing away.
Here is my playlist of good ambient music for writing.
4. Write first thing in the morning.
Now this again may vary from person to person, but this is a tried and true method for successful writers because,
a) There are less distractions in the morning and you are fully rested and relaxed, and
b) You are getting the most important task out of the way.
Of course, there are others who like to work nights or may have a job or family duties that keep their mornings busy, for example Franz Kafka. He loved working nights after coming home from work. So try your own method of showing up daily to write. If possible, try to make your writing hour the same time each day.
5. Find a way to write without your computer.
Right now, I’m typing on my tablet with a wireless keyboard as it allows me to write from bed and stay under the covers. Writing away from your computer helps you practice writing down your ideas when you are in an inconvenient spot, like out with friends or on a train. Keep an old school notepad and a pen, or use a notes app on your phone to write whenever you feel like it. Don’t let your environment limit you.
6. Your writing does not have to be perfect, it never is.
This is the most important piece of advice I learnt from other experienced writers. Your writing does not have to be perfect, look perfect or even make sense at the beginning. All that is important at the start is writing it down. Editing is what polishes your writing afterwards, and even expert writers hire editors to help polish their works. In order to edit your story you are going to have to put your thoughts on paper, so let perfectionism go and just start.
7. Do guest posting/guest blogging.
This is the harsh truth writers must face when they want to be known for their works: you will spend more time marketing your work than you will spend writing your work. This is the fact that most writers ignore and end up remaining unknown. One of the best ways to market your skills as a writer is to guest post on others’ blogs, books, and websites. You will be featured on their websites and social media and it will help drive traffic to your site and your written works, and it will generate backlinks that will improve your SEO in the long run.
8. Build an email list.
Email marketing is an often overlooked but a gold mine for promoting your content. If you build a following on social media, say for instance on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok, you cannot contact them all privately or send an email about your latest book or blog post. An email list is powerful because your followers are yours and you will not lose them even if you lose your social media accounts or your website. Email marketing also allows your subscribers to receive your content directly in their inbox, as opposed to visiting your site on their own or seeing a social media announcement every single time.
9. Write SCANNABLE content.
“Scannable content” refers to posts that cater to even the busiest readers. People are usually short on time or bored to read the full article, so making it easier to read and search will help you get more readers. Proven ways to do this are by keeping the length of your paragraphs and posts short, using numbered or bulleted lists, using bold and italic formats, writing like you speak, and allowing readers to engage via comments or social media.
10. Get a hobby separate from writing.
A hobby helps us blow off steam and keep our minds energized when we are going through writers block or procrastination. A good hobby that is separate from writing, such as music, art, cooking, exercise, building, collecting, learning a skill, etc. can keep the mind engaged when you may have bad days when it comes to writing. I personally love to draw and learn new techniques to improve my art style, and this hobby in turn it helps me design my characters, website, and also exercise my mind in different, creative ways.
11. Exercise and meditate.
There is a reason why famous prolific authors like Charles Dickens had “walking sessions” carved out in their daily routine. A daily exercise habit like walking, jogging, going to the gym, or playing a sport can allow “thinking periods” where your mind gets a chance to relax and sort the folders in your brain. You will always feel refreshed and end up with newer, better ideas after a workout. An equally important and underrated daily habit is meditation, which helps a writer feel grounded and keep anxiety at bay. Even a short 15 minute meditation session can clear your mind off junk thoughts.
12. Write in short sprints without distractions.
Writing for 5-10 minutes fully focused is better than writing for longer periods with lack of focus. On days when the resistance is too strong or when other factors can cloud your imagination from writing well, a short 5 minute writing session is beneficial in maintaining your progress and writing habit than no writing at all. Writing in short sprints can also encourage the mind to write longer after overcoming the initial hurdle of sitting down to type. Half the battle is won by simply starting.
13. Write smaller, separate projects on the side.
Writing different projects at once can be daunting, but so can writing one big project for too long. In my case, writing my novel has been equal parts rewarding and an exercise in patience. At times when I feel the dreaded “writer’s block“, or when I can’t find the right “plot twist” or “character arc” to further the plot, instead of pausing the writing process entirely, I engage in things like this blog, essays for my YouTube videos, short film scripts and poems. Smaller, less demanding projects can keep your brain exercised and help you continue your writing habit.
14. Have good grammar and syntax.
Tools like Grammarly are a godsend for grammar-weak, multilingual people like me. You must always go back and check for proper grammar and punctuation in your sentences, as weak grammar can give the impression that you are not an authority figure on the subject you write. You can, of course, leave this during the editing stages and get it done only after you finish typing the first draft.
15. Build an audience.
Building an audience to read your works should be the top priority in your marketing strategy. After building a daily writing habit and finding your unique voice, you must focus your strategy on how to get more readers to be interested in your work. Things like having a website, utilizing social media, starting a YouTube channel, digital marketing, guest blogging, podcasting, and promoting on others’ platforms are all good ways to get eyes on your written work. Having an “author platform” also increases your chances of getting published and hired by big firms, as they prefer writers who have a built-in following tied to their work.
I have written several articles on the topic of building an audience to market your creativity, and you can read them here.
Overall, building a good marketing strategy to promote and distribute your work to the right audience is necessary in today’s age of fast content, and having an online presence is something that even the top publishers and editors notice which helps you in the long run.
I hope this article is helpful in you becoming a prolific writer, and writing efficiently and effortlessly.
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