How to Have a Productive Writing Day
Sometimes it's hard to stay focused and get a lot accomplished when you sit down to write. Follow these tips and you'll be amazed at how much writing you'll get done in one day!
1. Write down your daily goal.
Writing down your goal before the start of each day will help you remember what you'd like to finish before nightfall. Whether it's a word count or a number of chapters, physically writing it down will sear it into your brain and you can look at it to remind yourself throughout the day.
2. Keep your desk clean.
Spending a few minutes to tidy up your writing area will make a huge difference. An uncluttered desk makes for an uncluttered mind.
3. Schedule regular breaks.
Don't expect to work through an entire day without breaks. Scheduling breaks at certain times (or after completing mini goals) will help you stay focused and remain productive between them.
4. Eliminate distractions.
Tempted to check your social media or watch a show when you should be writing? Unplug your modem, turn off your phone, and don't write in the TV room. Allow yourself to check the Internet and watch TV only during your scheduled breaks.
5. Push through obstacles.
Got writer's block? Take a walk outside or do a mindless task like the dishes. This will help to clear your head. When you do sit back down, don't blame it on writer's block; sometimes you just have to reread what you've written so far and you'll discover what to write next.
Remember that the rough draft of your book, paper, or article can be really rough. Editing is where you polish your work, so you can write it fast. Don't get bogged down by typos or grammar errors. If you're not sure what should happen to the characters next, just get something down. That's the beauty of editing, you can always change it later!
