7 Productivity Hacks for Bloggers & Writers
Writing can be a very lonely profession. For hours on end, you try to turn a blank page into something that’s actually worth reading. I have to admit though, once you start, it can really become quite addicting.
Then, at other times, I wonder if the words will ever come. Fortunately, I have discovered a few juicy tips that help me to get the creativity flowing and the keyboard a pumpin.
Ben Yoskovitz from Instigatorblog.com is sponsoring a group writing project called The Ultimate Guide to Productivity and I have decided to join in on the fun. So without further ado, here are my favorite productivity hacks for writers and bloggers.
1. Complete your most important (big, hairy, audacious task) first. Whichever activity you are dreading the most is probably the one you need to complete first thing in the morning.
2. JDarkRoom
This is a very cool application that allows you to write more efficiently by removing all distractions. You’re given an entirely blank page on which to type. This way, you’re not distracted by the web, e-mail, or IM. When you’re done, you can save your work as a text file.
You can try it out for yourself at:
http://www.codealchemists.com/jdarkroom/
If you’re using a Mac, then I would suggest Writeroom.
3. Keep a notepad and pen on hand at all times.
You just never know when the ideas are going to start flowing. When they do, I’m always ready with pen and paper in hand. Whether I’m driving in the car or just about to go to bed, I’ve always got something on hand to record my thoughts.
You wouldn’t believe all of the ideas that pop into my head just before I’m about to go to sleep.
4. One of my favorite writing productivity tips is to set a timer. By setting a time limit on my writing, I am able to instantly give the task at hand my full attention. Using a timer has increased my productivity by atleast 300%.
5. Another great tip for writers, and bloggers especially, is to batch your activities. Whenever you are writing posts for you blog, why not write a couple of posts instead of just one? By doing this, you remain in a flow of creativity and ultimate productivity.
6. Read Voraciously.
The best writers are also voracious readers. You can’t expect to be a good writer if you’re not reading a variety of writing styles.
However, one of the biggest benefits of reading is that you are constantly flooded with new ideas. I have found that many of my ideas for new blog posts actually come from reading other blog posts. Of course, you never want to copy anyone, but usually one idea will lead to another.
7. Just start writing.
It doesn’t matter what you write, just get started. Starting is really the hardest part, but once you do you can often get into a flow that will last for hours. To trick myself into writing an article, I often set the timer for just 10 minutes and I decide to dedicate just 10 minutes of my time to starting the article. However, most of the time by the time the 10 minutes are up I have entered the zone and can’t keep from continuing.
However, despite all of the previous productivity hacks, there is one that stands out above all others. Do what you love!
Dale Carnegie once said,
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”
When you’re doing what you love, hours pass like minutes. It’s what Albert Einstein would refer to as the Theory of Relativity.
If you’d like to participate in this group writing experiment, then head on over to InstigatorBlog.com.
You might also enjoy these other great posts by bloggers who have already submitted to this group writing project…
The Ultimate Guide to Productivity at DuctTapeMarketing
The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Wendy Piersall