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Create more ideas, meet your project deadlines and become a professional writer by using these methods to write consistently. |
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| By Matthew Hart |
Here are 3 Enjoyable Methods to Help You Write Consistently
1. Carry a Pocket Notebook or Download a Similar Phone App
You will gain these two benefits when you carry a pocket notebook/App:
FIRST: You will capture and create more ideas
But, are you really done writing for the day after you hit SAVE and close the screen? If you're like most writers, the answer is, "no."
Waking up in the middle of the night to jot down an idea is a bit of a cliche. But, what about in line at the grocery store? In the elevator? Or, the restroom?
The good news is that there are plenty of idle times during your day to write, but without a way to capture your thoughts at the time, chances are those brilliant ideas will be lost forever.
There are many free phone apps that you can download that will help you capture your ideas, but simple pocket notebooks work well, too.
I like to use the Moleskine Cahier Journal, Soft Cover, Pocket (3.5" x 5.5") Ruled/Lined, Black (Set of 3)
Whichever you choose, just having a way to capture your ideas in the moment could keep you from losing that great plot twist, or even spur your creativity throughout the day to give you even more ideas.
SECOND: You will start writing daily
Once you get in the habit of capturing your ideas throughout the day, you'll be even more excited to do something with them.
It's amazing, isn't it?
Have you ever noticed that once you've got something to write about, you can't wait to write it down?
At the very least, you'll want to get your ideas out of your notebook and organize them in some useful way.
Allow yourself time at the end of each day to review and organize your notebook.
If you do this before you go to bed, you will also be priming your subconscious mind to work on your project during your sleep.
Chances are, you'll be springing out of bed to start writing, first thing, the next morning. And, before you know it, you'll have a daily writing habit and enjoying the process, too.
It's amazing, isn't it?
Have you ever noticed that once you've got something to write about, you can't wait to write it down?
At the very least, you'll want to get your ideas out of your notebook and organize them in some useful way.
Allow yourself time at the end of each day to review and organize your notebook.
If you do this before you go to bed, you will also be priming your subconscious mind to work on your project during your sleep.
Chances are, you'll be springing out of bed to start writing, first thing, the next morning. And, before you know it, you'll have a daily writing habit and enjoying the process, too.
2. Focus on the Scene
Staying focused on the scene will help you meet your project deadlines in two ways:
FIRST: You will conquer writer's block
The root cause of writer's block is becoming overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.
It's difficult to sit down and write a novel. There's so many places you could start your story. Is it the right place?
You might not even know what your story is about yet.
But, when you focus on only writing one scene, you know exactly where to start. The beginning of the scene! It's even easier with an outline.
But, you don't even need an outline to write a scene.
Writing out scenes that stick out in your mind can help you discover your overall story, and that scene can be inserted into the novel, wherever it needs to go.
So, get started writing scenes.
You will focus on your scene by asking questions of it. Start with:
Who's in the scene? Where does this scene take place? Who's scene is it? What do they want? Do they get it? How did they get it? or What stopped them from getting it? How is the end of the scene different from the beginning of the scene?
Just answering these questions will give you something to write about and an easy way to get you focused on the scene.
Good bye, writer's block!
You might not even know what your story is about yet.
But, when you focus on only writing one scene, you know exactly where to start. The beginning of the scene! It's even easier with an outline.
But, you don't even need an outline to write a scene.
Writing out scenes that stick out in your mind can help you discover your overall story, and that scene can be inserted into the novel, wherever it needs to go.
So, get started writing scenes.
You will focus on your scene by asking questions of it. Start with:
Who's in the scene? Where does this scene take place? Who's scene is it? What do they want? Do they get it? How did they get it? or What stopped them from getting it? How is the end of the scene different from the beginning of the scene?
Just answering these questions will give you something to write about and an easy way to get you focused on the scene.
Good bye, writer's block!
SECOND: You will be able to mark your progress
If you've taken the time to create a scene by scene outline, you will have essentially made for yourself, a road map that guides you towards the finish line of your novel.
But, even if you don't have an outline, or one broken down into scenes, writing, grouping, and linking scenes will become a way to mark your progress as you write.
Word and page counts are also a common way to chart your progress as you work towards a long deadline.
The important thing to know is that by marking your progress, you will actually be using work you've already completed to pull you forward each day to continue the writing that still needs to be done.
Writing every day is not an easy task, but that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable, too.
If at any time, you don't feel like writing, take a moment to read what you've already written.
I bet you will get your inspiration back for one more scene, 1,000 more words, or just one more paragraph or page.
But, even if you don't have an outline, or one broken down into scenes, writing, grouping, and linking scenes will become a way to mark your progress as you write.
Word and page counts are also a common way to chart your progress as you work towards a long deadline.
The important thing to know is that by marking your progress, you will actually be using work you've already completed to pull you forward each day to continue the writing that still needs to be done.
Writing every day is not an easy task, but that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable, too.
If at any time, you don't feel like writing, take a moment to read what you've already written.
I bet you will get your inspiration back for one more scene, 1,000 more words, or just one more paragraph or page.
3. Celebrate Your Progress
Celebrating your progress will help you become a professional writer in a couple of ways:
FIRST: You will become more motivated to write daily
You should celebrate whenever you complete a scene and when you complete a chapter and even beats, or quarters of your completed novel.
Celebrating is fun and it ties your writing to an enjoyable experience.
Enjoying the writing process helps you to stay motivated to write every day, throughout the long-haul of a large writing project.
And, completing writing projects is the core for what makes you a professional writer.
Celebrations don't have to be large events, and should match the size of the accomplishment.
I wouldn't expect the same amount of celebration for achieving the halfway point of my book as I would the halfway point of a chapter.
So, you might keep scene celebrations small and personal, chapter celebrations could be weekly celebrations with your writer's group or even just special posts for your social media friends.
But, the big deadlines like, quarter-novel and half-way points, should be something much larger and more inclusive.
Take some time off. Have a big party. Get excited! You deserve it.
Keep in mind that you're doing something a lot of people want to do but just aren't capable of. So, don't sell your achievements short!
SECOND: You will build a community of supporters
As you begin to share your milestones, either with your family, close friends, or through social media, you will notice that a lot of them will be cheering you on.
I think this is because people want to pour themselves into something bigger than themselves.
It's kind of like picking a horse during a race.
By sharing your milestones, you are giving your community a way to support you. Let them!
If you're about to hit the halfway point for your novel, ask if you can get their help setting up the celebration so that you can focus on reaching that deadline.
Not only will your community of supporters be happy to be involved with your success, you'll also be keeping yourself accountable to reaching your goal.
But, what's really happening, is that you will be growing a fan base around you who will eventually want to read your book. At least, you hope.
By hosting large celebrations, you give your fan base an opportunity to get to know you better.
And, if everyone at the party brings a friend that you haven't met yet, you have the potential to grow your fan base.
With so many people in your corner, cheering you on to finish your book, how can you stop writing now?
Get back to writing, you've got a book to finish!
Once you start applying these 3 enjoyable methods to help you write consistently, you will begin to capture more ideas, meet your project deadlines and be on your way to becoming a professional writer.
Weather or not these writing methods will work for you will depend on how you choose to apply yourself and your writing. We are all individuals, so your results will be unique to you. So, work well, work often, and enjoy your writing process!
I hope you apply these 3 enjoyable methods to help you write consistently.
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