Many writers feel more overwhelmed by the desire to finish writing a book rather than the journey it takes to get there. Great writing; however, is a long journey, one that is continually interrupted. The battle for good writing is the battle to be productive in spite of all the fears and distractions.
While writing his book, Differences That Make a Difference, Pedro David Espinoza dealt with his fair share of fear and exhaustion. Writing is a challenge and being a productive writer can be especially hard with the amount of distractions many of us frequently experience. Most good writing comes down to facing insecurities head on and getting ideas down on paper repeatedly until the assignment is done. Here are Pedro’s five secrets to becoming that productive writer.
1. Remove distractions
More than ever before, today’s writers face a large threat to productivity: distraction. Writers of the past did not have wireless, high-speed internet or televisions in nearly every room. Research also shows that today’s society has a record-high problem with consumption, which results in a lot of clutter.
Pedro David Espinoza recommends shutting off your internet and your phone while you are actively writing to minimize distraction. If you need to use the internet or your phone for research purposes, there are apps you can download to help you boost productivity by tracking how much time you spend on social media and other websites, or even blocking certain websites altogether.
You can also improve your productivity by improving the space you write in. Science shows that a cluttered and messy work environment has a psychological affect and stunts productivity.
When all else fails, a change of scenery can do wonders. Try writing in a coffee shop or a library, or even grab a notebook and go write outside. Removing distractions is arguably the most important step to becoming a more productive writer.
2. Break it up
The most productive writers divide their day into chunks and their writing goals into small assignments. They neither rush their work nor linger too long on any one spot. A great technique for keeping the work moving along is to work in 20-40-minute chunks, take mini breaks after each chunk, and then to take extended breaks after so many chunks.
Another way that writers “break it up” and stay productive is to set a reasonable goal and then reward themselves once they reach those goals. The reward could be a special food or drink, an article of clothing, or even a nap.
Put simply, productive writers know how to work hard without burning themselves out. They keep the process fresh and exciting in order to plow through those moments that feel overly difficult to manage.
3. Something is better than nothing
Nearly all writers struggle with writer’s block at one point or another. As previously mentioned, sometimes the best thing to do is walk away and take a break. What happens; however, when a 20-minute break from writing turns into an entire week? The key is writing something every day, whether you feel like it or not.
Getting something on paper is better than having nothing on paper at all. When writing his own book, Pedro David Espinoza would try to work on his book each day. Even if his initial attempts were poor, it was far easier to proofread or redo portions than to have to do it all on a shorter timeline.
So how do you write even when you don’t want to? Try setting aside a block of time every single day for free writing. Choose one aspect or part of your book or idea and just write, without stopping, about anything that pops into your head. You may come up with some great ideas to include in your writing and free writing makes you more connected with the process rather than the end result, lessening your stress.
4. Don’t expect to like the first draft
Unproductive writers often begin writing and then hate what they’ve produced. Ironically, so do productive writers. The difference between the unproductive and the productive writer is that the productive writer anticipates the rough drafts, while poor writers expect genius to pour out on the first try.
Rough drafts are duly named, because the finest writers throughout human history recognize the roughness of all first attempts. Productive writers understand that there will be ample time to proofread, rewrite, and enhance all drafts into a finished product.
Therefore, set reasonable expectations. Let the first draft be bad. In time, a developing writer’s drafts will get better, as well as its potential to become an even more exciting final draft. And for those that find it especially hard to attempt a draft or assignment when they are especially unmotivated, this point should be a strong encouragement to give it a try.
5. Set realistic goals
Trying to accomplish a month’s worth of work in a day is just asking for burnout. In fact, such a mentality will likely prevent the writing process from ever even starting. Productive writers set realistic goals for the day.
Writing a good book or article will take some time, especially for beginners. Budgeting one’s time and pacing one’s efforts are key to becoming a productive writer. Focusing on one day at a time will generate fantastic results in due time.
Pedro David Espinoza’s final writing secret
What is the secret to becoming a more productive writer? Just write, says Pedro David Espinoza. The key to writing is simply about setting a daily schedule and following it. Setting a schedule will hold you accountable to your writing goals and will in the process make you a productive writer.
As well, by removing distractions, taking breaks, focusing on writing despite writer’s block, knowing that a first draft is part of the process, and by setting realistic goals, your writing routine will be more fruitful.
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