I’ve been falling a bit behind lately, for a number of different reasons, and I know that getting writing done on time, whether it be homework assignments, personal projects, or (probably relevant to my audience) writing gaming content, can be difficult. So this seemed like a good time to discuss some tips on being productive in writing, getting better and staying on track.
I’m sure that the internet is full of tips on being productive, but here’s a few of mine.
Commitment
Writing, like music, sports or art, is a demanding mistress. If you want to be good at anything you need to commit to putting in the time and effort. If you are content just to dabble, that’s up to you, and you may be good at it, but you’ll never be as god as if you commit to working to get better.
Think of it this way: most of us go to a job every day that, at least in many cases, you dislike. Yet you still make the effort every day to go, because there’s a reward at the end (viz. you get paid).
You may not get paid for writing, but if it’s something that you enjoy, there should be something of an inherent reward just in that; and the day may come when you might get paid (too long a subject for this post).
The point is, if you’re going to be committed to work, which you hate, why not put some commitment into writing, which you love?
Realistically everything else I’m going to say here is tied to that idea.
Time
If you only want to write occasional haikus, you don’t need to set aside much time. A half hour break on your lunch might give you time to write between one and sixty, depending on how fast you can write.
That’s a bit glib, granted, but if you want to write something with plot and dialogue, it’s going to take more time and practice, and practice means setting aside time for it.
Think of a professional athlete: They strive for greatness, desire the top spot, the gold medal, the world record. To get there they set aside time every day to practice and train for their sport. Writing is the same way: if you want to be good at it, don’t wait to wake up with an amazing idea to write down in perfect form; practice writing every day and hone your technique and style so that when you get the amazing idea you have some idea of what to do with it and how to express it.
You might wake up one morning at the age of 45 and decide that you want to be a world famous sprinter, but unless you’ve been spending time training your body, you’re probably not going to make it across the finish line in a race until the ambulance takes you across it. It takes commitment: time spent training and practicing.
Space
Probably the single biggest thing that keeps people from doing anything that they aspire to is distractions. Seriously, look at you. You want to be a writer and instead of practicing, you’re reading some jackass’s blog. What’s wrong with you?
Okay, just kidding, but the point is there. We spend a massive amount of time on devices, plus time spent with friends, or doing various other activities. You get up in the morning, go to work, come home, eat, spend time with family and/or friends, go to bed, rinse and repeat. So where do you find time to write?
The problem for most of us isn’t finding the time, it’s defining it as writing time. Find a place to do your writing, a place that isn’t for playing video games or texting friends, or doing anything else, just writing.
This might be a room in your house. It might be a coffee shop (preferably one where no one knows you). It might mean turning off your phone, using a notebook to write in, or getting a laptop without internet access or games, so that you can focus.
If you try to work in a space that your brain knows is for distractions, you will get distracted.
Ideas
How do you get started? I dunno.
But don’t wait for the perfect idea. Find something, anything, and start describing it. Sit in a coffee shop on a cold blustery day and describe how the wind moves the trees, how the people walking by are huddled up, how the building creaks and groans under the strain of the wind. Use anthropomorphisms to describe natural phenomena. Look up definitions to fancy words like anthropomorphism. Watch animals in a park and write about what you see. Make up a story about what people across the room might be talking about.
It’s amazing how you mind can move from one idea to another, especially once it gets started.
Just Write
If you want to write, write. If you’re reading this and not interested in writing, then take this and apply it to whatever does interest you. If you want to draw, draw. If you want to play music, get an instrument and learn it. If you want to do woodworking, pottery, interpretive dance, or shoe company campaign slogans, then just do it.
Few if any people just wake up one morning to find that they are amazing at something. Natural talent and predisposition is a very real thing, but experience will take you further.
So there you have it: The Mighty Thunderbeard’s tips on productive writing (or really anything you want to excel at): be committed to it, set aside time for it, find a place to do it well, and don’t wait for the perfect subject, just practice as often as you can.
Now stop reading this and go write.