Alice Kuipers's Blog: Book Club, page 28

The 5 Things Productive Writers Do Differently | Tim Grahl

The 5 Things Productive Writers Do Differently | Tim Grahl:

Here are some tips on productivity for any of you trying to write. Joe Bunting’s first tip, all about systems, is very helpful. My writing ‘system’ has these components: I write everyday and I use word counts as a goal. I write anywhere BUT I always have headphones with me so I can tune out the world. I write a list at the start of the week so I know what I’m going to write about. My word goals shift depending on what age group I’m writing for, but between 500-1000 words a day suits me well. 

Here’s what he says about systems for you to read, then follow the link to read his other five tips… And tell me about your writing system - how do you do it?

“A system is defined as:a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.Systems make difficult things easier. For writers, a system can also remove the need for a very limited resources: willpower.

The reason you systematize your writing habit is so that when you wake up groggy because you stayed up too late reading the novel Worm and you really don’t want to write, you do it anyway because it’s your system.In other words, you systematize your writing process to remove out the potential for flakiness. You don’t want to have to choose to write because inevitably you will choose not to write. Instead, you want your writing to be automatic.

Here’s what a writing system contains:When will you write? What is your writing schedule? Do you have to fit it around your day job and perhaps write during your lunch break or before work?

Where will you write? Location matters. When I was writing my first book, I found that my creative output bombed when I tried to write at home. But when I wrote at my favorite coffee shop, my word count went way up.

What will you write about? Writers often get derailed when their staring at the blank page with no idea what to write. Take the chance for flakiness out, and decide ahead of time. This is where a blog niche/topic for non-fiction writers or a plot outline for fiction writers is especially important.

How much will you write? Word count goals are a bit cheesy, but they’re a tried and true method productive writers use to stay focused over the keyboard.  Stephen King has a word count goal—2,000 words a day—and so did Ernest Hemingway—500 to 1,000 depending on the project.

Exercise: use the questions above to write out your ideal writing system. Don’t be overly ambitious creating goals you can’t meet. Instead, create a system that pushes you to get better without being unrealistic.”

Have you heard of/read The Chemical Garden series?

I have the first book in the series but I haven’t read it yet! 

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory:

ecstaticbookstory: