11 Killer Secrets to be an Ultra Productive Writer

One of the best ways to get noticed as a writer is to be a productive writer.

This means you need to write actively and consistently. Get your name and brand out there.

But how do you do this?

I think most of us has heard the good ol’, “Well, all you have to do is write to be productive!” nonsense.

I repeat.

Nonsense.

Sometimes, ‘just writing’ isn’t that simple.

Goodness knows I had trouble with that very concept. Being jobless and procrastinating until the very day assignments — yes, assignmentS — were due, I had all the time in the world to write, but did I?

Nope.

Honestly, I was, and admittedly still am, quite the lazy couch potato, but I wanted to write, and that passion burned inside me more often than not.

But why couldn’t I write, even when I was perched in front of a notebook or laptop with a fresh blank page in front of me?

I couldn’t understand the problem at all, and got so frustrated with myself. I would beat myself up so much and almost always had to hide away in shame whenever anyone would come and ask the merry question, “How’s the writing going?”

Of course, I got some writing done here and there, but nothing consistent, and it certainly wasn’t done regularly.

So, after years of solely relying on the ol’ “Just write!” advice and doing nothing, I finally got off my butt and did something—

But it wasn’t writing.

The solution:

The truth is, you have to do more than ‘just write’ to write. It’s the lack of discipline as well as the mindset that can hold you back.

To be honest, it wasn’t until recently that I realized that a writer doesn’t have to push through.

A writer can simply stride their way toward productivity on their own terms.

That’s what I did, and now I write much more than I have before.

Here are my tips for how to be a productive writer—WITHOUT the stress!

11 Killer Secrets to be an Ultra Productive Writer

Developing Your Mind

This might go without saying, but the most important thing to becoming a productive writer is your mind. It’s the area that’s most holding you back from getting any writing done regardless of how much your spirit burns to write.

I know that might sound backwards, but it’s true.

Whatever inner or outer force is the source of holding you back, it all goes through your system and straight into your mind.

It halts your ability to follow your spirit to write because your mind just won’t allow you to create with ease.

The remedy to this?

Well, it lies in embracing your surroundings, enhancing your body, and thus, developing your mind in a way that can make you a productive writer.

Correct Your Sleeping Habits

All of these things have signs of a negative effect on the brain. Not only does your creativity suffer, but also the energy needed to be productive diminishes.

I know.

Life happens. More unexpected than not.

So, it’s impossible to have a good night’s sleep every night of every week of every month of every year.

Of course, it is. That’s why I never said that.

What I am saying is: you need to have more nights of well-rested sleep than not.

Tip the ratio in your favor, not misfortune!

Some helpful Sleep Foundation tips include:

• • Correct sleep posture
  • Replace your mattress
  • Get rid of distractions
  • Clear your mind
  • Incorporate special scents into your nightly routine

Whatever your problem with sleeping is, fix it!

Starting tonight!

Exercise

If you’re like me, the word ‘exercise’ is one of—if not the number one—energy-drainer in your life.

“Yes, exercise is a good thing…a lot of benefits… When was the last time I exercised? …I should really start a routine… Eh…”

Story of my life.

However…sigh…

It’s true.

Exercising is good for you. Not only for your body and heart, but for your mind, too.

If you want to learn how to be a productive writer, exercising is one of the methods that can make it happen.

Exercising:

• • Rejuvenates your energy
  • Strengthens your bones and muscles (especially important if you do nothing but sit around all day and night…stop looking at me…)
  • Improves your flexibility and your metabolism

The point of all this is that exercising regularly and consistently will naturally make you feel good or even better about yourself.

I’m not talking about weight-loss or toning to fit those skinny jeans or wow in a swimsuit (but if that’s your goal, that’s great, too!).

I’m talking about how making your body feel good automatically makes your mind feel good, too.

That renewed energy and better-movement in the body sparks a change in the subconscious that reflects the body’s transformation.

The brain doesn’t want to be left behind, so it takes it upon itself to begin the process of stronger confidence and positive image.

Hence: fueling your drive to continue, get better, and succeed in whatever you’re doing.

In other words, if your body doesn’t feel good, then your mind isn’t going to either.

The best part?

You don’t have to go to the gym or use any equipment! Simple stretches and light exercise goes more than a long way!

Seek Tranquility

Because it’s impossible to be able to be creative and write frequently and consistently if you let stress, pressure, and conflict build up inside of you.

You have to embrace the time you have for yourself and do the things you want and enjoy.

Tranquility, in this sense, is about peace with yourself. Knowing who you are and what you want in life.

This goes for long-term and short-term goals as well as simply doing something for you over the weekend.

Learning how to be a productive writer starts with finding the peaceful time and place for yourself.

Embrace the Lack of Time

“I have to work.” 

“The kids have taken over my life.”

“There’s so many things to do, I can barely keep up already.” 

“I’m too tired.”

“I just don’t have the time to write.”

Do any of these sound similar to your current situation?

You may be exhausted. Your mind may be too focused on one particular thing, too rattled thinking about many things, or too tired to consider anything at all.

If your body is worn and ready for bed, that just adds to the idea that you don’t have the time (or energy) to write.

But you know what?

That’s a total lie.

How?

Because there’s always time to write, no matter how hectic your day is, or how exhausted you are.

And you know what? The little time resting in those days is the time you’ll likely get more writing done than you would sitting down with all the time in the world.

It’s true.

One of the secrets to becoming a productive writer is managing your time when you have no time at all.

The less time you have to write, the more you WILL write.

You know you’re short on time, so you have to make the most of it. That’s what your mind AND body says.

If you wake up at 6:40 in the morning and your day starts at 7:00 AM, you’re going to write a whole lot in the 20 minutes you have available because you don’t have the time to scratch your head and be unsure of yourself.

With such a small amount of time, you won’t care what you write, so long as you write.

So, embrace the lack of time that you have to write, because little time is more than no time at all.

Crafting Your Writing Space

All you need is a pen/pencil and paper (or a laptop, if you prefer typing).

However, the right space can succeed in creating a sanctuary where your creativity flows and fingers work to keep up.

This space can be anywhere. Somewhere you already feel your drive exploding, or one you develop to become a place of creativity.

Sometimes the way to becoming a productive writer lies in the very place you write.

So, how do you craft this Writer’s Sanctuary?

Well, it all comes down to peace and being able to get your writing done as fast as possible.

Be Comfortably Uncomfortable

Do you know the strategy fast food restaurants use to make customers get in and out fast?

It’s to make their restaurants comfortable enough to have customers sit down for a quick—quick—meal, but uncomfortable enough to make these same customers not want to stay.

They achieve this by hard seating, vibrant colors, and a semi-noisy environment.

Fast-food restaurants accomplish their goal of making money because customers are smoothly and quickly rotating in and out.

They can serve a lot in a short amount of time.

The same should be true to your writing space.

You want to have a space where you feel comfortable enough to sit down and write—

You need to write, not work.

—but it also needs to be uncomfortable enough to not fully relax and let your mind wander—

You need to write, not lounge.

It can be a delicate balance to achieve, but it’s a vital step to learning how to be a productive writer.

You’ll write more in a comfortably-uncomfortable space because you want to get it done with ease, but not spend your life on it.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

If you have anything—especially things that you do or interact with often—in your Writer’s Sanctuary, you risk the urge of looking or thinking about those things.

Thus, becoming distracted, sidetracked, and possibly losing your train of thought in your writing.

Let Everyone Know When You Want to Write

How can you possibly learn how to be a productive as a writer if you’re interrupted every five minutes—especially if the reasons aren’t that important?

Yes, you have a family.

Whether that be rambunctious kids, annoying siblings, nagging parents, or an oblivious spouse, family is family.

But family is also your support system, right?

Before you sit down to write, I trust that the things that need to get done are either already done, or will be done later.

Meaning, you chose to write when you were free.

So almost anything that comes up in-between that time can most likely wait until you’re done writing.

That said, tell your family that it’s writing time, so they won’t interrupt you with questions or displays of the latest game that came out.

However, sometimes words are forgotten, so use a Do Not Disturb sign of some sort.

It can be a literal sign, or one that has the same meaning, such as a tie wrapped around the doorknob, or a vase perched on a stand outside the door.

This is YOUR writing time, and you WILL get it done. Any non-emergencies can wait until then.

Make Your Devices Your Friend, Not Your Enemy

We all live in a tech world—so much so that sometimes we live more on our phones and explore the internet rather than live in the real world and explore our minds.

The internet is tempting and interesting. A lot to discover and many new people to connect with.

However, technology is hindering your ability to write.

How?

Because it’s distracting.

I’m not telling you to throw every last device in the garbage and write pen to paper from now on…

But what I am telling you is: don’t let your devices become your enemy.

Learning to become a productive writer is about letting your devices help you, not hinder you.

How do you do this?

By optimizing your devices to be writer-friendly!

Turn Off Your Notifications

Don’t even give your brain a chance to become distracted when it doesn’t need to be.

Install Apps That Benefit You as a Writer

The old-fashioned war of technology vs. creativity is alive and well in some fields and situations—

But not when it comes to your writing.

Knowing how to become a productive writer is knowing what apps are good and bad for you.

Nowadays, there are many apps that are made specifically for creative individuals, especially writers.

These apps range from writing prompts, note-taking, scheduling, and more.

But my favorite apps that help writers are the ones that naturally make your brain go into creative mode and ramps up your writing 10x faster.

These are apps are 100% brain fuel. Vibrations that go in and let the creativity and productivity flow.

Use Your Phone ONLY to Help Your Writing Progress

Ideally, you should have done any necessary research before sitting down to write.

Likewise, if you knew you’d need inspiration, you could have looked that up before writing, or else you wouldn’t have sat down at all.

Research and inspiration is a part of the prep-work, meaning it occurs before the main task of writing.

The longer you browse through your phone, the more likely you’ll be tempted to do or look up other things—

Distracting yourself from writing.

You don’t want that, do you? So, put away the phone, and only use it for those writer-friendly apps you installed.

Learn to Pull Away when Temptation Becomes Too Much

Whether it’s your phone, a turned-off television in the room, or a laptop not in use (or the one you’re typing on), they’re all temptations.

Therefore, knowing how to become a productive writer is knowing when to step back when the distractions become too tempting.

You have a choice of taking a break, or removing said temptations entirely.

In the case of a laptop you were using to type on, put it away and switch to pen and paper instead.

Remember, distractions and temptations are your enemies. If you find your mind trailing to anything in the room more often than not, remove it.

You can use it or look something up later. That item is not going anywhere.

However, right now, it’s your writing time, and that’s a time you can’t get back.

In Conclusion

So, now that you know the 11 Killer Secrets to be an Ultra Productive Writer, what do you think?

Did any of these steps or methods resonate with you in some way?

Use every method or just one or two. They all do the job of teaching you how to be a productive writer.

Did any of these tips work for you? Do you have another method that may help writers increase their productivity? Let me know!

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