5 Tips to Increase Writing Productivity

[fictionwritingtips]

I spoke about overcoming writing excuses the other day, but what should you do to keep up your writing productivity once you’ve started? If you’re trying to reach writing goals and remain consistent, focusing on what makes your more productive should help.

Here are 5 tips to increase your writing productivity:

Find your writing space

Having your own space to write often increases your productivity. I know you won’t always have your own space, but you should be able to identify where you’re most productive. Some people like to write in a crowded place, like a coffee shop, and some people like to write in an academic setting, like a library. If there’s room in your home or apartment, try to carve out a space that’s ONLY for writing. You know when you sit there you should only be focused on writing. Try to surround that space with things that inspire you or are related to writing.

Keep a notebook

Nothing helps increase writing productivity like brainstorming. Taking a few moments to jot down ideas or explore where your novel is going will help you stay productive. That’s why I always keep a small notebook with me in case I feel inspired by something. This helps because if you run out of ideas when you’re writing, you can always refer to your notebook, which will help prevent you from getting stuck.

Set a weekly goal

Daily word goals can be difficult for some people to stick with. We don’t always have time and we end up feeling frustrated when we don’t meet certain goals. I like to set a weekly goal, so it gives me the flexibility I need to stay motivated. For example, focus on finishing a chapter or working on a scene you want to finish. You can also set a goal to write for a certain amount of time. This also allows you to go beyond your goals for the week and be extra productive.

Plan it out

If you plan your novel before you begin and then actively adjust your outline when something changes, you’ll see a significant increase in productivity. Knowing what you’re going to work on next will allow you to write faster than you thought possible. I know it isn’t a race, but this will keep you from second guessing what you already wrote about and will help you stay on track. If you often get stuck while writing, considering more planning.

Write when you can

Productivity doesn’t come from forcing yourself to write for an hour or two, it comes from taking small writing breaks when you get the chance. Sometimes I write during my lunch break, sometimes I write about ten minutes before I go to bed, and sometimes I write a couple sentences in the morning. The point is, all these writing sprints add up, and they’re significant. Being able to schedule your writing time is nice, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Write when it’s best for you and don’t worry about not being able to dedicate a large chunk of time to it!