Writing More, Writing Faster - 10 Top Tips by Wendy H. Jones


I am sure we are all in agreement that at times our writing can seem like wading through treacle with lead boots on our feet. Other times it feels like we are flying and our fingers can't keep up with the words. Hands up who agrees?

Recently I've had so much on my mind that at times writing has taken a back seat. However, my mojo has reappeared and the words can't get out fast enough. What changed for me? Basically I got more organised. Here's how. 

1. Make sure your desk is cleared before you finish for the day. When I was in the Army we operated a clear desk policy. Coming back to a desk which doesn't look cluttered frees the mind and allows creative thoughts to flow.

2. The one caveat to the above is leave the document you want to work on open on your computer. This allows you to get straight into your writing the next day. Starting the computer, opening documents etc. allows your mind to think about other things. Before you know it you've spent 3 hours on FaceTwit and not one word written other than 'cute kitten' on someone's post. 

3. Train your mind to write the minute you sit at a keyboard. If the first thing you do at a keyboard is answer emails or do other tasks then your mind will think that's what it should be doing every time you sit at a keyboard. 

4. Prioritise your writing. Make it the first thing you do after shower and breakfast. 

5. Use very spare minute to write something. If you've got a five minute gap, then write. Use a notebook, notes app on phone, whatever you want to use, but write.

6. Jot down every thought you have about your book and keep it in a file. I use Evernote, but you can use anything you want. Whatever helps you and keeps the words flowing. 

7. Give your mind permission to write. Seems strange I know, but if you have a to do list with Writing at the top, then your mind has permission to leave those other things until later. It doesn't need to be cluttered up with things you might forget. 

8. Use word sprints to get more writing done. Your mind is better able to cope with 5, 10 or 20 minutes than staring at a blank page for a whole day. 

9. Jot down ideas about what you re going to write about that day. It doesn't have to be a full blown plan, but if your mind has a general idea of where you are headed it's more likely to take off and lead you down that path.

10. I've said this before but I'm saying it again. Seriously leave your phone elsewhere and shut off the internet on your computer. In today's society we are all trained to respond instantly to the ping of an incoming alert. Those running social media want us to be trained that way for obvious reasons. No one is going to die if you don't like that picture of a cute kitten. 

I hope this has helped. If you would like more ideas and tips then  check out Chris Fox's book 'Lifelong Writing Habit'. I can highly recommend it.

         


About the Author

Wendy H Jones is the Amazon Number 1 best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers Choice Award. She is also an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, Motivation and marketing. Wendy is the founder of Crime at the Castle, Scotland’s newest Crime Festival. She has just edited a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers

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Comments

Lynda Alsford said…
Very useful tips Wendy. Thank you for this.
Bill Kirton said…
Thanks, as ever, Wendy. Always inspirational.
Savvy Lady said…
Wendy - I am guilty of engaging in almost all of your well documented delaying tactics. Now that you have reminded me that I don't have to have my internet connection on to use my computer, that alone should make writing an easier task...one that when I actually sit down and pay attention I enjoy.
Not too sure about the phone tip. I get a lot of writing done on the phone and find it quite a fast way to type. Predictive text etc
David Smith said…
Great tips Wendy!! I'm guilty of a few of them, I've pulled myself away from social media a lot. It's fun, but yeah, hours pass and an empty page isn't very rewarding. Thanks!

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