Writing 5 tips for writing more

[Ilikewaterkusa]

Are you having issues with being able to write your story? Don’t worry, this post will help. Here’s 5 methods you can use to write more. Though much of the tips from here can be used in regards to other skills.

1. Use the Pomodoro method.
The Pomodoro method is a timer that allows you to chunk your work sessions into 25 minutes sessions which are then followed by 5 minute break sessions. Though it might seem first seem like it is not exactly worth it to use the Pomodoro method as it prevents you from being productive for a long time, this isn’t the case. For one, it is very easy for you to begin a session, as a 25 minute session appears so short and is a time that anyone can spare. And two, once you are done with your first Pomodoro session, it’s more than likely that you will slip onto sparking another session.

2. Write your ideas and concerns onto paper.
If you physically write your ideas and concerns onto paper, your thoughts about the subject will become clearer. This is because your mind is more proactive when writing out the idea, as concerned to typing out your ideas and concerns

3. Don’t listen to music while writing
Listening to music while writing creates an addictive behavior that distracts you from writing. Even if the song is something that you are neutral to and don’t have as much emotion for, your mind will still be distracted by it and you won’t be able to give it your all. Back when I used to write without music, I was able to casually write about 45 ish words per minute, but ever since I decided to write with music my pace dropped dramatically to about 20wpm per minute.

4. Exercise
Just exercise. You don’t have to do anything intensive or anything complex, but just make a set of short routine exercises that you can do for 5 minutes everyday. For me this is stretching my arms during my free time. Though you may feel like it’s best to do something intensive and complex, it’s for the best that you keep it simple and focus on doing everyday. What point is perfection, if it isn’t constant?

5. Have a starting ritual
Before I begin a writing session, I have a starting ritual where I open monkeytype and type for 5 to 10 minutes. Though you may feel like have your starting ritual be like some intensive 30 minutes long session, you shouldn’t as you are trying to build up a lasting habit and not some vanishing fad. As a result of these starting rituals, I can write about 20% faster than usual.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

6. Don't procreate
When you have a baby, it will suck on your nipples for 8 hours a day. You'll be changing diapers for 2 hours a day. If you want to be a good parent, you also need to read to it and sing to it for at least 8 hours a day. You can strap it to your body for a few hours a day while you get stuff done, but it will probably fall asleep on you and the more it sleeps while you are getting stuff done, the less you get to sleep because you can only sleep when it sleeps. Once it starts walking, it will try to kill itself for 10 hours a day, and you will have to prevent that from happening.

 

[1moreindakitchen]

6. Don't procreate
When you have a baby, it will suck on your nipples for 8 hours a day. You'll be changing diapers for 2 hours a day. If you want to be a good parent, you also need to read to it and sing to it for at least 8 hours a day. You can strap it to your body for a few hours a day while you get stuff done, but it will probably fall asleep on you and the more it sleeps while you are getting stuff done, the less you get to sleep because you can only sleep when it sleeps. Once it starts walking, it will try to kill itself for 10 hours a day, and you will have to prevent that from happening.

Haha, so true.
Though I still get one or two hours for writing in the evening, when my kids are sleeping. On most days.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Haha, so true.
Though I still get one or two hours for writing in the evening, when my kids are sleeping. On most days.

How old are they? I could maybe go back to writing when I finish my current work project, but right now I'm waiting for Husband to finish some home improvement stuff so I can set up my office. It has a separate entrance from the rest of the house. My desk is currently in the living room, and he can't stop himself from talking to me when he's cooking or simply passing through. I can't count on more than a few minutes of peace and quiet at a time, and I get extremely frustrated when my work is interrupted.

 

[1moreindakitchen]

How old are they?

8 and 2. I was lucky our youngest had a good sleeping rhythm right from the start. I could even manage to finish both of my last two NaNoWriMos. Of course, this sounds easier than it actually was and is. I also used some breaks around the time to write on my phone, which were the parts needing the most editing afterward.

Wearing headphones to cancel out noise also helps. Your husband might get that you are writing at some point when you don't answer. Not a good advice for a healthy marriage though. ? If your husband takes you and your writing seriously, you might rather try to communicate with him, that you want to write without being disturbed. As it might be your way to relax. Or something similar.
And then put on your headphones. ?

 

[RepresentingCaution]

If your husband takes you and your writing seriously, you might rather try to communicate with him, that you want to write without being disturbed.

I've tried. It's like a merry-go-round with him.

 

[MansonFD7]

3. Don’t listen to music while writing
Listening to music while writing creates an addictive behavior that distracts you from writing. Even if the song is something that you are neutral to and don’t have as much emotion for, your mind will still be distracted by it and you won’t be able to give it your all. Back when I used to write without music, I was able to casually write about 45 ish words per minute, but ever since I decided to write with music my pace dropped dramatically to about 20wpm per minute.

Funny enough on this "Don't listen to music while writing" is differs from myself.

I get bored easily when I'm writing something and there is no music to accompany my boredom on writing something (Either it's novel, college tasks, etc.)

Henceforth, listening to some music pumps me up and makes me faster in writing. Especially if it's Hard songs like: Rock, Metal, Drum and Bass, Techno, etc. From how I get sucked into the world of my novel and the music as a background.

 

[AliceShiki]

3. Don’t listen to music while writing
Listening to music while writing creates an addictive behavior that distracts you from writing. Even if the song is something that you are neutral to and don’t have as much emotion for, your mind will still be distracted by it and you won’t be able to give it your all. Back when I used to write without music, I was able to casually write about 45 ish words per minute, but ever since I decided to write with music my pace dropped dramatically to about 20wpm per minute.

On this one it depends... Like, it depends on how the person reacts to outside stimulus (how much it distracts them or helps them focus), the type of sound they're listening to, what environment the person is living in and the like.

Sometimes one can also use not music, but specific types of noises to help them focus. My psychologist once talked about how he used something called white noise (or something like it, I'm a bit unsure) to help him focus... It was just a weird noise, but it helped him avoid getting distracted by outside noises because he has ADHD. This can be quite useful if you live in a house where you constantly hear other people talk, or hear noises coming from outside the window and the like.

And well, I also have my own personal recommendation:

If you have ADHD, go take your ADHD meds and stop running away from going to the psychiatrist. Took me 5 years of trying to work at home-office and being unable to, until I finally decided to go to a psychiatrist and... Lo and Behold, I'm more productive now that I have meds for my ADHD.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

I feel like I need to puncture my ear drums whenever I do anything that requires focus.

 

[CCmei]

I've just been staring at the blank screen in sad and tired, WITHOUT KIDS. Thus I am doomed regardless.

Maybe I'm just not self-disciplined enough. Usually, though I just sit in "bitch empty" dead and self-hate. All "nothing good comes out of me so why bother, god I'm tired. "

My old professor tried to get the Pomodoro method into me but it never stuck. It is very effective for some people though. As for music, I'm the opposite. Or like many other writers I just like setting up that mood and having it in the background to feel more productive. Like the brain needs to fidget with something, even background music, to run smoothly alone.

 

[Brandondee]

I always listened to music while I wrote and I thought that it helped me get in the zone. But very recently I’ve realized that music is actually a distraction and I can get more done when I’m not listening to it.

 

[P00H]

I always listened to music while I wrote and I thought that it helped me get in the zone. But very recently I’ve realized that music is actually a distraction and I can get more done when I’m not listening to it.

That's the same for me. It gets me in the zone sometimes, but when writing, it's distracting and even might create a false emotion which should not be there.

 

[ElijahRyne]

I've just been staring at the blank screen in sad and tired, WITHOUT KIDS. Thus I am doomed regardless.

Maybe I'm just not self-disciplined enough. Usually, though I just sit in "bitch empty" dead and self-hate. All "nothing good comes out of me so why bother, god I'm tired. "

My old professor tried to get the Pomodoro method into me but it never stuck. It is very effective for some people though. As for music, I'm the opposite. Or like many other writers I just like setting up that mood and having it in the background to feel more productive. Like the brain needs to fidget with something, even background music, to run smoothly alone.

I also tend to just stare at the screen, not able to add more to it. Outside of ‘meticulously’ editing and rewriting everything I have written before hand. Though I am trying a new method. What that is is making a rough outline of each scene, like the setting, characters in it, a summary of what I want to happen, and individual goals that the scene will have. I do this a day or three before I plan to write the next chapter. The day after I write the outlines, I pick a word or idea and I write one or two sentences/paragraphs with a character/narrator describing it. This will be the intro to the chapter, after writing that, I stop writing and do something else. Once I feel ready to write again I write, be it after 1 hour or 2 days.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Don't masturbate. Frustration is the motherhood of writing. Also, you'll wanna take a nap. Sleeping cuts into your writing time.