You know the feeling you get when you go to bed without brushing your teeth? I’m not talking about that slimy-mouth feeling the following morning, but the feeling that you’ve forgotten something, like your day isn’t complete. This feeling can be so powerful that it gets you back out of bed. Habits are like that; regardless of what it is, you can’t wrap up the day without doing it.

Now imagine the same feeling about your writing: your day doesn’t feel complete without it. Even on your busiest days, you make the time to write a little. Otherwise, you just don’t feel good about the day. When you want to write a book, finding the time is often the most difficult challenge. I know, because although I write for a living, I still have trouble fitting my writing in. Work, kids, vacuuming, and everything else get in the way. But no matter how exhausted I am, I at least make time to write in my journal for a few minutes before turning off the light. Making writing a habit means you find a way to squeeze it in, no matter how busy you are.

When you make writing a habit, you not only find the time to write and get more done, but writing also gets easier. The words come more naturally, and you spend less time staring at the dreaded blank screen. The following simple steps can help you write more often and get better results.

1. Commit to Your Writing
When it comes to time, no one ever has enough to accomplish everything they would like. And, honestly, you’ll never have time to write your book unless you make it a top priority. There’s a difference between things we’d like to do, and things we must do. If you MUST write your book, then you’ll find the time to make it happen. If it’s something you’d LIKE to do someday, then someday may never come.

2. Write Every Day
Developing a habit means doing something regularly. Therefore you should do your best to find time to write every day. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time, even fifteen minutes will do if that’s all you can spare. The key is to practice as often as possible!

3. Write Small Pieces
Books are written one sentence at a time, so don’t fall into the trap of only sitting down to write when you have several hours at a time to devote to your work. Even if you only have time to put down a paragraph, that’s progress.

4. Don’t Stress About Writing
When you over-think your writing projects, they can seem bigger and more important . . . and much more intimidating than they really should be. Just sit down and write; don’t make a big deal out of it. Put your words on paper, and understand you’ll have time to clean them up later.

5. Be Accountable
Sometimes, despite all our efforts, even the writers with the best intentions need outside accountability to accomplish their goals. I know I do—I always have to find someone to keep me on track and make sure I do what I say I’m going to do. Whether you take a class or hire a coach or enlist the help of a firm and supportive friend, give yourself the structure you need to accomplish your goals.

Anyone who wants to write can do it, especially if you commit to your project and take steps to develop the writing habit. It doesn’t require hours of time every day—even jotting a few paragraphs in your journal every night will help get you hooked. And when you do, your skills will improve, and you’ll get all those projects on your writing to-do list done.

Comments? How do you build your writing habit?

Tweet This Post

Have you ever tried to get up at 5:00 a.m. to write, even though you’re not a morning person? Or maybe you’ve tried staying up way past your bedtime, thinking that’s the only way you’ll be able to get it done? Although these strategies work for some writers, they don’t work for all. In this week’s guest post, Meggin McIntosh, “The Ph.D. of Productivity,” shares tips for working with–not against–our own natural rhythms when we write.

We all have daily rhythms and we also have weekly and yearly rhythms. It is worth paying attention to all of them. Here are ten ideas for acknowledging and using your rhythms so you can be productive in your writing.

1. Early morning. Many people find this to be the very best time to write because the muddle of the day hasn’t started yet. If this is your best time, then schedule it so you have it right there waiting for you. Sharon O’Brien said, “Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning: I wanted to know what I was going to say.”

2. Late at night. The night owl writer is the one who loves it when the house is quiet and all the rest of the world is asleep–and then can write uninterrupted and unimpeded. For some, this is the rhythm that they need to capitalize on.

For some people the nighttime writing is not planned but is the result of what Carrie Latet describes:  “If I’m trying to sleep, the ideas won’t stop. If I’m trying to write, there appears a barren nothingness.”

3. At lunch time. Found time is a fine time to write. If you wrote even thirty minutes of every lunch time for five days, that’s two and a half hours of writing a week. You can get a lot of words written during that time. You can write at your desk or better yet, get out of your regular “work” place and write outside, in the car, in another room, or a place that lets you know you are taking a (needed) break from your other work to write.

4. Special times that you protect for yourself on the weekends or certain workdays. Even though the wise writers don’t try to hold all their writing to do during “blocks of time,” because those too rarely show up, we can create some special spaces for writing. You can decide that Saturday mornings are special writing times for you or Tuesday afternoons, or any other time that you can look ahead, block out and decide to protect…just for writing.

5. Seasons of the year: summer. Gosh, summer is a great time for writing!  For some folks summer is their least busy season or at least the one that has more flexibility. If this is true for you, then see summer as a time for productive writing. It’s not that you are trying to do ALL your writing in the summer (or in any of these other seasons) but rather that you recognize that the yearly rhythm offers summer as a unique time for writing.

6. Seasons of the year: fall. Guess what?  I’m going to say that fall is a great time for writing!  For many writers, fall signals “back to school” and/or a physical and emotional change of seasons that is more apparent than other seasons because of the falling leaves and the smells of fall (in many parts of the world). Look at fall as one of those times of using this shift to support your changes in writing focus, style, or production.

7. Seasons of the year: winter. You already know what I’m going to write don’t you?  Winter is a great time for writing!  Depending on where you love, there might be the possibility of snowy days for luscious writing. Or, maybe you live somewhere that is scrumptiously warm even in the winter and you can revel in that and just write. It seems like there are many holidays (in the United States) that fall during the winter, so that’s another interesting aspect of winter time for writing.

8. Seasons of the year: spring. Well, it’s the last time I’ll say it (only because we’re out of seasons after this one…), but spring is a great time for writing. There is such a sense of rebirth and awakening and change that comes around as we move from winter and spring and you can use these overall sense to awaken new ways, ideas, venues, or other shifts in your writing.

Note:  There are pluses to every season.

9. When you’re happy. When you are happy, content, satisfied…and you are a writer, you can enjoy that contentment and keep it flowing right into your writing. Writers feel such discovery and joy around writing and to mix that in with a time when we’re already happy…wow!  People might not be able to stand being around us we’re so blissful.

10. When you’re not (happy). Sometimes, the most authentic writing comes when life is NOT going well and we are not enjoying any aspect of it. While I wish you didn’t have those times, I know full well that all of us do. When the unhappy, unpleasant times come (and they will) then write. You may not be writing your normal genre or style of writing…but don’t miss the opportunity to write. You may feel, as Graycie Harmon did that, “Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum.” And…you might as well write about it.

Note:  Acknowledging your rhythms does not mean excusing yourself from writing at other times, i.e., if writing is a goal for you.  And I’m assuming that you’re a reader of Melinda Copp’s Writer’s Sherpa blog, writing is one of your goals!

© 2010 Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. (also known as “The Ph.D. of Productivity”™). One of the ways that you can learn from Meggin about productive writing is through her 30 Articles in Just 30 Days program (www.30ArticlesinJust30Days.com).

To access many sets of “top ten productivity tips,” you’re invited to check out the free tips available at www.TopTenProductivityTipsforWriters.com – and consider writing some, too!

Tweet This Post

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book for a long time, then you’re definitely not alone. It’s one of those projects that can easily be put off so more immediate things can get done. I know I tend to put things off (especially big things) unless I have a compelling reason to do it now.

For example, we’ve been talking about adding a garage onto our house since we moved in (years ago!). We never had a compelling reason to take on such a big project until we found out we were having another child. Then we knew we needed the extra space, and the garage became a priority. Now we have a garage!

A client of mine, another example, had put her book off for years until she found out one of her colleague/competitors was doing a book. Suddenly, she realized she’d be left behind if she didn’t get hers done too. As silly as that may sound, it’s a pretty compelling reason to stop thinking and start doing.

Today, for many self-employed professionals, the biggest priority on our list is getting clients and taking action to ensure our business stays successful for the long-term. For many, the past year or so has been a real struggle, and those who’ve survived the downturn don’t want to do that again. If this sounds familiar, now is the ideal time to get your book done so it can work for your business as a long-term client attraction strategy.

Authors—all coaches, professionals, consultants, and speakers—surveyed by RainToday for The Business Impact of Writing a Book reported that writing and publishing a book made a huge difference in their visibility, income, and business success.

• 96 percent said having a book positively influenced their business;
• 96 percent generated more clients;
• 94 percent generated more leads;
• 87 percent could charge higher fees;
• 87 percent attracted a more desirable client base;
• And 76 percent closed more deals.

One respondent even said she’d never had a shortage of clients since writing and publishing her book. These statistics have been out for a year or so, but they’re still amazing! Particularly when self-employed professionals, coaches, and consultants are looking for ways ensure long-term success for their business.

A book has always been, and will always be, one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to attract attention to yourself and your business. I tell people all the time, “Nothing says ‘expert’ like a book.” It not only helps you get out there, but it also allows you to share your experiences and expertise with more people who really need your help.

So what can you do right now to make progress and get your book done? Start with one small thing. Pull out your calendar and schedule an hour of writing time. Take twenty minutes to brainstorm everything you want to cover in your book. Flip to a fresh page in your journal, let your imagination go, and free-write your big vision for your book—including celebrity endorsements, national TV appearances, and raving book reviews.

Do something that brings you one step closer to getting that book done—FINALLY! A book with your name on it is a marketing heavy-hitter. But if you never write it, your book won’t ever work for you and your business. So get moving!

Comments? What are you doing today to ensure your book gets done? Or, even, what are you doing today to ensure your business is still successful tomorrow?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors get their books done, so they establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a powerful way. Get a free copy of her Jumpstart Your Book E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

Would you like to get rid of your paper piles…once and for all?

Is your desk buried in your paper documents?

Has it been a while since you last saw the bottom of your
inbox?

If yes, then don’t miss this upcoming one-hour teleclass from organization expert, Jennifer Hollander. “How to Get Control of Your Documents So You Can Find Them!”

In this one-hour teleclass you will learn:

• How to determine your document zones
• The 7 basic steps for file sorting and organizing
• How to organize all of your financial documents
• Creating a Command Center & Action File – Keeping track of time sensitive information, so you have WHAT you need WHEN you need it!
• Paper Clutter Combat Rules – Maintenance tips to battle the madness BEFORE it begins!
• How to prioritize your “Hit List” – Getting and STAYING focused on your “First Things!”
• To MAKE a Plan, ACT on it, and CELEBRATE the Outcome!

With her help you can end the feeling of overwhelm and be more productive as you write!

For details and to register, click here: http://bit.ly/documentclutter

Tweet This Post

Writing a book isn’t hard, but you have to make a commitment and put in the work to actually make your dream of becoming an author a reality. If you’ve been searching through web sites and books for a writing strategy that ensures success, then look no further. Use the following five tips to get your book done!

1. Develop an Outline
I know outlines aren’t for everyone. But think of your outline like your plan. You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, and you wouldn’t climb a mountain without a detailed plan. If you did, you’d likely end up frustrated and ready to give up. A book is a big project, so take time to make a plan that covers your content and everything you want to include.

2. Dedicate Time to Writing
If you want to write a book, then you have to WRITE! You have to make the project a priority, which means you’ll do whatever it takes to get it done. This is difficult for idea people and entrepreneurial types, who often have a million things going on at once and want to do everything. But to get your book done, sometimes you have to be willing to set other, lesser priority projects aside temporarily.

3. Get Motivated
The rewards for writing every day take time to pay off. You have to show up and do the work, but the most appealing benefits don’t start happening until after the book is published. To keep yourself plugging along, you have to find ways to keep yourself motivated. Try treating yourself to a new book or night at the movies for every fifty pages you finish. Small rewards can keep you going until the big-picture benefits come your way.

4. Be Accountable
When it’s just you keeping track of your work, slacking off is easier. So be accountable for your writing progress to at least one person. You could keep a running page tally with a colleague or spouse—just make sure the person is tough enough to keep you writing.

5. Overcome Challenges
As fun and rewarding as writing a book can be, every author faces challenges. The successful ones know how to overcome the obstacles that occur when writing a book-length manuscript. Be aware of the resources available to you—such as books on writing, writing communities, and classes—that can help you overcome and avoid the challenges that might otherwise stop your progress altogether.

Get Your Book Done
It doesn’t matter where you are in your writing life right now. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you can write your book. When you use these five strategies, success is definitely within your reach!

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors get their books done, so they establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a powerful way. Get a free copy of her Jumpstart Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

We are a quirky bunch—that’s for sure. Every writer has different habits, unique strengths, and mistakes they always make in their work. For example, some can’t get started without a cup of coffee. Some always forget when to use “that” or “which.” And in some cases, these quirks severely limit a writer’s success.

Knowing your own habits, flaws, mistakes, and strengths can help you compensate for your limitations, and work with your own natural strengths and rhythms. In other words, knowing yourself as a writer can make you a better writer and help you achieve your goals. To get to know your writer-self a little better, consider the following three areas of your work.

1. Your Mistakes
Knowing the issues that trip you up can help you eliminate the problem before it becomes a problem. If you default to the passive voice, and you know this is a problem for you, then you can specifically look for these issues when you self-edit your work. To determine the mistakes you make all the time, ask a writer-friend for objective feedback on your grammar, punctuation, and style; or have your work professionally copyedited and look for trends in the editor’s comments. Then you’ll know what to fix before you submit your work for publication.

2. Your Strengths
Like knowing your weaknesses, knowing your strengths can help you achieve your writing goals—and make writing easier. If you can write essays with your eyes closed, or you can plot a murder mystery in minutes, then you should be capitalizing on those strengths. When you know what type of work you like to do the best, then you will naturally gravitate towards those projects and specialize in a way that sets you apart from other writers. This is why it never hurts to experiment with different genres and forms—you may find you have a knack for writing short stories or plays or feature articles.

3. Your Work Habits
Some writers work best early in the morning and others like waiting until everyone else in the household has gone to sleep before they sit down to write. Knowing and understanding your rhythms can help you plan your writing time around your most productive and creative hours of the day. To figure out when you write best, pay attention for a few days to when you feel most inspired, when the words come the easiest, and when you feel like writing. Every writer is different, although none should hesitate to plan their day around their writing.

Knowing Yourself
Getting to know yourself as a writer—the good and the bad—can make you a better, smarter, and more successful writer. Knowing the mistakes you make over and over again lets you know what to look for when you revise. Knowing your strengths helps you make them stand out; and understanding your work habits helps you increase productivity. When you use these tips for getting to know you as a writer, your work will get better and you’ll achieve your writing goals.

Comments?

Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors get their books done, so they establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a powerful way. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

Millions of people want to write a book. However, less than 10 percent of them actually accomplish that goal. The reason, I’m willing to bet, is that the other 90 percent of aspiring authors are not truly committed to the project, and so they never get it done.

Are you committed to writing your book? Or merely interested? The difference will make or break your success. I was recently listening on a teleseminar with a marketing expert who said if you’re committed, you’ll do whatever it takes; but if you’re merely interested, you’ll do what’s convenient. And successful people are truly committed. She was talking about marketing and business success, but the same goes for aspiring authors.

It takes time and discipline to write a book. And if you look at your shelf or the shelves in the bookstore, every single book was written by someone who made the commitment to get it done. If you’re committed to writing your book, you’ll do whatever it takes. You’ll carve out time in your schedule to write. You’ll put other things off. You’ll invest in your writing skills. You’ll hire a coach or take a class to keep yourself accountable and moving forward.

But if you’re only interested, you’ll do what’s convenient. You’ll wait until you have time to write. You’ll put the project off for whatever distraction comes up. You’ll forego guidance and try to do it all on your own. And you won’t see the value in investing in your skills, which means your book probably won’t ever get done.

The difference comes from within you. So think about it: are you truly committed—in a do-whatever-it-takes way—to getting your book written and becoming a published author? Or is it just something you’d like to do one day, when it’s convenient?

If you’re committed, you can use the following steps to take action.

1. Make Writing a Priority
One of the first things to do when committing to a big project is clear the decks and figure out where you can make time to focus solely on writing. This may mean giving up or delaying some other things you’re working on. If you can, try to find a regular writing time that you can stick to every day, and then put it on your calendar.

2. Learn How Books Work
All books have certain elements that make them successful, just like all houses have a foundation, walls, and roof. If you’re writing a book, you’ll need to know how to plan out a book and put all the pieces together.

3. Be Accountable
As I mentioned before, writing takes discipline. You can set all the appointments you want, but if you don’t show up for them, your book won’t get done. Joining a class or writing group is a good way to ensure you get your work done. With someone holding you accountable, it’s hard not to meet your deadlines.

Getting Your Book Done!
The difference between published books and unfinished manuscripts is the author’s commitment. If you’re not committed to getting your book done, that’s fine—there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you are serious about becoming a published author—then make it a priority and make it happen!

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors write and publish books that establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a meaningful way. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

How productive is your writing time? Many writers struggle with distractions and productivity, which is why I’m so excited to announce my friend Meggin McIntosh’s new FREE resource for writers of all types and genres: Top Ten Productivity Tips for Writers.

Each week, subscribers will receive a quick, practical, and positive set of ideas to use right away so they can maximize their writing time and effort. Topics include getting unstuck, writing formulas, productivity techniques,proofreading tips, editing tips, being interviewed about your writing, questions to ask yourself when writing, and many more.

Full disclosure: I’m a contributing writer–so watch for tips from me, as well as other writing experts.

To get your free productivity tips for writers, go to Top Ten Productivity Tips for Writers and click on the sign-up link.

And please share your favorite productivity tips in a comment!

Tweet This Post

Visualizing goals is one of the most important foundations of human achievement. By using your imagination, and envisioning life after your dreams have come true, you can actually attract what you want into your life. And just like athletes are trained to visualize victory, aspiring authors can use this powerful technique to get them excited and motivated about writing their book, and to help ensure it actually gets done.

Creative visualization works because powerful thoughts that are specific and clear can change your mindset, behaviors, and actions to align with what you want. If you want to be a published author, you can spend time thinking about and visualizing what your life will be like after that dream has become a reality. You can picture yourself giving a reading or talk in front of a large group. You can picture yourself shopping in a bookstore and seeing your book on the shelf. And you can picture yourself being interviewed on national television.

Whatever scenario you associate with being a successful author, creating it in your mind is the first step to making it happen. So no matter how long you’ve been struggling to write and no matter where you are with your book right now, you can change your situation for the better with visualization.

So how can you use this technique to make your book a reality? Here are the steps.

1. Think Big
Take a few minutes away from distractions, and allow yourself to daydream. You can even close your eyes, if that helps. Then let your mind wander. Think about how great you will feel to hold your book in your hands. Think about how your life will be different—better—as an author.

And let your imagination run wild. Don’t allow yourself to limit your abilities by thinking negative thoughts like, “Oh, that could never happen to me,” or, “My book won’t be that great.” There are no limits in your daydreams!

Really paint a picture for yourself, so your goal is clear and well-defined. And spend a few minutes living in that daydream, experiencing and enjoying the success you want.

2. Put it in Writing
Like any goal, putting your visualization in writing is important because you can’t just think about it and forget when it exists on paper in the physical world. You can write your visualization as a scene in your journal, but tearing it out and posting it in front of your desk where you can read it every day will help your goals stay at the top of your mind.

Even better: dig out some old magazines and make a vision board of pictures and words that represent your vision. For example, you could have a picture of a person reading in front of a large group, a picture of someone signing a book, or even a picture of Oprah holding your book. Whatever gets you excited and feels good to you. You can even draw some pictures if you’re artistically inclined. Then post that vision board in a place where you’ll see it every day.

Now, if this sounds like bologna to you, I encourage you to try it anyway. Why? First, successful people swear by visualization. So there must be something to it, right? Second, how can you possibly achieve anything you can’t first imagine? And third, if you’ve been struggling to get your book done for far too long, then why not try it? What have you got to lose? Plus, it will be fun—I promise. And before you know it, your dream of being a published author will come true!

Comments? Have you ever tried creative visualization?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors write and publish books that establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a meaningful way. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

Developing the writing habit is one of the hardest parts about being a writer. I know, because although I write for a living, I still don’t always spend enough time on the writing that I most want to do. Work, kids, vacuuming all get in the way. And for those people who aren’t writers by trade, but need or want to write for professional or business reasons, then you may need a little help developing your writing habit.

The following simple steps can help you write more often and with better results.

1. Write Every Day
Developing a habit means doing something regularly. Therefore you should do your best to find time to write every day. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time, even fifteen minutes will do if that’s all you can spare. The key is to practice every day!

2. Set Manageable Writing Goals
Books are written one sentence at a time, so don’t fall into the trap of only sitting down to write when you have several hours at a time to devote to your work. Even if you only have time to put down a paragraph, that’s progress.

3. Don’t Stress About Writing
When you over-think your writing projects, they can seem bigger and more important . . . and much more intimidating than they really should be. Just sit down and write; don’t make a big deal out of it. The true beauty of a manuscript doesn’t appear until a few revisions, anyways. Just put your words on paper.

4. When You’re Writing, Write Without Your Inner Critic
Another part of letting loose and approaching writing with confidence is allowing yourself to write terrible sentences and paragraphs just to put something on the page and get through blocks. Don’t rework sentences until you’ve completed an entire draft—it will only slow you down and make writing more difficult.

5. Get Feedback on Your Writing
At some point, you have to start sharing what you’re working on with people who can provide encouragement and insight into how to improve. Try to aim for a balance of supporters, like best friends and parents, with professional opinions, which won’t always be as easy to swallow as a big cheer from mom.

Anyone who wants to write can do it. Discipline is the key, and catching the writing habit doesn’t hurt, either. With these tips, you can write better and faster than you ever imagined.

Comments? How did you build your writing habits?

Tweet This Post