Hayley sighs.
If only she had an extra hour in her day …
She’d dedicate that extra hour to writing. And then she could publish a blog post every week, and perhaps finally start writing her book.
Hayley has always wanted to write a book, but she has too many other things to do. Keep her coaching clients happy. Take care of her elderly mother. Clean the house, get groceries, and cook. Answer countless emails. Keep up with Facebook.
At the end of a busy day, she sits down at her desk, with a cup of her favorite nighttime tea.
But she lacks the energy to write.
Hayley published her last blog post 7 weeks ago. And that book? She never got further than a rough outline. She thinks she lacks the willpower to write. She doubts she’ll ever be good enough to publish a book.
Should she give up?
In the last few years, I’ve read a lot about productivity, and tested different tactics. I’ve found a lot of productivity advice doesn’t work for me, and might even be counterproductive.
Want to know which productivity myths might be sabotaging you? And how you could become a prolific writer even if you got a ton of other stuff to do?
Myth 1. You must have oodles of willpower
For years, researchers have argued we have a limited amount of willpower, so we have to apply our willpower carefully to our most important tasks.
But recent research has suggested telling ourselves we lack willpower is enough to prevent us implementing our plans.
Consider that … just thinking we lack willpower can stop us from writing more. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So, instead of worrying about willpower and trying to cram more tasks into your day, look at your schedule and ask yourself:
- What could you do less?
- Which activity can you drop, so you can make time for writing?
In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport explains how to block time to get demanding work, like writing, done.
Myth 2. You must set big writing goals
Setting big targets works for some, but for most of us it works counterproductive.
Big targets make many of us feel anxious, and anxiety guzzles up energy and obstructs our ability to focus. Anxiety is a productivity killer.
If you’re one of the lucky ones who thrives on big targets, go ahead, challenge yourself to write that book in half the time you think is possible, or double your guest posting commitments.
But if big targets don’t work for you, set a doable target instead, and nurture a regular writing habit.
When you make a little space for writing every day, you’ll get a surprising amount of work done. For instance, Gustave Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary by writing only two pages a week, and Stephen Guise wrote his bestseller on mini-habits by aiming to write at least 50 words a day.
When you nurture a tiny habit, writing becomes almost as automatic as brushing your teeth daily.
And that’s how you can write that book that’s hiding in you. Sentence by sentence. Page by page.
We underestimate how much work we’ll accomplish by writing a little consistently.
Big, hairy writing goal? Here’s how to write more and fret less
Myth 3. You must dedicate more hours to writing
If you want to be more prolific as a writer, it’s a good idea to block time in your calendar for writing.
But dedicating more hours to writing doesn’t necessarily make you more productive.
This is what happened when Mark Manson tried to write as much as possible in a day:
I was hanging out with a few other writers and we’d get together for “write-a-thons” and bang out as many words as humanly possible in an afternoon. It was basically one big pissing contest where we’d gloat about our word counts over drinks later that evening.
My best day was 8,000 words, all in about 6 hours of total work.
“Holy shit!” I thought, “I just produced 32 pages in a single day!” All you would need is 10 days of that kind of productivity to write an entire book.
There was just one problem.
It all sucked.
I mean all of it. When I eventually went back to revise the chapter a few weeks later, out of those 8,000 words, there were maybe 500 that were usable.
The problem is that it took me four days to sort through all the garbage, re-write the few parts that were salvageable, and make the decision to delete the parts that just sucked.
After a year full of frustrations, Manson finally decides to limit his writing to two hours a day:
And my god, did the book just shoot out of my fingers like my undiscovered Jedi powers. I banged out a new draft of the book in two months flat.
My experience is similar. When I write a little every day, I make progress faster.
So, if you’re finding yourself revising a lot, try writing less, and go out for a walk instead. Research has shown a walk can boost your creativity.
How to create momentum by building Hemingway bridges
Myth 4. You must get up at 5 AM
This seems to be one of the most pervasive myths on the web. Every successful person seems to get up early to get more done.
But, in the book Daily Rituals by Mason Currey, you’ll find plenty of examples of writers who didn’t work early:
- American novelist Thomas Wolfe typically started writing around midnight, fueled by large quantities of tea and coffee.
- Short story writer Ann Beattie’s favorite hours for writing are between 12.00 and 3.00 AM.
- Franz Kafka only started writing at 10.30 PM or later, after his day job at an insurance company was finished.
As Currey shows, everyone’s daily routines are different, and some writers are productive without a fixed schedule. Novelist Nicholson Baker, for instance, likes changing his routine each time he starts writing a new book.
We all have different biorhythms and commitments to work around. So, stop feeling guilty if you like a late start. Learn to listen to your body and find out what writing rhythm works for you.
Mason Currey’s book Daily Rituals provides a fascinating look into the different routines of writers and other creatives.
Myth 5. You must outline
I’m a fan of outlining.
Especially for beginning writers, outlining helps to get content organized and it can seriously reduce the revision time, so you can produce well-structured content faster.
But, that doesn’t mean outlining is a must.
Lee Child, for instance, writes his crime novels without planning the plot. The story writes itself.
No one writing process is suitable for all. Some people outline, others just start writing. Some people write short outlines, others write such detailed outlines they’ve almost written a rough draft already.
In most cases, I write faster when I outline. But sometimes, I freewrite and see where I end up.
Everyone is different, so find the creative process that works for you.
3 writing strategies: How to put your ideas into words
Myth 6. You must write faster
Writing speed is a tricky topic.
One of the most prolific writers ever was Andrew Offutt, a pornographer, who has published over four hundred books.
How was he able to write so much?
He followed a template.
As his son Chris Offutt writes in the book My Father, the Pornographer:
He created batches of raw material in advance—phrases, sentences, descriptions, and entire scenes on hundreds of pages organized in three-ring binders. Tabbed index dividers separated the sections into topics.
And:
Dad was like Henry Ford applying principles of assembly-line production with premade parts. The methodical technique proved highly efficient. Surrounded by tabulated notebooks, he could quickly find the appropriate section and transcribe lines directly into his manuscript. Afterward, he blacked them out to prevent plagiarizing himself.
And this is what Chris’ mother tells him about selling the books at conventions:
They bought everything. I don’t know why. The books were pretty much all the same. Different settings and people’s names, but the same.
Writing according to a template allows you to write on auto-pilot, super-fast. It’s a streamlined production process.
But this type of writing doesn’t work for everyone. For instance, if you write to formulate your thoughts, to master a topic, or to explore new writing techniques, you’re bound to be slower because you need more time for thinking and percolation.
So, instead of chasing higher speed, try to gain better focus. Learn how to quiet your mind, stop multi-tasking, and cut all external distractions like phone notifications.
When you concentrate on your writing, your productivity will increase.
How to get into your writing zone: 5 tips to make writing a joy
To become a prolific writer, your most precious skill is self-knowledge
You’ll know when you’re making solid progress—no matter whether you write 100 words in an hour or 1,000.
It’s not about the word count but about the quality of the content you produce and the intensity at which you work. Are you focused or not?
Think about your creative process …
When are you at your best? And what is hampering your writing? Are you multi-tasking? Are you procrastinating? Do you feel distracted? Are self-doubts sabotaging you?
When you understand what’s bugging you, you can look for tactics to unclog your mind and streamline your process.
So, pick up the courage to start writing your masterpiece.
Write a little every day.
And celebrate each tiny step of progress.
Recommended course:
Write It, Don’t Fight It
A Step-by-Step Course to Become a Prolific and Joyful Writer
“Since starting the program, I’ve written and published 3 blog posts, a 300% improvement over my track record.”
~ Deborah Reidy
Recommended reading on becoming a prolific writer:
How to write faster: 12 productivity hacks
5 tips to get into your writing zone
How to train your brain to write more
I usually get in the mood of writing around 10-11pm. All this while I’ve been thinking perhaps something’s wrong with me. But breaking this down now have just convinced me I’m totally okay. I just have to write bit by bit but regularly. Thanks so much Henneke. Big heart ❤️ for you.
Yes, yes, you’re okay. Do what works for you.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Shulammite. Happy writing!
As a new blogger, this was a welcome find in my inbox. I’m still finding what works for me. And that’s just fine. 😉
Yes, that’s fine. You’re absolutely right. Take your time. Happy blogging!
True, Henneke, I’ve been reading those myths for years! In the end isn’t it really about what works for you? Great post!
Yes, so true. Do what works for you. We’re all different!
Henneke, you are loved! Great article. Thank you. Rhia
Thank you, Rhia. I appreciate that 🙂
Henneke, so glad I finally read this!
I actually paid someone to tell me the secret to writing a lot is blocking the time at 5AM 🙂
Yes, I edit while I write and that also sparks more creativity somehow.
Plus, ever heard of Dr Michael Breuss? He wrote a book on chronotypes and – as I deeply felt – he demonstrated that early rising works for only a small percentage of the population, while for others is counterproductive, leading to fatigue.
Thank you for reassuring us writers we’re ok, as different as we may be😊
Bianca Zagan
It’s such a pervasive myth that we should all start early, and if you don’t you’re lazy.
I’ve heard about the concept of chronotypes but haven’t read the book by Dr Michael Breuss.
Thank you so much for stopping by to share your story, Bianca. I appreciate it.
Great article again Henneke. A lot of different methods; as you say some suit better than others depending on your personality. I sometimes write to an outline and sometimes just free write. I find that both work depending on the subject, so if my subject is technical it’s to an outline, if its a thought provoking subject I free write
I do the same. I vary my writing method based on what I’m writing, and if something isn’t working, then I change my method.
Thank you for stopping by, Brett. I appreciate it 🙂
Thank you again for these very helpful tips. I don’t like outlining. I wrote all my short stories a long time ago without outlines. I just wrote them and the words found themselves and the stories were written and got published in the magazines. But my problem now that I am older is that I can’t seem to focus on one thing. I don’t know if I am going to concentrate on writing articles for my educational blog or just write short stories and start editing the novel that I finished but left unedited and accumulating dust in my shelf.
Yes, many people write without outlining and the shorter a piece is, the easier it becomes to write without outlines.
If I can’t decide whether to do project A or B, then I try to listen to my heart. Which of the projects makes me feel more excited?
This is very good advice for us writers and bloggers. I also add that it is good to learn whether you are nocturnal or a morning person and work appropriately. Let us keep writing.
Yep, finding out when you’re at your best is a good tip, too. Thank you for reading and for stopping by, Geoffrey.
Thank you so much, Henneke, for the prolific post.
I almost agree with everything!
“To become a prolific writer, your most precious skill is self-knowledge”…and
“No one writing process is suitable for all”—Very True
Except for Myth no.5— You must outline…, I seem to have been negating every other myth. So far, my experience tells me—“Take writing as it comes”, just like LIFE! But know the standard rules of writing, including the contrary ones. I guess that’s what creativity is all about.
I am writing my book in unbelievable adverse conditions. The latest one being—- severe water-supply rationing in my city, which is working perfectly well for my writing and spiritual practices, the latter being the subject of my book. So my writing schedule fits around it. Sometimes I skip breakfast and have also reduced my visits to the grocery store as the washing needs to be restricted. Ample time for writing, and no scope for complaining!
Always love your presentation and writing tips. They seem to be intelligently drafted out from thorough research.
Keep the supply on!
Some people love outlining and other people hate it, so it’s good to go with the approach that feels right to you. It sounds like you’ve found the practice that works for you, and that’s awesome.
I’m sorry to hear about the severe water-supply rationing in your city, but glad that you can fit your writing schedule around the limitations.
Happy writing, Rajashree, and thank you for stopping by.
Very inspiring content. Always felt that writers are a species apart from humans? and even though I have not written anything major as a blog or book I feel now that I want in. I would like to make the difference in someone’s life by creating compelling material to get their minds blown away?. Will be applying some of the ideas you have presented. Have a wonderful day?
There is a writer hiding in all of us!
Hi Henneke, I’m always entranced when I read your posts. Explains why I don’t click on your headlines when they arrive in my inbox when I’m busy, I know I’ll want to read all… 🙂
On a serious note, myth 3 is a complete hoax. It’s like saying, “If I could have more hours in a day, then I’ll get a lot more done!” Of course, if you are not already getting a lot done in 24 hours, then you won’t get more done given more hours.
Thanks for busting (quashing, maybe?) these myths!
Yes, that’s so true. If you’re stressed and unproductive in 24 hours, then the same pattern will repeat itself if you’d have 26 or 28 hours, so we have to make the most of the 24 hours we get each day (and get our sleep, too!).
Thank you for stopping by, Charla.
It’s funny. There are a lot of “groups” out there that advocate binge writing and then reporting to each other their word counts. I feel kind of strange being in those groups because I just don’t function that way. I need time to think, time to read, time to write a little and read it over and change some words…. Thank you for this comprehensive list of myths and the message to find one’s own way.
I like your term “binge writing.” It might work for some people, but it doesn’t work for me either. I work much better when I can focus on quality instead of quantity.
Thank you for adding your thoughts, Kate. I appreciate it!
I’ve written fast, I’ve written slow, I’ve written in the morning, I’ve written in the afternoon, I’ve written after midnight, I’ve outlined, I’ve gone without an outline, I’ve used pen and paper, I’ve typed, I’ve written in short bursts and in multi-hour marathons. Nothing works and everything works.
The reason for all this variety is because you never learn how to write books, you only learn how to write the book you’re writing.
I think that’s one of the reasons writing is fascinating – each piece of content has its own challenges. The writing process is never exactly the same, and both new insights and stumbling blocks can arrive unexpectedly.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I wish that it was possible to read more of your work and your collections, they are so true and precise. Bang on, I believe is the term.
Just waiting to be through with the cataracts in both my eyes an start joining you by putting your tips to work.
Not much longer to wait.
Best regards
Nicolas
What a lovely comment. Thank you, Nicolas.
My blog posts will wait for you. No hurry 🙂
Thank you ever so much Henneke.
I will be back with a nice appetite. ❤️ ?
Hi Henneke
This post addressed all my issues in one fell swoop. I’m guilty of multitasking too. Your point about self knowledge made real sense. I’m battling to complete as many posts as possible before the launch of my blog on 01/10/2017. I realise after reading this that I am exhausted and need some time away from the writing.
By the way, I love your pertinent points about the writing habits of famous writers. Would you care to reveal your research source please ? Thanks again for a very inspirational piece.
Yes, it sounds like you should give yourself a break! When I launched my blog I only had one blog post and it took a few weeks before I wrote and published the next one.
The information on routines of famous writers comes from the book Daily Rituals by Mason Currey: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work/dp/0307273601/
Henneke, your posts are always so down to earth! I feel vindicated now, knowing that I don’t have to get up at 5am to write. I am so not a morning person.
Thank you for being real, and for writing in such a way that the reader can’t help but feel more confident in his/her writing.
What a lovely comment, Clay. It makes me happy when I am able to give people the confidence to write.
I am not a morning person either. I work much better when I can start around 9am!
As always super content, I just learned all that with writing my children’s books, which happened within 10 days for nine books. I did not call it anything but realised it as outlining once i was ready for the illustration, having no boundaries or pressure at all that happened easily. The most important feeling was that I enjoyed, actually loved every minute of it.
I find it amazing we still synchronise after all those years Henneke. Love and Blessings 🙂 <3 🙂 A.
Writing a book in ten days sounds fabulous! My schedule is more like a year (or more) ?
I feel really grateful for people like you, Annamarie, who keep reading my posts year after year. Thank you.
Loved this Henneke – this is especially timely for me as I’ve just increased my writing commitment yet again. My goal is to be prolific, and I’ve found that the more consistently I write, the easier it becomes to write more.
That self-awareness is key, and I’m getting better st paying attention to what works best for me. 🙂
Yes, consistency is a good point. For me, that doesn’t mean daily, but I am doing much better when I can write consistently for five days a week.
Happy writing, Sonia. And good to see you here again!
Henneke, this is why I <3 your posts. You embrace uniqueness. I have a serious case of middle child of seven syndrome. I hate being told you MUST do it this way. Even if it's the best idea ever, I'll probably do the opposite just because EVERYONE is doing it.
Share what works for you but don't assume your way is the only way. Well, not you, Henneke. That other you. 😉
Now if I can just figure out what MY way is. 🙂
Oops – ♥ your posts.
I am the middle one of only three children but I am exactly like you. My ex-boss used to complain a lot about my insubordination. I especially hated it when he told me I had to listen to him because he was my boss. It’s much better to work for myself!
I appreciate your stopping by, Cathy 🙂
Henneke–
Thank you! Every writer has grown up with myths about writing.
The reality is that you have to find your own way. I believe that you have to limit yourself and create content over time. This way your brain gets to work on it without the pressure of a deadline.
Happy marketing,
Heidi
Heidi Cohen
Actionable Marketing Guide
“Every writer has grown up with myths about writing.” That is so true! Writing is certainly different from what I imagined it to be. Much harder work ?
Like you, I am also a fan of creating content over a number of days. It eliminates the stress, cuts time, and content gets better in my experience when I write over a number of days.
Thank you, Heidi, for adding your thoughts.
I like the question “What could I do less?”
There are so many things I could do less!
And I totally relate to the point against setting big goals. I am an incremental person, and little bits of progress are much more sustainable for me. Big goals make me want to hide under the duvet.
“When you understand what’s bugging you, you can look for tactics to unclog your mind and streamline your process.”
This makes complete sense.
—
Thanks Henneke 🙂
I love doing less and focus on just a few things. I think it might have been Mark Schaefer who said to focus on only three things to build your business, and it’s surprising how much easier life gets when you remove all mental clutter. I have to stay vigilant as it’s so easy to add more to do’s to my list.
Thank you for stopping by again, Alison! ?
Greetings, Henneke
Alleluia! Your words were a sweet comfort as I’ve never quite fit the myth mold. I tried outlining a few times, it threw me off my game. I write best in the middle of the afternoon (plus it keeps me from snacking on junk food), I’m happy if I write a solid hour per day, and I edit while writing (and edit again upon completion). Thank you for confirming that one-size does NOT fit all.
I learn so much from your posts. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Beverly. It sounds like you’ve found already what writing method works for you!
I love all of your posts but this one is a bulls eye. I’m designing a new coaching program and writing copy for our company website and it’s taking way too long, at for the folks who are waiting on the material.
I’m going to take a deep breath, stop feeling guilty and just get back to work. As always, thanks for sharing your brilliant thoughts and tips with us.
I used to feel guilty about being too slow, too. But writing good content can take time. The weird thing is, once I stopped feeling guilty and let the process take its course, I actually became faster. When I tried to speed up, it cramped my writing. When I accepted my speed, my focus improved and I went faster. Weird, eh?
Good luck with your writing project, Anita!
Haha! Thanks so much for answering and mentioning me, Henneke! As I read the intro, I perked up and thought, “Wow, this sorta fits me exactly!” I certainly was paying attention.
What a fun surprise!
I think the inspiration part is where I’m most stuck. When the source is blocked, all the rest reduces to nice rule that may or may not be needed someday. But for me, perhaps it is not a lack of inspiration, but more likely just too much of it.
As we are seeing in Houston these days, lovely things like a breeze or a gentle autumn rain can morph into panic-inducing monsters, simply by being far too much. What happens when ideas pour in at an unstopable pace? We lose them. They are wasted, cannot be managed or channeled to those who need them, cannot be saved for the future, cannot even be captured at all or tamed in the least.
I will say, though, that walking probably is my downfall. I walk once or twice a week. Surely not enough. I loved the extra reading from Stanford. I think comparing the more straightforward and seemingly purposeless walking with goal-oriented (even chore-oriented) aim should be their next topic of research. Or maybe mine?
Perhaps a pocket voice recorder will be my next experiment.
This post has been so helpful to me and I hope it will help others, too. Thank you, again, for “getting” me and taking the time to dispense so generously from your wealth of research! <3 K
P.S. The art was perfect, too!
Thank you. I had to think quite hard about a visual that would fit!
The research into walking an creativity is fascinating, isn’t it?
To me, it feels that I am benefiting from walking in different ways. It’s a great way to break up a working day and get some moderate exercise. But it also feels it helps me slow down and live more in the moment. When I live at a calmer pace, I actually get more done as my brain can focus more. But it might very well be that this is different for different people. I don’t know.
There’s something fascinating about the pace of walking, too. Cycling, for instance, feels different to me.
Thank you for being such a prolific commenter, Katharine!
Hi Henneke,
Such a well of wisdom. We all run into these problems more often than we would be happy to admit. Thank you for sharing your experiences and the knowledge you’re so good at presenting.
Enjoy your vacation!
It’s not easy to ignore the advice from some of the so-called experts, figure out what works for us and folllow our own path.
Thank you for stopping by again, Irina. I appreciate it. Happy writing!
Hi, Henneke!
It’s a fantastic blog post.
I love how you pinpoint a few points that are spot on and make everything crystal clear.
For example, this blog post helped me. Now, I’ve realized that waking up at 11 a.m. is okay if I stay up late and feel creative about working at night, especially writing.
Thank you so much!
I think it really depends on your rhythm.
I used to work late, too, but I found I could only be productive for a few days because I didn’t get enough sleep. When I changed to starting a little earlier and stopping earlier, I became more productive. But as I said, we’re all different, so it might work well for you.
Thank you for commenting, Hassaan. I appreciate it!
LOL! Well, THAT was a range of examples! 😉 Fascinating how myth becomes “true” simply through the repetition of some ‘expert’ saying it and others accepting it as ‘the only way’ without critically considering their own needs and what works for them. It’s such a balance to be open-minded to new ideas, yet still stand on your own two feet.
Yes, so true. It irritates me when someone finds a tactic working and then thinks everyone should do the same because if it works for them, it should work for everyone.
It’s not always easy to stay grounded and follow your own path.
Glad you enjoyed the examples 🙂
Hi Henneke,
This post kept me nodding all the way through. It was great to see a fresh approach against many myths such as waking up at 5am, writing fast and invest all your day in a task. For me each of these points work in the way you describe and I get to do more when I aim for less. Slower means faster. Also, in order to be creative /productive I need 8h of sleep minimum. After I quit my job, I realized how awake and present I felt every day and on every task as I slept enough every day. I don’t know if it happened the same to you?
Thanks for reminding us that all the web formulas are for everyone and therefore to none.
Yes, yes, yes! Sleep is so important. My working day is so much more productive when I have had a good night’s sleep. I can focus so much better. When I am tired, I get much more easily distracted. I think we often underestimate the importance of sleep. Thank you for adding that!
Hi Henneke,
Brilliant article as always. I prefer to do research and outline at the same time before I invest time into writing. And one of the tools that have come to my rescue is Airstory.co by Joanna. That tool is brilliant!
When it comes to focusing, I like to trick my mind by listening to music or create an ambience using:
– Coffitivity
– Brain.FM
– Hisptersound.
These sites are fantastic, and they have helped me to focus more. Anyway, thank you for this inspirational article. Looking forward to more
Hi Bandela
Thank you for adding those sites. Another one many people use to stay focused is focus@will. Music is so interesting as we all seem to have different preferences in terms of music while writing. I prefer silence.
Happy writing and thank you for stopping by!
Henneke
I could so relate to this post! I started at 3:30 today but doing email, fixing a WordPress error that took 40 minutes. (Darn plugins!)
Then on to social media, reading and commenting on posts and thinking about my own next epic one to write. I try to get a walk in too before heading to the day job.
I love your idea of an outline though. I need to work more on that. Sometimes it helps me to at least get started. It happened the other day and I then wrote over 1200 words in 2 hours. I was amazed at myself. Other times I can skip a day of writing. (not good!) I think my issue is multi-tasking 🙁
Thanks for the inspiration today! Enjoy your time in France.
Hi Lisa
I used to multitask a lot, too, and it was hard to stop, but when I am focused on one task at a time, I can get a lot more done.
I’ve found that for me it works really well to pick an idea and do a quick outline on one day and then write the next. But we’re all different, so it’s good to try different methods of writing to see what works.
Your schedule sounds very tough to me – starting at 3.30!
France is beautiful and the sun is shining on us (so far).
Thank you for stopping by 🙂