Many writers struggle to complete a task.
The reasons for this are as unique as the writers themselves. It can be down to a lack of inspiration, trying to take on many projects at once, or trying to push themselves too hard. Many writers are so focused on the quantity that they neglect quality. Others are not disciplined when it comes to writing time.
Whatever the reason, as writers we know that if we don’t finish the task, we don’t get the pay-off. So, it’s important to be able to push through what’s holding us back and finish the job.
Here are some tips for writers to help them see the process through to the end:
1. Find time and space to write
Writing should be a part of your daily routine. Even if you’re writing part-time, it’s essential to find time to devote to your writing each day. It helps you to maintain your train of thought and keep the flow of continuity.
The longer the intervals you leave between writing, the more difficult it is to pick up where you left off. You might find yourself going back and making changes to suit a new writing plan. This wastes time as you find yourself starting over and over again.
The space you use for writing should be conducive to the process. It needs to be a comfortable place that inspires you. As writers, we all find inspiration in different places. And we have different writing set-ups that suit us.
Some people prefer to be at a desk in total silence. Others might prefer a less formal seating arrangement and like a bit of music or the TV for background noise. But don’t be too rigid – a change of scenery can reinvigorate your writing and get your creative juices flowing.
2. Set writing goals
Liam Wood who works at Best Essays Au says, “Without a set of milestones and deadlines, I tend to procrastinate.” This is not unique to him. It is a problem that many writers have. They set general goals, but these are not enough. Set daily targets and milestones for yourself. The sense of accomplishment is motivating and will make you look forward to the next day. Impose realistic deadlines on yourself to keep up the pace of your writing.
It’s advisable to determine a set of short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals and objectives for yourself. The long-term goal is the completion of the project. Set a deadline for this. Break the goal down into smaller parts. These are your medium-term goals.
Make a timeline of when you want to complete these milestones on the road to your long-term goal. Now break it down into daily activities that you need to complete. It’s enormously satisfying to have a list to tick off at the end of the day. Having accomplished your goal allows you to sleep the sleep of the righteous. Not having accomplished it is a positive motivator to try harder and keep at it.
3. Do your research and plan thoroughly
Few writers sit down and produce a masterpiece without some research and planning. Your first point of departure should be to study the science and art of writing. Learn from the advice experts offer as it could be helpful to you.
The next part is the planning of the content you want to write. Have a structure and plan in place. If you’re writing a fictional work, you need a plan of your plot and characters.
For a non-fiction book, you need to have a breakdown of what you want to convey through your writing. Do any research into facts and background that you need ahead of time. If you interrupt the process to do fact-checking, you’ll disrupt the writing process for yourself.
4. Be passionate about the writing
It’s hard to remain motivated when you’re writing about something that you don’t feel any investment in. Passion is very important in any creative task, and writing is no exception. It’s easy to claim to have ‘writer’s block’ when you are feeling singularly uninspired. This promotes procrastination, which is the ultimate thief of time.
When you’re writing about something you care about, you’ll make the time to write. You’ll also put in a greater effort to ensure that your writing is of a high standard and quality. Let your passion for the content you’re writing about help you to drive the process to completion.
5. Make sure your writing project is viable
If you’re writing something, you need to make sure it’s a viable project that you can complete. To do this, you need to do some honest introspection. You may be holding on to a book you’ve been writing for the last 10 years. It might be time to put it on the back burner and have a go at something new.
If you feel the project is going nowhere right now, don’t abandon it completely. Shelve it for later. However, if it feels like the project is dead in the water, discard it, no matter how heart-wrenching it might be.
Stay active on writing projects that you feel passionate about and are sure will have a good chance of completion. Don’t be tempted to try and take too much on. Working on more than one writing project may sound tempting, but this ‘multi-tasking’ won’t serve you in the long-term.
More than one project will divide your attention and focus. This will prevent you from devoting 100% of your creativity and concentration on one project and seeing it through.
Author Bio: Silvia Woolard is a freelance writer and novice entrepreneur from Phoenix. In a free time she writes and works in a field of popular psychology and marketing. Read Silvia at her Twitter.
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