Increase Productivity With These Simple Tips

Writers can increase productivity and success in simple ways. Implementation will immediately improve productivity, leading to more success in the writing business.

Set Goals

Set specific short-term and long-term goals. Plan to do three queries a day, for example, and stick to it, or schedule the completion of 10 pages of a novel a day so that the rough draft will be completed in a year. Keep long-term goals in mind, like getting two novels published in the next five years. Goals will help maintain focus and motivation.

Set Deadlines and Don't Miss Them

People who work in offices have deadlines for assignments that they have to meet. Unless a writer is given a deadline by an editor (which often happens for freelance writers), much of an author's work is done at his or her own pace. Write deadlines on a planner, calendar, or in a PDA and adhere to them. Check this schedule daily. Plan due dates for articles, the sending out of queries, and other important tasks. Having something due "whenever" is a good way to be sure that it never gets done. Deadlines increase productivity and success.

Avoid Distractions

While writing, turn off the television and the voice on the computer that says, "You've got mail!" Email and internet surfing interfere with success by eating up time. What starts off as research can easily deteriorate into reading blogs and checking gossip websites. Authors should stay on task and be aware of how they are spending their time.

Schedule Breaks

Productivity dips after excessive time on task. During the editing process, a writer's brain can play tricks by skipping over errors and filling in missing words. Authors may find that creativity wanes after hours of sitting in front of the computer. Get up and stretch for brief periods after every hour or two of computer time to ease strain on muscles and eyes.

Set a Timer to Regulate Breaks

A fifteen minute break can easily slip into a half hour of TV watching and Internet surfing. Set a timer to return to work in a timely fashion.

Don't Forget to Eat and Sleep

Writers on a roll get wrapped up in work and can neglect the necessities. In order to be sharp and accurate, get at least minimal amounts of sleep (eight hours is the standard, but necessary amounts may vary depending on the person). Skipping meals can affect blood sugar levels, reducing mental acuity. Be sure to eat and sleep regularly, even when rushing to meet a deadline.