Photo by S.F. Boegeman
Why 1000? It’s a nice round number and it runs in my mind that in high school every paper that we had to write had a 1000 word minimum. But you could really pick any number that you wanted.
1. Set a side time to write.
Maybe it’s in the morning before the kids are up or your first class in the morning. But set aside a half hour for yourself to put your ideas on paper (or the internet, as the case may be). Make the time a priority. Of course, there are always things that can come up that interrupt your time, so be prepared to be flexible. This is easier to do if your time is scheduled for the beginning of the day, but don’t use procrastination as a crutch. Sit down, write, and then move on with your day. Don’t wait until it’s so late in the evening that you’re trying and you start saying “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
2. Remove distractions.
It’s always nice to have other sources of media to help inspire topics, but once you sit down to write, find some place quiet. Turn off the tv. I even turn off my wireless internet connection to remove the temptation of websurfing while I’m trying to get an article done. If it’s too hard to work at home, head to the library or a coffee shop (although this is not an easy solution for every day if you have kids).
3. Have your ideas ready.
If you’re trying to write a daily article, have your topic prepared in advance. A lot of time can be wasted trying to come up with an idea. Have a notebook at hand at all times during the day so you can come up with topics whenever inspiration strikes you. Try to have several future topics prepared. This will give you the opportunity to pick a topic that strikes you as particularly interesting for the day.
4. Be excited about your topic.
If you’re trying to write for a blog, then try to determine your motivation for blogging. Are you trying to add value to your audience’s life? Are you trying to make money? Are you trying to preserve every moment of your life for some future audience who will find your life experiences worth reading about? If you can’t answer the question of why you’re doing this, then you might want to take a step back and determine your motivation.
5. Write about topics you understand.
If you have a topic that you are determined to write about, make sure you know enough about the topic. If you don’t know enough about the topic but have decided that you’re going to write an article about it anyways, do some research. Nothing is more upsetting than an article with very little substance or incorrect information. Spending a little time prepping by doing the research prior to starting can save you a lot of time later when it comes time to sit down and write.
Trying to do the research and the writing has two major problems. 1. Articles tend to be poorly organized. Information is added as it is discovered and this tends to lead to piecemeal writing. 2. Once you’ve opened your web browser to find information, it’s incredibly easy to get sucked in to something else. It’s easy to click on the stumble button or check your email one more time or check on the latest market movements. Avoid this temptation by being done with the research beforehand.
6. Have a goal.
Whether you have a daily word goal or a weekly/monthly article goal, accept that it might not always happen. If your goal is for X number of words, realize that not every topic needs that many words. Rambling to add content will not get you anyway. Stop when you’ve run out of well thought out things to say.
7. Avoid burnout.
Do you have some extra time on the weekend where you can get ahead for the week? Then use it! Get ahead on articles for the week. Plan out topics, make an outline if that’s all your want to do. Working ahead of schedule can bring on a great sense of satisfaction that can continue to motivate you. And if staying on top of your blog doesn’t help then…
8. Take breaks.
Find people that can guest post for your blog. This can be useful for networking if you’re an established blogger. Or it may be a chance for you to help launch a blog for an eager new blogger. Either way, finding a guest poster or two can give you a much needed break while keeping your blog current.