5 Simple Steps to Increase Your Writing Output and Gain Confidence in Your Skills

Building a library of work is important

Imagine: you wake up, get out of bed, and stretch. You check your phone and notifications are rolling in of payments. You’ve been raking in the dough while you sleep.

You’re able to wake up on your own time and go about life at a leisurely pace. You have time.

By now, you’ve built up a reputation for excellent work. People know that you get your shit done and you have a long catalog of proof. Your proof of work is through the roof.

Here are five steps to get there.

No distractions

Imagine this. You’re mid-writing session when your phone goes off. You drop your writing to check your phone just real quick and before you know it, you’ve spiraled down the TikTok rabbit hole.

You let yourself get distracted. All it took was one stray notification to trigger your undoing.

Do yourself a favor and turn your phone off or on ‘do not disturb.’ Put it out of your room or chuck it into a nearby lake. If you keep your phone around, you’re asking for trouble.

Cut as many distractions as possible. Consider turning off the internet or using an application or extension to block certain websites while you write.

Nothing is more detrimental to the writing process than distractions.

Your two brains

As a writer, you have two brains. You have your writer brain that you engage with when you’re being creative. Then, you have your editor brain that you turn on when it’s editing time.

These brains can’t coexist. You have to separate them.

When you’re writing, focus only on the words. Don’t edit as you write. It’s interrupting the creative process. Wait to edit until you’ve completed your first draft.

Spend some time away from the draft before you go back and edit. That way you have fresh eyes.

Don’t stop to research or input a quote. Save it all for later editing rounds. If you reach a point where you don’t know what to write or you’re waiting for information, put it in a placeholder. Use whatever works for you.

On Medium, you can use the initials ‘TK’ to remind you to go back and add something. If you’re not on Medium, you can use any placeholder that works for you. When I need a placeholder, I use parenthesis to indicate what I need (this is an example).

Idea central

I have a note on my phone filled with all the ideas I’ve come up with. I also use a paper notebook to jot down thoughts and outlines.

Every writer should have their own database of ideas. It doesn’t matter where you keep it, but you need to have one source to go to. Keep a running list of the ideas you come up with. That way, you’ll always have a place you can pull from when you’re struggling to write.

I try not to delete any ideas because often I come back to them later. Old ideas are perfect to revamp and update. They may inspire new ideas.

Guided sessions

The best way to get use out of your writing sessions is if they’re guided. I like to write a stream of consciousness when I’m stuck, but it’s hard to sift through the ideas.

When you come to the page prepared, your writing goes smoother. There isn’t as much friction getting off the ground.

Mind map your idea beforehand and create a rough outline. When you get to writing, put your headline or idea at the top of the paper. It’ll help you stay on track and get more done.

It makes a huge difference when I come to the page prepared versus not.

Do something

The biggest mistake beginners make is underestimating the importance of showing up. Showing up is 90 percent of the battle. If you can show up, you’re miles ahead of the rest of your peers.

You don’t have to be good at what you do. You just have to do it. You have to put in the repetitions.

You get good because you practice. And you can’t practice if you don’t show up. Even if you sit there and stare at the screen for thirty minutes, doing nothing. At least you’re there.

You’ll never get the chance to get better if you don’t show up.

Final thoughts

There’s nothing better than living life at your own pace. You get to make the rules for your life. You get there by showing proof of work. And your library is huge.

There are a few rules to live by when building your empire.

Keep an idea bank
Put in the repetitions
Remove all distractions
Write and edit at separate times
Come to your writing sessions prepared

With proof comes rewards. Keep up the work and soon you’ll be raking in the dough.

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