Trying hard to be a writer won’t make you one, being prolific will
If you feel 100% sure that the writing project you're working on is the best (or the worst) thing you've ever done: you're wrong. Research says the only thing you can ever know for certain is that keeping going - being prolific - is best thing to do. Hits and misses...
Writing productivity: Tips for getting things done, so you spend time doing what you love
It’s no secret I’m a productivity freak. A friend recently drew a cartoon birthday card of me as Little Miss Just Get It Done and my secret Santa gift from colleagues at work last Christmas was a mug emblazoned with the words: Get Shit Done. At home, my shelves are...
What I learned from streaking every day
I love tracking. Ever since I was a child I’ve counted and logged a whole bunch of activities. I’m fascinated at how things change over time and like figuring what it means so I can optimise and improve what I do. That’s why I’m now an avid streaker. Technology has...
How to trigger your writing habit
Habits can transform our lives, they can help us achieve our most ambitious goals and fulfil our deepest dreams. But it’s darn hard to make writing a habit, some might say impossible. Understanding how habits are created and focusing on the first step – how to trigger...
Persistence pays because your best is always yet to come – says research
When you’re slap bang in the middle of a writing project it’s hard to keep perspective. It’s easy to think that the thing you’re working on right now is the big one. The best you’ve ever done – perhaps you’ll ever do. But science tells us that every time you think...
Stop trying to ‘be original’ and be prolific instead
Being a highly prolific writer is sneered at in some circles. Some people think there’s a trade-off between quality and quantity. To do truly ‘great work’ – you can’t do very much of it. But science disagrees. Most of the world’s best writers, creatives and innovators...
Why every writer needs a ‘plus-minus-equals’
If your writing projects are stuck you need a plus-minus-equals. This system from Ryan Holiday involves finding three different types of supportive people to keep you moving forward and in the right direction. These are people who you learn from, people who you learn...
How to work with a writing mentor
Working with a writing mentor can transform your writing. Chris Smith was lucky enough to get advice and feedback from a BBC producer for his first comedy script. Here's what he learnt. I don’t have an infectious disease but if I did, I imagine telling people you have...
How to find an agent for your first book by Hellie Ogden from Janklow & Nesbit
How are you planning to find a literary agent for your first book? Indie authors might be smashing the publishing industry but bagging yourself a top agent can still make all the difference to your writing career. And that means you need to know to approach them, what...
How to grow your writing grit and perseverance
Starting a new creative project is such a buzz, but sticking with it sucks. Some people seem blessed with marathon-level endurance needed to complete long-term goals while the rest of us flit from idea to idea. But, take heart! Research shows that perseverance isn’t...
Why mastery matters and writers should stretch themselves
Being creative makes us happy – that’s true – but not just because we just enjoy dreaming up new ideas and having flights of fancy. Research tells us that what we really love about creativity is mastering something that is important to us - stretching ourselves...
How to use controlled breaking to beat your distractions
For the writer wanting to focus on their work rather than Twitter, there’s a plethora of internet-blocking software offering ‘distraction free writing’. But rather than becoming distracted by researching the best distraction-free apps, you need a strategy to make sure...