Steps, scaffolding and serialisations – how sub-goals keep you writing
I’m a sucker for a writer’s origin story. That moment of inspiration and enlightenment, when the muse visits, an idea is sparked and creativity flamed. While I picture a wildfire, the reality is someone patiently fanning the flames to keep the spark alight for many...
Mason Currey’s top tips for wriggling through with daily rituals
Mason Currey compiled over 300 mini-biographies of the day-to-day working lives of writers, artists and creative minds in his bestselling books Daily Rituals and the second volume Women at Work. We ask him about the inspiration and obstacles people face with creative...
How to cope better with writing rejections and setbacks
Whilst the productivity police might make you feel you should be able to brush off writing rejections with no bother - that's easier said than done. It's normal for setbacks to squash your self-esteem a little. But when rejections cause debilitating delays, it's worth...
Time confetti – snatching time to write when you have none
We’ve all heard the advice to write daily, to allow time for deep work and uninterrupted focus. But for many writers, that’s just not possible. Find out about time confetti and how to write spontaneously when scheduled sessions just aren’t possible. No time to write...
4 things to learn from the daily rituals of great writers
In Daily Rituals Mason Currey provides glimpses into how some of the greatest minds use their time to produce exceptional works. We set out to spot trends and commonalities in their idiosyncrasies, here’s four things all writers can learn. Currey collects snippets of...
Why the fixed schedule productivity approach to writing will give you more downtime
'Fixed schedule productivity' is an approach that encourages writers to make better use of their time. Find out how one advocate organises their schedule, prioritises their tasks and still finishes work on time. Humans have a tendency to coordinate their schedules....
How to stop comparing yourself to other writers (or a ‘better’ version of yourself)
Comparing your writing with others can be positive. Sometimes, comparison can spur you on and bring out a better you. But often, comparing yourself to others can lead to procrastination, self-doubt and delay. If it does, you need to make a change. This is how one...
Writing together – how community supports writers
While writing might be a solitary pursuit all writers can benefit from connection. Find out how to get accountability, support and solidarity from writing communities. Tap into some of the best free resources and get inspired to write with others. Poet Emily Dickinson...
What’s to blame? Who takes the credit? Why every writer needs to understand their locus of control
Who or what do you credit when your writing is going well? Who or what do you blame when your writing is going badly? Either way, understanding where you are on the locus of control will help you reach better conclusions about yourself, your writing – and what you can...
Try the opposite: conflicting approaches to writing productivity
Writing advice is confusing. There’s no one sure-fire approach to productivity – there are many, and to make it worse writing tips are often contradictory and damn right conflicting. So, whether you want to go large or small, stick or quit, single or multi-task – try...
Stop trying so hard to write and get yourself a routine instead
Writing routines, plans and strategies work for writers because they reduce the mental energy involved in finding the time to write or making yourself focus. They help you do the thing you want to do with less stress and anxiety - and long term that helps you enjoy...
Your writing productivity questions answered
Over the years we've answered many hundreds of questions from all types of writers. On the surface, a scholarly writer might not have much in common with a playwright, but underneath they are often thwarted by the same constraints on their time, plagued by similar...
