Time is your biggest asset as a writer. If you don’t learn how to save your time and get more things faster, you won’t be able to achieve the writing goals you set for yourself. Here are ten simple tips that will boost your productivity and enable you to get published faster.
1. Don’t Design the Cover Yourself
Contrary to the famous proverb, people “do” judge a book by its cover. You need to ensure that your book has an attractive cover. A great cover not only persuades the readers to read your book but also gives a sneak peek of what’s included in your book.
But keep in mind that designing a book cover yourself is not a good option unless you know how to design properly. It’s better to look for a designer online who can design a book cover according to your specific needs.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time and effort on finding a good designer. If you are located in the US, you can check the list of the best book cover designers in the USA to find a designer who suits you the most.
2. Follow a Writing Routine
It won’t be easy for you to achieve the writing goals you set for yourself if you don’t have a proper routine. This is why you need to dedicate a specific portion of your day to your writing goals.
You don’t need to develop a comprehensive plan to create your writing routine. Instead of writing down a lot of things on paper or on your smartphone, you can dedicate any time of your day to which you are fully focused.
Another great way of developing a routine is by asking for advice from other writers. You can ask them how they divide their time in the day to focus on their writing goals.
3. Get Help from Professionals
You won’t be able to identify the mistakes you make in your daily routine unless you ask for advice from writers and publishing professionals. The experience and insight of skilled writers can help you get the most done in a short time.
The best way to ask for advice from writers is to grow your network. You can start growing your network by exploring digital presence. Getting in touch with writers through digital channels is simpler compared to joining in-person networking events.
4. Stick to the Deadlines
You will only be able to benefit from your writing routine if you learn how to respect deadlines. If you extend the deadlines daily, you will never be able to get things done in a short time. This is why you need to come up with deadlines and ensure that you respect their deadlines.
When working on a deadline, make sure you cancel your other goals so you can follow the deadlines and get more done in a short time.
5. Organize Your Computer
You won’t be able to follow your writing goals if your computer slows down whenever you get down to writing. This is why you need to keep your computer in check and ensure that it works properly.
The simplest way of boosting the performance of your computer is by upgrading the RAM of your computer. Other than that, you should also close the programs running in the background to ensure that your computer can perform tasks faster.
Clogged up hard drive can also slow down your computer. To boost the speed of your computer, you should also consider uploading the files on cloud storage you don’t access daily.
6. Find an Accountability Partner
It won’t be easy for you to stick to the writing goals you set for yourself if there’s nobody to hold you accountable. This is why you need to find someone who has the same goals as yours and can help you stick to your deadlines.
Finding an accountability partner is not a difficult process if you explore social platforms. Make sure you join local and international groups for writers and try finding someone who also wants to get published within a defined deadline.
But in case you cannot find a writer to hold you accountable, you can ask any friend or family member to help you stick to your writing routine.
7. Avoid Using Your Smartphone
Using your phone when you get down to writing will never allow you to get work done. If you want to get work done within deadlines, you need to keep your phone away from you when you write. Avoiding your smartphone will not only enhance your focus but also allow you to get more work done.
It’s better to turn your phone off when you start writing. However, if you cannot turn off your phone, you should consider putting your phone on “Vibrate Mode” so you don’t get annoyed by random notifications.
8. Don’t Try Multitasking
It won’t be easy for you to achieve your goals within a short deadline if you try getting multiple things done simultaneously. You have to stick to one thing at a time, so you can give your 100% and ensure that you achieve your goals faster.
A simple way to overcome your desire to multitask is by following your daily routine. Make sure you discuss your routine with another writer so you can fix the mistake you have in your schedule.
9. Use Proper Shortcuts
If you use a word processor to write or a computer to do research daily, you need to learn how to save time by using shortcuts. Some universal computer shortcuts can help you reduce the time it takes to do redundant tasks.
Some of the common computer shortcuts include:
- Use “Ctrl + C” to copy content.
- Use “Ctrl + X” to cut content.
- Use “Ctrl + V” to paste content.
- Use “Ctrl + A” to select content.
- Use “Ctrl + Z” to undo your last task.
10. Leverage Writing Tools
Another great way you can save time and effort is by using writing tools. Good tools can help you fix your mistakes and improve the flow of writing on the go. For example, you can use “Grammarly” to boost your content in a short time. You can also use “Hemingway Editor” to improve the readability of your writing.
