Judging by the emails and calls my business, Sutter Communications, has been getting, it seems many people have made a New Year’s resolution to write a book or finish the book they started many moons ago. Or they’ve resolved to learn how to blog, or blog more consistently or grow their blogging audience.
If you’re one of them, here are a few tips that work for me.
Resolve to spend 15 minutes a day on your writing.
Of course, you can do a lot more, but 15 minutes seems do-able, right? You’d be amazed at how going slow and steady brings actual results. I learned this when I was researching and writing a thesis, while working many hours as an editor at the Democrat and Chronicle. Once you start writing, I’ll bet you find it so fun you’ll spend more than 15 minutes on it!
Related: 5 Takeaways from State of Blogging Industry report
Set up deadlines.
You want to write a book? “Deadline is the greatest motivator” became my mantra years ago, when as both a reporter and then an editor, I realized that deadlines are critical to getting work done. It’s too easy to put off the writing. Want your book to be printed in time for holiday sales? Then do a back-out schedule that makes that happen.
Related: Got writer’s block? 5 quotes from Ernest Hemingway may help
Take a class.
You go to the gym to get stronger and in better shape, right? Then taking a class can do the same for your creativity and desire to write a book. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, blogging, whatever your genre, I recommend you check out the classes at Writers and Books.
I’ve been on the faculty there for almost four years, and I’ve also attended classes and author talks. You’ll come away inspired and more than likely, you’ll meet some fellow writers who may become life-long friends and a great support system.
Over the next two months, I’m teaching Blogging 101, Blogging 201 and a new-ish workshop called Social Media for Writers. You can see the entire list of Writers and Books offerings here.
Hope you find these tips helpful. What works for you?
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