Habit 4: Prioritize Your Writing Projects

After determining your three main writing goals, it is also important for you to prioritize your writing projects. There are many ways to prioritize your writing tasks. Here is what I do. First, I align all of my writing projects on my desk. Then I assign each of them a numerical value, from 1 to 10, with 10 being the least important project, and 1 being the most important. Then I proceed to complete Project 1, then Project 2, and then Project 3, and so on. Project 5 onwards doesn’t get done until the next day or until I have completed the most important writing goals first for that day. By prioritizing my writing projects in this way, I get the most important ones done first. This practise can really help you become more productive and efficient. It can also help you rank your writing projects so that you don’t waste time trying to determine what you should do when you sit down to write. You will know what’s important just by looking at the numerical scheme and rankings of your projects.

Habit 5: Write Quickly and With Intensity

Some writers start writing for a while. They stop and get a cup of coffee or tea. Then they come back and check their email. Then they go off and do something else. However, they don’t take the time to anchor themselves in their writing. If you want to be a successful writer, you must write for a set time, say 20 to 30 minutes, without getting up. You can take a restroom break if need be. But no more. Just start writing and continue until you’ve completed one of your most important writing tasks. This means you cannot answer email, check for text messages, answer the phone or door or anything else. You must simply write. I know it sounds unrealistic. But it isn’t. With practice, you can achieve this. Therefore, when you sit down to write, keep moving your fingers on the keyboard. That way, you will get more done and you will feel less frustrated as a writer. Try it!