“Writer’s block” is a term used to describe the inability to write; after all, distractions are a common occurrence for everyone. Regardless of if you’re a beginner or an expert writer. And if you have similar experiences, I recommend reading this article in full.
When anything distracts you, your ideas get hazy, and you stop paying attention to the writing.
As a writer, I admit that such events can happen in the middle of the writing process. It becomes frustrating when you are unable to continue working on a project and complete it according to your schedule. It’s also why I’m still writing a book I was meant to finish last year, but luckily this piece is about writing articles and not long-form text. My point is, when distractions get in the way of your work, I’d say you’re pretty well lost at that point.
The majority of what distinguishes writers are their thoughts. Make sure that every thought that comes to your mind is well-articulated in writing. Start writing and finish each session by pushing the publish button if you want to have your opinions about anything recorded and read. However, many lack the confidence to do so; this applies primarily to newer writers that aren’t sure if their work is good enough to be published. Get over it and just post it because things can only get better from that point onwards (plus, there is a thing called feedback).
Writing may appear to be a straightforward task, yet many overlook the process.
If you merely build a habit that will allow you to complete your writings in a few hours, you will be able to accomplish it. Below are three easy habits that can assist you in achieving your goals.
1. Imagine you’ve already done it – literally.
My number one trick for getting my work done in a few hours is to imagine I’ve already completed it a long time before I start putting it down on paper. Although, I have to confess that most of my compositions come from my imagination. When I visualise my writing as a piece of art, I see the larger picture.
It feels like you’re on the same level with J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterwork The Lord of the Rings (on a good day anyway). It reveals how everything begins with the wildest idea. I usually envision how I’ll organise my thoughts and arguments into an article that will reach and assist others in their writing journey.
2. Reading and researching are a must-have.
If you want to be a great writer, you must at the very least be a decent reader. And by “good at reading,” I mean that you must read a lot. Begin your reading habit by accumulating a mountain of books to improve your capacity to store and transmit knowledge. It might help you improve your vocabulary and grammar if you read a lot. It will undoubtedly improve the efficiency of your writing.
Personal tip: if you hate boring books, alternate between your favourite genre and one you’re trying to learn more about. When you finish a boring book, you can reward yourself with a sci-fi fantasy novel or whatever stuff you’re into. It works, don’t ask why.
Aside from reading, writers who wish to complete their work in a short amount of time must also be able to research. You will notice a significant improvement in your writing abilities if you constantly make it a habit to fact-check. Because you can pinpoint a vital main point of information, your writing abilities will improve and flow more effortlessly as time passes.
3. Make a record of your thoughts and ideas.
What do you do now that you’ve imagined, read, and researched? You’ll want to maintain those ideas and key knowledge from the books you’ve read and evidence or facts from your investigating activities. You’ll want to keep all of those vital elements in your notes. You could use a journal, a diary, a notepad, or any other note-taking method for this exercise.
You can always go back to your notes to write and make it a story if you already have your thoughts or any facts or proof you’ve gathered. If you forget what you want to write, taking notes will undoubtedly come in handy. Aside from that, taking notes is a great approach to gradually enhancing your writing over time.
Writing might be challenging if you don’t have the proper habits in place. So having the appropriate habits will help you improve your writing abilities. The habits don’t have to be complicated; by following the basic habits I’ve outlined above, you can accomplish the desired outcomes at almost whatever level you’re at right now. It allows me to finish an article in just a few hours. It worked for me, and I’m hoping it will work for you as well.