How to Use Your Writing Time More Efficiently

Writing can be fun and imaginative and messy and challenging. Here are some tips to help you write more efficiently and achieve your goals.

Don’t look at your word count

You’ll either feel like you’re not achieving anything, and you risk losing motivation, or you’ll feel like you have accomplished a great deal and you relax because you’re making good progress.

Use a silly font

If you’re writing on a computer, use a silly font – a font that you won’t use in the final draft of your manuscript. This may trick you into thinking your writing is less serious than it is, which can relieve some of the pressure you’re feeling; it will also remind you that your first draft isn’t supposed to be perfect, it can be messy, and your font can be silly (just make sure you can read it)!

Make chapter notes

Before you sit down to write, have notes of what happens in each chapter. The more comprehensive your notes, the more time you will save writing, and the less chance you have of writer’s block.

Organise your writing.

It’s ok if you have Post-it notes covering your bedroom walls and stacks of paperwork piled high as long as you know where your writings are when you need them.

Avoid spending too much time re-reading your work.

It’s ok to re-read the last paragraph or the last sentence you wrote as you go, but it’s best practice to avoid spending too much time on this – save it for when you’ve finished the first draft and can rework the whole piece.

Take regular breaks

Taking regular breaks will save your posture and protect your eyes if you’re on a screen, but that’s not all. After a while of sitting still and concentrating on a task – even one you enjoy, you’ll lose focus and energy if you don’t take breaks to rest. Make yourself a drink, go for a short walk or put a load of washing on. This will also give you time to reflect on your ideas and what you want to write next!

Find what works best for you.

As interesting as it is to know how other writer’s work, the approach they take to writing a book will be unique to them, influenced by their personality, their lifestyle and their preferences. If you prefer to write late at night because that’s when you feel most creative and focused, don’t try to wake up to write at the crack of dawn because you’ve heard this works for other successful authors. Writing routines that don’t suit your lifestyle are unlikely to be sustainable.

Make a note

Write down your ideas when they come to you so you don’t struggle to remember them later on.

Make a playlist

Make a playlist for when you write and only play it when you write. This will help get you in the mood for the task at hand.

Block time out on your calendar for your writing.

This is one of the best ways to prioritise time in your day or week for your writing.