{"id":3119,"date":"2025-09-11T11:28:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T10:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novlr.org\/?p=3119"},"modified":"2025-09-11T11:28:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T10:28:39","slug":"4-simple-productivity-hacks-for-creative-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/4-simple-productivity-hacks-for-creative-writers\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Get the Most Out of Your Writing Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The dream of many writers is to make it a full-time profession. For full-time writers, it&#8217;s easy to build and plan your day around your writing, but for those whose goals are different or whose lives do not lend themselves to writing only, it&#8217;s critical to have a plan for how to make the most out of your writing time. Especially if that time is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I&#8217;m lucky enough to write full time now, that hasn&#8217;t always been the case. People write for different reasons, and if you&#8217;re just a writer who does it for the love of it, or it&#8217;s a pastime that simply brings you joy, then you probably don&#8217;t care about productivity and this post isn&#8217;t for you. But if you&#8217;re a writer who has career aspirations or needs a push to get some forward momentum going, then these are some tips I&#8217;ve picked up over the years and I still use to this day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Write lists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Writers make lists for both practical and creative reasons, and while it seems counterproductive or a waste of time, when done with intent, it&#8217;s anything but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the creative side, a list can be just what you need to get inspiration. That&#8217;s why Tim Clare, in his amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/academy\/couch-to-80k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Couch to 80k Creative Writing Bootcamp<\/a>, dedicates the entire first week to them. From potential character names to whole phrases you think are beautiful, there&#8217;s nothing quite like a list to highlight where your head is at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>List writing is like a freewrite without the narrative pressure. You can be as silly or as serious as you like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got a character you want to flesh out in your writing that day? Write a list of what&#8217;s in their pockets to determine what kind of a person they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got a plot point that doesn&#8217;t quite want to resolve? Make a list of possible counters to it and see if one works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To paraphrase Tim Clare, it&#8217;s easier to write many things than just try and write one. A list is the most powerful tool in a writer&#8217;s arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, a list is also helpful in practical terms. Setting your goals as a list of what you want to achieve is great for boosting productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Write a list of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Make them achievable, and tick them off when they&#8217;re complete. It helps build healthy <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/building-a-writing-habit-with-nanowrimo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing habits<\/a> and gives you the sense that you&#8217;re getting somewhere. It&#8217;s so easy to get lost in your own stories, so having a list of goals helps keep those with limited time on task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-src=\"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Creative writing tip: write lists - Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash\" class=\"wp-image-5528 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/glenn-carstens-peters-RLw-UC03Gwc-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/682;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do the work first<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We all like to think that we&#8217;ll sit down to write, with fully formed ideas just waiting to burst onto the page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While bursts of inspiration do happen, it&#8217;s not the norm. In his book, <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/breaking-down-the-key-lessons-of-stephen-kings-on-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>On Writing<\/em><\/a>, Stephen King said, &#8220;<span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">The scariest moment is always just before you start.<\/span>&#8221; You can alleviate a lot of that fear by being as prepared as possible. Sure, writing is enjoyable, but it&#8217;s also hard work, and to get anywhere, you have to be willing to put in that work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing is the fun bit, but to really get in the zone and ensure your brain is in the most creative state it can be, it&#8217;s vital to get the tedious prep work done first. Like doing physical exercise, don&#8217;t just jump right in and expect good results. You need to stretch, warm up, and flex those creative muscles (unless you have a genuine idea that you just need to get out before you forget it, in which case, go for it!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got some writing admin you need to sort out? Get it out of the way first. Put yourself in a creative headspace by doing some simple <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/five-amazing-10-minute-writing-exercises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing exercises<\/a>, as long or as short as you want or need. Think about what part of your story you&#8217;ll be working on that day and tailor your writing exercises around it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking a moment out of your writing time to do a few creativity-boosting exercises will usually make the time you <em>are<\/em> writing a lot more productive. You&#8217;ll start it with a clear idea of what you want to achieve. It&#8217;s writing with a purpose, rather than for writing&#8217;s sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-src=\"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Creative writing - Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash\" class=\"wp-image-5529 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Creative-writing-Photo-by-Toa-Heftiba-on-Unsplash.png 1960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get your workspace sorted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The spaces we write in are as unique to each of us as the words we produce. Everyone has things that are essential for their productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you sit down to do any writing, make sure you have everything you need. If you write best sipping a cup of tea, make sure you prepare it before sitting down at your desk. If you have a notebook that you take with you during the day, make sure it&#8217;s ready for reference before you start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether your desk is clean or you prefer to work in clutter, make sure your space is how you like it. Even a cluttered person like myself has a specific <em>type<\/em> of clutter they need to be at their most productive. My desk is currently covered with books and notebooks, but if I&#8217;m doing something non-writing related on my desk, I need to make sure that all of that is cleared before I sit down to write. Craft supplies or receipts for accounting have to be gone before I can be creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever works for you is valid. Just make sure that your space is ready before you sit down to write. Having the right space is probably the most overlooked way you need to prepare to get the most out of your writing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-src=\"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Productivity hacks for creative writers - Photo by Remy_Loz on Unsplash\" class=\"wp-image-5532 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/remy_loz-3S0INpfREQc-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take regular breaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is so easy to get lost in &#8220;the zone&#8221; when writing. If the ideas flow, it&#8217;s easy to get caught up in them and forget entirely about self-care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling good physically can help you feel good creatively. Taking regular breaks for water or snacks refreshes the mind and stops you from burning out. Gone are the days of hermit writers in dusty offices writing until their fingers bleed. It&#8217;s not sustainable. The odd creative genius doesn&#8217;t make it an aspiration, so make sure you&#8217;re looking after yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond feeling better in yourself, there&#8217;s also a lot to be said for breaks being essential for productivity. Sometimes you need to step away from what you&#8217;re doing and look at it with fresh eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I did the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/i-wrote-a-novel-in-24-hours-and-this-is-what-i-learned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24-Hour Writing Challenge<\/a>, it really brought home to me how essential time away from writing actually is. The quality of writing I produced during the challenge was far below what I usually write. The challenge was all about quantity, and I discovered I produce much more usable words in a 1-hour block of writing than I did in just shy of 50,000 words written in 24 hours. A focused writing session, at least in my case, is much more productive than a long one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re so caught up in a particular piece of writing, it can be hard to be objective. Forcing yourself to step away for a moment, stretch your legs, and rehydrate will bring you back with a clearer outlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing can be all-consuming, but hopefully, these tips will help you get the most out of your writing time so can live your best writer&#8217;s life. Practice, space, and self-care are essential for any writer, so no matter what your personal situation, try to carve out the time and space you need to practice your craft however you can.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The dream of many writers is to make it a full-time profession. For full-time writers, it&#8217;s easy to build and plan your day around your writing, but for those whose goals are different or whose lives do not lend themselves to writing only, it&#8217;s critical to have a plan for how to make the most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[71,28],"class_list":["post-3119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-tips","tag-productivity","tag-writing-tips","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Get the Most Out of Your Writing Time | The Novlr Reading 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