4 ideas to develop your daily writing
4 ideas to develop your daily writing
A daily writing habit is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. There’s no better way to clear your head and distill your rambling thoughts into specific ideas. We write to organize what we know and to learn what we really think. The added benefit is then we can share it with others if we want.
Writing has always been one of the simplest activities. Pen and paper. How could it be any easier? Today it is in fact, even easier.
I’ve been writing daily for many years. But I’ve just recently started doing so in public. This is my 30th consecutive daily essay as part of the Ship 30 for 30 writing cohort.
Click here to read my very first essay explaining why I joined the class and my goals for the first 30 days.
Throughout this experiment, I’ve strengthened old tools and habits and picked up several new ones that help keep me going.
These four things will help you too.
#1 — Note system
That thing that popped in your head a little while ago, that really good idea that you’re now having trouble recalling, CAPTURE IT!
I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this you carry an iPhone or similar mobile device with you almost everywhere you go. Use it. Take a note. Send a text message to yourself. Record a voice memo. But make sure you capture ideas as they come to you. It only takes a second.
#2 — Time to review those notes
It barely takes longer than capturing the notes. Take a few minutes each day to quickly scan through the ideas you’ve collected. I guarantee that it will spark more thoughts and more ideas. You will never have to sit and stare at a blank page if you do this. You will already have something written. Just add to it.
#3 — Permission
You can do this. There’s absolutely no reason not to. And there is no expectation of quality. Make junk. Write terribly if you must. It will get better.
#4 — Accountability and Community
Find a group of other writers to share with. And if you’re not comfortable sharing yet, write anonymously. Pen names are one of the oldest tricks in the book. If that’s what it takes to get started, so be it.
Habits are easier to keep when you’re surrounded by others with the same motivations. If you’re not feeling it one day, someone else will be. And it’s contagious. Ship 30 for 30 has been an amazing experience for me and has provided so much education and energy.
Ship 30 founder and captain @DickieBush writes:
“People think they have nothing to write about for 2 reasons.
They think their knowledge isn’t useful to others.
They think they need to be an expert on something to write about it.
But the best writers use their writing to share things they already know while exploring things they don’t”
I promise you two things:
Your knowledge (whatever it may be) is useful to others.
You will learn more about that thing you’re interested in (whatever it may be) by writing about it too.
Capture your ideas, take your notes, review, refine, and expound on them, and then share them with others. If you’d like to be part of an amazing group of writers learning to do the same, join me in the March Ship 30 for 30 cohort where you will learn the fundamentals of writing online and build a habit of consistent, regular publishing.
Finally, if you haven’t already -
Please follow me here -> @Andy__Moss
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