Bob Bly has written 12 more undeniable truths of business. Bob is a successful copywriter who’s been in business for many years. I’d say his truths are statements of fact. He says if you are a self-employed service provider, you can only bill clients for about 50-60% of your time. I think we are all guilty of underestimating how much time we have really got to get everything done we know we should.
For example, you know you should be writing articles and content on a regular basis, but do you really have time? Writing regularly takes committment. And one way to achieve it is to find writers to help you, but how do you know the writer you chose can deliver what you want? Anne Wayman has 5 rules to live by when hiring a writer. It’s good advice. The writer needs to know exactly what you want written.
But in the end, writing your own content is best. It’s unique. It brands you or your business. Nobody can copy your style. You get the content you want; no more and no less. But it isn’t always easy. There are so many distractions. You need to concentrate on writing; like stepping into your own bubble. Matthew Stibbe reckons you need to get into the ‘flow’, a bit like meditation, and to help you he has 22 ways to stay focused on writing. I have an idea generation process, a writing shedule and I commit to working it. It works for me.
And if that’s not enough for you, here are eight sure-fire tips for eliminating distractions. There are some good ideas in this list. I must admit I am easily distracted by clutter. I need a tidy workspace. So, decluttering your desk is a good start. I need to be alone too. I am easily distracted by other people, but I don’t always have the luxury of working on my own, so the idea of wearing headphones with some easy-listening, background music is one I’m going to try.
Okay, you have created the perfect environment and focus for writing, but the inspirational muse is absent. What then? We’ve all been there. Writers block. You don’t know what to write or how to start. I love these 3 tips from Anand Srinivasan on three resources to get amazing new topics for your writing. Although his article is about blogs his advice applies to most writing. The google wonder wheel is a great idea. I’ve seen it but never thought of using it.
Whatever you do, one thing is clear, you must make time for writing.
