| It's easy to procrastinate ...  In fact, it's so easy to not do things that it's amazing we accomplish anything! BUT WE DO. Whether it's because you fear disappointment and waste or you're absolutely charged and committed to your goals, brush procrastination aside and curb temptation. You know writing can yield a great reward. All you have to do sit down and have the patience to channel your creativity. Discover which of these A to Z tips will be the next strategy to rev up your motivation and open those creative floodgates. - A - ACTION Starts with You: On a film set, they shout the word "ACTION!" Without it, there's no indication to the actors, videographers, and other essential personnel to do their jobs. Use this same principle to get fired up, focused, and compelled to write.
- B - BELIEVE in Yourself: That small voice in your head - your inner critic - wants you to second guess yourself. It wants you to stop trying and give up. Tell it to shut up. Focus on the remarkable value you offer because if you believe in yourself, the world will too.
- C - CREATIVITY is Limitless: Expand your creativity and give your audience something they haven't seen before by creating something truly remarkable. Challenge yourself to take a different direction and add a spark to your usual routine.
- D - DISTRACTIONS Kill Your Writing: Temptation is all around us. Sure, it can be fun to check email, play games, or chat with friends when you really should be hard at work, but it doesn't get the job done. Challenge yourself to start and finish a project while squashing temptation.
- E - EXERCISE Daily: Create your own exercises to tap into your creativity and sharpen your skills by making writing a daily habit. You don't want to lose your edge, so create a writing routine to stay on top of your writing.
- F - FEAR is Not Real: In his first inauguration speech, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." If you listen to your paralyzing fears and fail to execute decisions quickly, then you will lose the opportunity to act. Let your fears go.
- G - GOALS Map Success: Create a goal roadmap. Tracking goals will show you how far you've come, your next milestone, and help you stay on course. Motivate yourself to make new goals and complete them routinely.
- H - HONESTY Wins: If you paint an authentic picture based on honesty, your audience will learn to trust you as a credible source. It's not necessary to intimidate or go over your audience's head with jargon; rather, simply build on the connections you make and stay true to your word.
- I - INFLUENCE Others: Writing isn't simply about communicating a message. It's about engagement and influence. Ensure your writing is clear and concise, so your influence impacts a wider audience.
- J - JOURNAL to Innovate: Journaling can help you generate ideas, develop better writing habits, enhance your skillset, and create a personal archive for "aha!" moments throughout your day. Start journaling as a part of your daily routine.
- K - KNOW Your Audience: It's easier now than ever before to be data-driven; track clicks, views, purchases, and other trends to stay on top of your audience. Research what information your readers are searching, ask questions, and experiment.
- L - LEARN to LAUGH: You don't always have to be so serious; tickle someone's funny bone and lighten the mood! Laughter is great medicine and can be used to show your audience another side.
- M - MASTER Your Technique: Use any quality-driven tools necessary to become an expert in your field. By taking massive action, setting goals, writing daily, and learning about your audience, your focus will be stronger ever before.
- N - NETWORK to Build Connections: Join relevant groups, attend or create events, and don't just talk, listen. Being a good listener will help you keep a pulse on trends in your niche and where you can innovate to create value.
- O - ORGANIZE Your Writing: Deliver an impact by solidifying your structure before you write. Develop a clear outline, whether it's an article's format or a whole series of articles, so you're creating value, not derivative content.
- P - PERFECT Your PROFILE: Your Expert Author Profile showcases your skills and experience, your top websites, and social media. Use your real name and display a professional picture of yourself to increase transparency and credibility.
- Q - QUALITY is Top Priority: Quality is the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind. Don't cheapen your niche or disappoint readers. Write quality content that stands out.
- R - READ Regularly: Legend Stephen King once wrote, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." Find the time to read to stay on top of the latest trends, improve your writing skills, and increase your writing/reading endurance.
- S - STRESS Reduction: Stress can lead to illness, causes procrastination, and it can decrease the quality of your writing. Manage stress by identifying the signs beforehand and create a stress management plan.
- T - TIME to Manage Writing: Time management is difficult. Be realistic, inform others of your writing schedule, avoid distractions, change your own rules for more effective strategies, and take your writing seriously.
- U - UNDERSTAND Your Role: Do you consider yourself an Expert Author or is writing a casual affair? Expert Authors are informative leaders who provide valuable, quality content that benefits readers. Casual writers write for themselves. Take a closer look into the value you're offering and adjust accordingly to fulfill your role.
- V - VICTORIES Can Be Big or Small: Small victories are a great way to take charge of your life and lend a positive sense of direction. Start small, focus on the path to completion and celebrate when it's time.
- W - WISDOM Should be Shared: Knowledge is important, but readers often seek wisdom over knowledge. Sharing wisdom is the ability to help your readers see past the basic message in order to plan for their future and provide perspective.
- X - X Factor: Writer's block can occur from time to time and it can lead to a desperate search for that fresh idea - the X factor. YOU are the X factor. Dig into your experiences, your unique background, and memories to charge your articles with original ideas.
- Y - YESTERDAY is Gone: You failed yesterday. So what? Take it, learn from it, and focus on the here and now. Every day there are new opportunities. As Norman Vaughan once said, "Dream big and dare to fail."
- Z - ZZZ... Get Enough Sleep: A good night's sleep keeps your mind and body healthy, while refreshing your clarity to pick up the pace when you're ready to write again. Pay attention to how your body is communicating with you, it may need a break!
What are your secrets to staying motivated? Let us know! |
To Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
No comments:
Post a Comment