Erika Heald Marketing Consulting

Content marketing that drives business results

July 25, 2022 Content Chat Recap: How to Be A More Productive Writer

by Leave a Comment

A Content Chat header image that says today's topic is how to be a more productive writer with guest Kathryn Lang.

A writer is often their own greatest enemy, letting self-doubt or a lack of structure stop them from writing efficiently… or at all. But there are plenty of ways to train yourself each day and set up systems to be a more productive writer.

In this #ContentChat, we’re joined by Kathryn Lang (@KathrynCLang), speaker, author, and teacher, to explore how to maximize our writing productivity and overcome common challenges that writers face. Read the full recap below to learn:

  • Ways to overcome writer’s block
  • Tools for writing efficiently
  • Tips to create more content faster

Q1: What is your biggest blocker or procrastination point when it comes to not writing? Bonus points for sharing how you most frequently procrastinate!

There are many things that stop us from writing, including not knowing how long a project will take…

Finding the time to write when our schedule is already packed…

Worrying about personal matters…

Feeling like we need to write everything at once…

Not knowing where to start…

“Needing” to conduct more prep work…

Lacking sleep…

Or simply finding the motivation to start.

Q2: When or how do you fit writing into your workday or workweek?

Early morning or late at night can be great, distraction-free times to write.

Schedule time on your calendar to brainstorm and write.

And write at times when you feel most productive.

Q3: How do you maximize your productivity when writing? What practices do you follow?

Record how many words you’ve written, and set daily or weekly word writing goals.

Effectively prepare to write, including researching your topic and outlining the content.

Consider using dictation.

Pay attention to what environments inspire you to be productive, which can include location and atmosphere (like a great playlist).

Silence any notifications and remove yourself from distractions.

And give yourself the chance to write without judging your work. Aim to get a draft done, and then you can edit.

Q4: What are your strategies or techniques for overcoming writer’s block?

Kathryn uses journals to rant about what’s causing her writer’s block, how she feels about the writer’s block, or to write letters to friends to clear her mind. It’s a great strategy to overcome your challenge!

Step away from your work. Take a walk, grab some food, or get some sleep. You’ll come back with fresh eyes.

Consume content from other industries or related to personal interests.

Conduct the appropriate amount of research and prep before sitting down to write, and keep your reference materials handy (Erika uses Evernote). It’s helpful to keep a running list of content topics, too, to accelerate your planning.

Kathryn sends a weekly list of journaling prompts. Sign up below to receive them!

Q5: Are there any tools or apps that you use to write more efficiently?

Digital timers keep Kathryn focused during word sprints.

The #ContentChat community often recommends CoSchedule’s Headline Studio, Grammarly, and Semrush.

Jenna at Nimble recommends LatelyAI.

And Erika uses BuzzSumo to help generate content ideas.

Q6: If you’re writing a piece of long-form content like an eBook or whitepaper, how do you break up the project and stay on track to meet the deadline?

Write for at least a few minutes multiple times throughout your day.

Create a content outline so you can break up the task section-by-section.

If your long-form content will also appear as individual blog posts, write those shorter posts first and then stitch them into the final package.

Kathryn says that National Novel Writing Month has been foundational in helping her get more words written.

Try out new ideas to find a system that works for you!

Q7: What tips do you have for fellow writers looking to create more content faster?

Break your writing projects into smaller chunks.

Set a timer or create a challenge to encourage you to write faster. Consider creating a chart to visualize your project, and switch tasks as needed to spark new ideas.

Write daily.

Consume diverse content in your everyday life to inspire innovation in your writing.

About Alek Irvin

Alek Irvin is a content marketing professional with a rich history in social media management, executive thought leadership development, and media relations. As a consultant at Erika Heald Marketing Consulting, he creates human-focused content and thought leadership platforms that help brand leaders connect and engage with their communities. Alek has worked with a range of startups and Fortune 500 companies across the B2B technology and consumer spaces, including IBM, Dell Technologies, Hitch Works, Emtrain, Integrate, and Frameable. Connect with him on Twitter @AlekIrvin.

Explore the Blog

#ContentChat ABM B2B blogging buyer personas career development CMworld conferences content audit content creation content distribution content marketing content marketing planning content marketing process content planning content strategy customer experience editorial calendars editorial management editorial style guide employee brand advocacy events influencer collaborations LinkedIn marketing conferences new hire onboarding personal branding podcasting professional development professional development for content marketers research SEO SMB social media social media engagement social media planning solopreneurs Spin Sucks startups thought leadership twitter UGC video virtual events writing process

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

All content © copyright 2000-2023 Erika Heald. All rights reserved.
Read our Privacy Policy.