✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: 60 Productivity Tips for Writers
A master list of tips for how to balance writing and motivation to write.
Happy Wednesday! Today, ✍️ From the Desk of Amy Suto paid subscribers will get an exclusive issue about…
✨ 60 productivity tips for writers to stay motivated and inspired
🧪 How I find balance in my fiction writing and my writing here on Substack
📚 Tips for dropping into a flow state for more productive writing sessions
✍️ 60 (Yes, 60!) Productivity Tips for Writers
You’ve got to live life to write about life. So, you have to make time to live life.
Oh, but you’ve got to write what you know — so you have to spend time… knowing more stuff.
Don’t forget — you are what you’re reading! So what are you reading today?
The life of a writer is fraught with obligations like this. Honing your craft is time-consuming, and we haven’t even gotten to the part where you also have to champion your work and get it out there in the world!
First, let’s take a breath.
Second, know that “balance” is a bit of a myth. Just take the act of walking: by putting one foot in front of the other, you’re technically always off-balance, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. That’s the only way to make progress.
All that said, there are ways to…
improve your productivity
reduce mental clutter
make your writing time more joyful and creative
After writing professionally for TV, ghostwriting memoirs for $750/hour, and now authoring my fiction debut while also running this Substack and publishing here 2x per week for over 9 months while traveling the world — I’ve become somewhat of an expert at dropping into a place where I’m motivated and excited to start writing.
Even as I write this piece I’ve had a low-energy day, but once I land in my flow state through my tried-and-true process, I’m thrilled to be here sharing my knowledge with you.
I’ve written before about my tips for time management, but for this post I decided to do a deep dive into all the little tips, tricks, and mindset hacks I use to hit my deadlines, stay creative, and write thousands of words per week.
Without further ado, here are my 60 productivity tips for fiction authors and Substack writers, divided into sections by topics:
🪴 5 Tips for Creating a Space for Productive Writing Sessions
Work Near Natural Elements. If there’s a fountain in the immediate vicinity, you can find me writing next to it. I love leafy cafes, tree-lined streets, and cozy workspaces that have some sort of natural element. Nature is soothing, so try and find workspaces with natural elements to help you sink into a calming writing flow.
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