NM #2 April: PRODUCTIVITY AND HEADLINES
Howdy!?
Moving from the extremely extroverted world of teaching to a more introverted writing world was a shock to the system. It has allowed me to finally embrace my introverted nature and relax.?
One thing I did struggle with is the lack of structure in the day and that affected my productivity at the beginning.?
So, in this edition of Newsletter Marketing I’ll share some ways to improve productivity and how to create better headlines for your newsletters.
Don’t forget to check out the links to other writers who are doing a fantastic job with their newsletters.
How to be a Productive Writer
Make a plan
I think one of the things writers often struggle with is finding that sweet block of time for focused writing. No distractions, no interruptions, just getting thoughts on paper.?
And if you are a solopreneur like me, there are a thousand other things that need your attention each day.?
As a teacher I lived by the daily schedule, so why not as a writer? I have found a morning block and an afternoon block set aside strictly for writing works best for me. They are each about two hours long.?
I said, “about’ because sometimes it depends on what I’m writing or if brain drain has set in, but there is writing happening everyday in those two blocks of time.
Discover your best time to work
Just because a morning and afternoon block of time works for me, doesn’t mean it will work for you. You need to find your best time to write.?
Are you a night owl? Do you like the quiet after everyone in the house has gone to bed?
Are you a morning person? Do you get up before the sun fresh and full of ideas? Do you want to get those ideas on paper before the chaos of everyone rushing out of the house for the day?
Whenever the time is that gets your creative writing juices going, is your block of time that needs to be prioritized and protected.?
Get rid of distractions
So now you’ve found your time to write, but what about all the distractions? Get rid of them! Throw the phone out the window, or put it on silent. Don’t answer the door. Quit checking emails.?
If you’re running your own business, I know this can be tough. You don’t want to miss something important, but setting boundaries is a way for you to be more efficient in your work.?
Clear your brain
Just as we can get rid of external distractions, sometimes we need to clear out the internal ones. It can be hard to work on a writing project when there are so many things floating around in your head.
I often start my writing time with some free writing. I open a doc and just throw up everything and anything that is on my mind. It’s random, unorganized, and chaotic thoughts, but once I finish I can focus on the project at hand.?
What about when you’re on a hot streak of writing and a random thought pops into your head? Grab a sticky note and jot it down quick before it disappears. Then jump right back on that writing streak. You can come back to the sticky note later.
Timers are your friend
One final thing that has helped me is a Pomodoro timer with music.?
These timers are set up in 25 to 50 minute work blocks with 5 to 10 minute breaks in between.?
The music in the background acts like a damper for distracting noises for me. I find that I can focus more while using a timer.
领英推荐
YouTube has a huge selection of Pomodoro timers. Here is a link to my favorite one.
These are just a few ways to improve your productivity while writing. I hope you find them helpful.
Helpful Tips:??
Better Headlines?
Tell your audience what they’re going to get for reading your work. Give them a reason to spend their time in your work.
This stat was surprising to me. Not only does your headline need to catch your audience’s attention, it needs to provoke them to continue reading.
Active voice shows the reader the benefits of reading your article.?
Use the least amount of words to convey the most meaning possible.
Always keep your audience in mind when writing your headlines.
Great newsletter examples!
Here’s some folks that produce awesome newsletters. Check them out!
If you struggle with content ideas, Cosmo’s got you covered. He shares weekly nuggets on how to turn your creative ideas into amazing content. I like the different approach he takes to thinking about creativity. I glean something new each week from his newsletter.
I love Marcia’s newsletter on all things introverted. She shows how introverts can be leaders and excel in unexpected places. Even if you are an extrovert, I would recommend reading her newsletter so you can better understand the introverts in your life.
Let me know what you found useful, and share in the comments if you have other productivity tips that work for you.