07 Nov 2009

6 Tips for Efficient Blogging

Comments
Blogging, Business


In this Saturday Game Changer edition, I want to feature a guest post by Srinivas Rao, who I had a long chat with this past week. Keep an eye on this guy, he’s got what it takes to make some great things happen.

Distraction free writing:

A while back I wrote a post about uni-tasking in order to control ADHD. As somebody with ADHD, I have to really work at being able to focus on something for extended periods of time.

With the amount of information overload I deal with thanks to social media, I have to find a way to write with no distractions.

Fortunately there are a number of distraction free writing tools. My favorite is Mac Journal, but Writeroom and a few others are great.

The reason distraction free writing tools are great is that they will force you to be efficient. As I’m writing this, all I’m seeing is a black screen with green writing. I have no facebook messages being thrown at me, no emails, nothing other than my ipod, some music, and my fingers hammering away at the keyboard.

I honestly think that’s why I can produce content so quickly. I could probably average 9 blog posts a week if I really chose to.

Keep a list of blog post Ideas:

Check out the screen shot below that I posted. I use an application called Anxiety (ironically),  and I always have a list of 10+ ideas for blog posts. What’s interesting about this, is that I may have an idea, write it down, and not write about it for weeks. But when you do this, something really cool happens.

efficient blogging

Batch Writing:

I recently wrote a post at LifestyleDesign4U about How to put your wordpress blog on Autopilot and spend all your time at the beach. I’m a big fan of batch writing because it forces you to manage your time.

This week I start my new job and believe it or not every post you will see for the rest of the week has been written in advance. With a full time job, I’m going to be forced into even greater levels of efficiency. Essentially the idea is to keep an inventory of content in the hopper. This post you are reading was probably written between 7-10 days ago.

Just Write:

You’ve heard the phrase that sometimes just putting pen to paper will result in great writing. Blogging is the same. Sometimes you just need to put your fingers on the keyboard and let it flow. Don’t worry about what comes out, just write. You’ll surprise yourself with what you produce.

 

Do something other than attempting to write:

(i.e, go surfing, play a sport, listen to music, go for a run): I know this sounds like ridiculous advice for efficient blogging, but I come with up every idea I have for a blog post while I’m surfing. I’ve realized I can simply give my subconscious instructions to come up with ideas, and then while I’m surfing my conscious mind is completely pre-occupied with what I’m doing and  my subconscious will generate ideas.

Use Mind Maps:

Sometimes you just have to mind map it.  I love mind maps because they allow you to just think of things in one word increments. I’ll usually throw up a central theme for a post and then just write words about it. Eventually I’ll just see a structure for a blog post. I recently started work on a 6 part e-course on how to start a personal development blog, and I used this exact process,  and now I can probably write the whole thing in about 45 mins.

 

None of these things are effective if you don’t do them consistently. I wouldn’t even try to do all of them consistently That would make you crazy. But, pick two and focus on them and I think you’ll find that you get a good return on investment.

Srinivas Rao is a personal development blogger. He is a writer at the Skool of Life where he explores life experiences, spirituality and personal development. He’s an avid surfer, a recent graduate of the Pepperdine MBA program, and a business development manager at Merchengines.com, where he is responsible for recruiting new channel partners.

Image Credit

Recommended Posts

Like what you see here? Click Here to check out my guides and courses or make it simple and Hire Me.

Also, please leave a comment and click that cool RT button. Thanks!
  • Great post! I have only been blogging for a couple of months and your advice here really has helped!
  • I like the 'Do something other than attempting to write:' idea it actually works. I go for a run and off load all the stress of the day so when it is time to sit down and write something there it is in my fingertips just waiting to come out. :)
  • I definitely suffer from distractions when I'm trying to knock out a blogpost within Wordpress. Do you have a "distraction-free" program for writing on a PC? Are there free programs available?
  • I think Dark Room is the PC app of choice for that...or so I've heard.
  • Keeping a list of blog topics to write about is a great idea for efficient blogging. On some blogs I've kept in the past I'd attempt to write "when the mood strikes" so of course my posts weren't at all consistent or organized.

    Great post.
  • EmmaOconnor
    I enjoyed this post, thankyou! I find most of my ideas come when I walk (as a non driver I walk a lot!!) which is why I now carry a notebook around. I also LOVE mindmaps.
  • I know exactly what you mean. I use to get most of mine while I was running in the evenings. Only problem for me was trying to remember them all when I got home!
  • I like the idea of "batch writing" and writing just to write... Well one of the things that I've tried to discipline myself to do is write everyday for no less than 1 - 1.5 hours (I'm getting there). I carry a note-pad that I jot notes down in and I use post-its a lot on account of the fact that I read a lot too! Each of these is very helpful in gathering my thoughts and giving me ideas to write about...
  • I go in and out of writing moods, so if I don't write while I'm hot...I'm in trouble!
  • I hear that! Sometimes, I don't have a notepad in reach... And that's where the voice recorder on my phone comes in handy :-)
  • Great and valuable tips, thanks for sharing.
  • Hey Nathan,
    nice tips you've provided here. I've tried to just write anything that pops up in mind that is related to the topic that I want to right, but most of the time the whole thing just goes to a mess.

    The thing is I don't think in words, I can't just think about a topic and let the language flow out, because they don't. Instead, pictures, sounds and random ideas for colors come out.

    So the best way I've dealt with that is to only write with music on. I choose the type of music that is related to the mood of my post. Once I pop the loud music on and I am in the mood and feel quite emotionally reactive, the things I want to say just come right out in it's own way. I don't need to think hard to squeeze them out anymore.

    I noticed that you've put music on when you write, does it help? Because it certainly does for me. (lol)

    Steven
  • Actually Steven,

    This is a great one. I forgot to mention that :). I always listen to music when I'm writing because it drowns out all other distractions. I absolutely think this is one of the most useful techniques for efficient writing.
  • I always use MindMap to brainstorm idea to drive. And I always write when I have good temp, so that my posts are better and I can fulfill writing posts with ease.
  • I've used most of these methods and they all work, but the most successful for me has been to just start writing...anything. It's sort of the unstructured mind map, just banging out phrases and sentences on the keyboard. Suddenly, an idea or two comes to mind. Weird but effective.

    Of course everyone is different and each person must identify what works best for them. Hopefully, we'll not get a lot of practice at any of these. :-)
  • Still amazed at the speed at which some people can pump out posts. My hat goes off to them.

    I haven't tried mind-mapping much, but am a great fan of lists.

    Useful post as usual, Srinivas. Thanks.
  • marinafonda
    what about an anxiety-like app for windows? :-) does anybody know any?
  • Check lifehacker and I'm sure you'll find one.
  • I tried mind mapping once and got lost! Seriously, I really have a problem with organisational thinking and never got to grips with things like Getting Things Done. LIke Mike I'm more of an intuitive writer but I also realise the shortcomings of that because you need to keep up a momentum.

    Do you know of a Wi8ndows alternative to Writeroom or Mac Journal?
  • I haven't used it, but I heard Darkroom works well.
  • Hmm, looks remarkably like Wordstar which was the first WP package I ever used - that's dates me!
  • Hey Nathan,

    Thanks for the opportunity to guest post here. I wanted to mention that using that to-do list and letting the ideas brew is the cool thing that happens when you do that.
  • No problem, I will enjoy watching you rise to success.
  • I'm a big fan of going and doing something else when it's not working out. I just take off on the bike or quad, or go for a walk. An hour away from the PC can save me hours of messing around and bring my focus back.

    I know batch writing works for many people, sadly not for me. I found when I tried it my posts became a bit mechanical, and I learned that I'm a "Shoot from the hip" kind of writer.
  • I'm the type that likes to run into a brick wall until I knock it down, but I've come to realize it isn't the most efficient use of my time. Now if it just isn't working, I move to something else until I get the bug again.
  • Hey Mike,

    With regards to getting mechanical, I can see how that might become a problem. When I find that my writing is forced or that I'm becoming mechanical I just go and do something else because I know it will come to me when I'm doing something else.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Pig

Get More

Books and Courses

  • Ad
  • Ad
  • Ad
  • Ad
  • Ad

The Best

The Actions that Matter How to Turn Passion Into Profit Be Like Batman 5 Pillars of Blogging

Comments

Powered by Disqus

Become a Fan

Friend Me.