10 SUCCESS STRATEGIES
FOR BUSY WRITERS
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.
Annie Dillard, The Writing Life
1.
Begin with the end in mind.
What are 3 writing related accomplishments you’d like to be bragging about on
December 31? Write down your ideal vision.
2. Set your vision into action.
What do you need to attract in 2008 to make your vision a reality? DREAM BIG!!
Identify what’s missing for you. Time, money, discipline, instruction, accountability?
3. The cornerstone to success is a written plan.
The working table of contents (WTOC) is your organic list of ideas, working chapter
titles, scenes from your story or memoir, etc. Use it as a menu when you sit down to
write. You’ll never face a blank page again without an idea!
“Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives:
where we focus our attention.”
-- Greg Anderson
© 2007 All rights reserved
Debra Marrs Editor and Coach for Writers
Helping You Take Your Writing Projects from Conception to Delivery
http://www.writingtogether.com
813-671-9637
debra@writingtogether.com
10 SUCCESS STRATEGIES
FOR BUSY WRITERS
4. Besides the WTOC, the next best practice is the Sunday Night Exercise.
Select one day a week (preferably Sunday) and plan your writing successes. Chunk
down your writing tasks into manageable actions. What do you need to do next? What
do you want to do creatively? What one small thing will take you one step closer to
your vision?
5. Okay, something’s got to give! What will you…
STOP DOING
START DOING
KEEP DOING
Eliminate anything that doesn’t add to your BIG vision for the year.
Make your writing and yourself a #1 priority.
6. Marry your action plans to a time to do them.
The WTOC + the Sunday night exercise + a calendar = writing success!
Tie your planned actions to a time to do them. Make appointments with yourself.
© 2007 All rights reserved
Debra Marrs Editor and Coach for Writers
Helping You Take Your Writing Projects from Conception to Delivery
http://www.writingtogether.com
813-671-9637
debra@writingtogether.com
10 SUCCESS STRATEGIES
FOR BUSY WRITERS
7.
Buddy UP!
There’s no better way to raise the vibration or energy around your writing plan than to
share it with others. Join a writing group, find a personal writing partner, or hire a
writing coach. Partners help partners stay accountable.
8.
Read – Read – Read.
Why? Great writers come from great readers.
a. in your genre
b. craft and how-to books
c. e-newsletters and magazines on writing – Debra’s Favorites are posted
at http://www.writingtogether.com/tools
9. Invest in yourself.
To sustain your attention on your vision, invest in resources, people, and information
that will continually lead you closer to your goal. Successful people invest both time
and money in their plans.
10. Continually define your next steps.
What will your next steps be now?
"A day will never be anymore than what you make of it.
Practice being a doer!" -- Josh S. Hinds
© 2007 All rights reserved
Debra Marrs Editor and Coach for Writers
Helping You Take Your Writing Projects from Conception to Delivery
http://www.writingtogether.com
813-671-9637
debra@writingtogether.com