Writing is often romanticized as a seamless flow of creativity, but every writer knows the truth: that first step is a battle. Staring at the blank screen, writers confront anxieties and expectations.
I understand the struggle. But, there are ways to combat one of the hardest parts of content creation: Actually getting to the point where you write that first sentence and the words start flowing.
With a little assistance, writing becomes both more manageable and enjoyable. In this article, I cover the following:
- Establish a Writing Space for Productivity
- Start with an Outline
- Create Content Templates
- Use Time Management Techniques
- Use Content Tools for Efficiency
1. Establish a Writing Space for Productivity
Establishing an ideal writing space can bring great relief, making writing much more pleasant, productive and effortless. As you build your ideal workspace, keep these considerations in mind:
Choose a Location
Some writers thrive on quiet alone time to get the job done. Others like to be in a bustling space or at least have a little background noise to boost productivity.
Wherever you feel is best, pick a place and make it your go-to space for productivity.
Invest in Ergonomics
Writing requires long periods of typing, mousing, clicking and staring at a screen; as such, it makes good sense to consider ergonomic issues in your office environment.
Start by investing in a desk and chair designed specifically to support healthy posture. Also, make sure that the monitor sits at an appropriate height, and invest in an ergonomic mouse.
Manage Distractions
Distractions come in all forms; so be wary and find ways to stop them before they occur. Some writers have found success after doing the following:
- Setting boundaries with family members or housemates.
- Using noise-canceling headphones.
- Using apps that block distracting websites.
- Keeping their phone on silent or in another room.
Establish a Routine
Some writers don’t create content until inspiration drives them to do so — but this leads to the all-too-familiar problem of procrastination. Developing a consistent content creation schedule helps to strengthen the association between your writing space and productivity.
Try to block your daily or monthly calendar in a predictable way for content creation. Consider coming up with a procedure or ritual that gets you into the flow of writing time.
You could brew a cup of coffee, light a candle or listen to a specific writing playlist.
Keep Your Space How You Like It
For many, a cluttered desk can quickly become more overwhelming than any task at hand.
For others, however, a little messiness can spark creativity.
Whatever side you’re on, make sure your space inspires you. Consider how your decor affects how the space makes you feel.
Have a Backup Plan
What should you do if your typical writing space is unavailable or doesn’t support productivity?
At such times, having an alternative working location such as home, a library or coworking space in mind is absolutely critical to successful project delivery.
Wherever you work, having a space that helps you boost productivity is the key to enjoying the writing process.
2. Start with an Outline
One of the easiest and most efficient ways to streamline writing is creating an outline for any topic you will write on.
Your outline should act as your roadmap as you write, providing direction from its inception through conclusion.
Some of the benefits of an outline include:
- Breaking down complex ideas into manageable sections. A step-by-step approach to writing makes it easier to explore each idea thoroughly without feeling overloaded and stressed.
- Maintaining focus and organization throughout your writing task. An outline keeps your writing focused while simultaneously preventing you from spending too much time on ideas that aren’t integral to the piece. Just remember that it’s okay to be flexible as you’re writing – outlines should act as a guide, not law. So if you get inspired to cover another point as you research the topic more, go for it.
- Identifying gaps in your research early in the process. By seeing your ideas laid out in a more structured format, you can spot areas that need further development or additional research. This saves you time and effort during the drafting stage.
- Enhancing the quality of your writing by promoting coherence. When each section is carefully planned and linked to the next, your writing is more coherent. This cohesion improves the readability of your work.
In essence, starting with an outline can transform a daunting task into a more manageable and efficient process.
3. Create Content Templates
Creating “templates” for your content — which is really to say a repeatable approach — can empower you, simplifying the writing process and allowing you to focus more on creativity rather than structure and format.
You can create templates for blog articles, marketing emails, social media content and more.
I’ll focus more on article templates in a bit, but first, here’s how templates can enhance your writing efficiency:
- Optimized structure and formatting: Templates give you a defined structure for more consistent writing projects.
- More efficiency: With a template, you won’t have to start every writing project from scratch. Your efforts will become more productive.
- Reduced stress levels: Looking at that blank page can be daunting or stressful when working under tight deadlines; with a template as your starting point, however, all uncertainty about where and how to start is removed and progress can move more swiftly toward completion.
Implementing Templates in Your Workflow
If you’re interested in giving content templates a go, here are a few steps to take:
- Select or create templates. Choose templates that suit your specific needs, or create custom ones tailored to your style and requirements. Many resources are available online to get ideas for writing templates.
- Tweak your templates. Templates do provide a basic structure, but you’ll need to tweak them to fit each piece’s context and the audience you’re trying to reach.
- Review and make updates. Periodically review and update your templates to keep them current and aligned with evolving best practices.
Example: Blog Article Template
Blog articles are a foundation in any SEO — or marketing — program. They are also one of the most involved types of content in terms of what goes into a quality piece.
So, say you want to create a blog article template. The idea is that you refer to this template every time you create a new article. You could even create a visual reference to go along with it.
Here are some ideas on what you would include in your blog article template:
1. Article Title
Write an eye-catching SEO-friendly title that sums up your post.
2. Introduction
- Hook: Always start with an interesting, attention-grabbing hook, whether it be a thought-provoking fact, a quote, a question or a brief anecdote.
- Problem statement: Highlight the issue or idea you’ll be addressing in the post.
- Overview: Give a quick summary of what you’ll cover in the post. Touch on each of the main points or provide a table of contents to give readers a roadmap of what to expect in the piece.
3. Main Content Sections
- Subheadings: Add organization with descriptive headings – doing so will make the content more skimmable. Make sure each of these headings is directly related to a main point or section of your post.
- Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short and focused. Only address one main thought or idea per paragraph so as to keep the content clear and easily readable.
- Bullet points and lists: To further organize the information, use bullet points and lists where appropriate. They come in handy for steps, tips and key takeaways.
- Examples and anecdotes: Don’t leave your points unsupported – reference relevant examples, case studies and even personal anecdotes.
- Visuals: Images, charts and/or videos serve to complement your text and add visual interest to the piece.
- Data and statistics: Infusing data and statistics into your writing substantiates your points and adds credibility. Include sources and links to the original source. I say “original” to highlight the fact that you should not simply link to a page that contains a bunch of stats or to a page where someone else referenced the stat. Track down the original source of that stat.
- Expert quotes: Include quotes from experts in your industry in your post for added credibility and diversity of thought.
4. Conclusion
- Summary: Summarize the key takeaways discussed in your post to reinforce the main takeaways for readers.
- Call to action (CTA): When appropriate, incorporate calls-to-action (CTAs). These could range from encouraging readers to leave comments, share the post, subscribe to your mailing list or view related content.
5. Additional Elements
- Meta description: Write a concise and enticing meta description for SEO purposes. This should summarize the post and include key phrases to attract search engine traffic. See my article on meta tags for more.
- Keywords: Identify and include relevant keywords throughout the post to improve search engine ranking. Use them naturally within the content. See my article on keywords for more.
- Internal and external links: Add links to other relevant posts on your blog (internal links) and to authoritative sources or further reading (external links). Check out my guide on internal linking for more.
This is just one approach to a blog article, and there are others. For example, you might have a template for “roundup” articles, for list-type articles and much more.
4. Use Time Management Techniques
Figuring out the best way to work so that you remain productive when creating content is key. Here are some approaches to consider.
Try Time Blocking
Time blocking means you schedule out specific blocks of time in your day or week dedicated solely to content creation. This provides dedicated, uninterrupted periods for writing, allowing deeper focus and concentration.
Indeed, the Workgeist Report ‘21 found that context switching causes a lack of cognitive function, and 45% of people surveyed said this made them less productive because “human brains are not wired for a working day of glancing between your inbox, various different documents, slide decks, and more.”
For some, these time blocks may be absolute and unwavering — for example, dedicating the first two hours of your day to your most important writing tasks because it aligns with your peak mental clarity and energy.
Others may adopt a writing schedule based on both daily energy levels and other commitments.
Consider Task Batching
Task batching is all about grouping similar writing tasks together and completing them in one session.
For example, you might create a batch of content outlines in a given session or spend that time editing a batch of articles.
This is another way of grouping tasks to avoid context switching, as mentioned in the previous section, and improve the productivity of the tasks at hand.
Do a Timed Focus Session
For some, working in increments followed by a break helps to alleviate burnout and increase focus.
For example, the 90-minute interval followed by a long break (20-30 minutes) is said to align with the body’s natural ultradian rhythm, promoting sustained concentration and productivity.
Others might find success using the Pomodoro Technique as a way to conduct writing sprints, where you write as much as you possibly can within 25 minutes, take a short break, and repeat.
Write First, Then Edit
For many, getting words down on paper without worrying about editing prevents the interruption of creative flow by separating drafting from editing.
Then, you’d reserve separate sessions for editing and revisions.
Set Deadlines and Milestones
Consider setting specific deadlines for different stages of your writing project and breaking larger projects into smaller milestones to stay on track and motivated.
5. Use Content Tools for Efficiency
Technology has developed significantly over time to assist writers with their daily writing tasks. Here are a few promising tools you can use to elevate your content writing skills.
PreWriter.ai (Bruce Clay Inc.)
PreWriter.ai is our AI-powered writing assistant designed to enhance productivity by quickly handling the prework that goes into the writing process.
Start by inputting keywords, outlines, articles or other content forms, and PreWriter generates content outlines, talking points, ideas for research, writing tips, FAQs and more.
The goal of PreWriter is different from some other AI content tools. It aims to assist writers in their jobs rather than replace them.
It also aims to help people who aren’t natural writers or writers by profession to create higher quality content.
PreWriter is a true gamechanger — give it a try for free and see how it can help streamline your content creation process.
Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance your writing with grammar, punctuation and style suggestions.
As soon as it’s time to edit, Grammarly provides real-time feedback regarding the clarity, conciseness and tone of your document.
It also includes features for detecting plagiarism, topic ideation and brainstorming thought-provoking questions.
Canva
Adding visuals to content is a necessity, and Canva helps you do it in a snap.
Even if you’re totally new to design, you can create all sorts of graphics in your brand’s colors and fonts.
Canva also includes collaborative features, allowing teams to work together on design projects in real time.
Final Thoughts
Writing doesn’t need to be a stress-inducing task full of uncertainty. With a proper approach, and using the tools and techniques we mentioned above, you can turn writing into an enjoyable yet productive endeavor.
Looking for professional assistance with content creation? Our experts are standing by!
FAQ: How can I streamline my content creation process to make it more efficient and enjoyable?
There’s no question – writing content can be a trying task; but, refining your content creation routine can bring you some amazing results. By incorporating systematic planning, using the right tools and unleashing your creativity, you can get that content written both effectively and enjoyably.
Before you start officially writing, do two things – 1)come up with a strategic outline with achievable goals, and 2) sort out who your target audience is. Knowing your readers in and out makes it easier to personalize your content in a way that connects with them beneath the surface level.
Next, it’s time to do some workflow streamlining. Create a content calendar to manage your schedule. With your themes and deadlines planned out, you won’t have to worry about falling behind or having to put out fires later. You’ll also have an unmuddled view of your content plans.
Both Trello and Asana are awesome platforms that enable idea sharing and task delegation – either can dramatically boost your team’s productivity.
As for the actual writing, we recommend breaking your content down into tiny, manageable tasks. The point of this is to make your projects easier to digest and less likely to overwhelm you. You could sit down and write a whole article in one go, but we advise tackling it in segments, allowing for improved quality control due to enhanced focus.
One part of content creation to pay special attention to is research. It’s critical to any writing project. With extensive, systematic research, you can make sure your content is as accurate as it is authoritative. Reputable tools like Google Scholar, respected industry blogs and market analyses can all be instrumental in crafting content that’s truly top-tier.
On top of that, utilize technologies built to amplify your content creation process. Use leading tools like Grammarly to ensure grammatical soundness, Canva for visual additions and Hemingway Editor for max reliability. They will make post-production tasks a cinch, saving you a ton of time and effort while ensuring your content is polished and professional.
Continual review of analytics is critical to figuring out which content types connect the most with your readers. Google Analytics and insights from social media sites uncover valuable information about your audience’s preferences and user engagement. Armed with this data, you can adjust your content strategy to better serve your readers and customers.
Content production doesn’t always have to be tedious – sometimes, its rewarding qualities make you want to dive right in and keep creating. If that describes you, just ensure that you leave enough time for regular breaks so as to prevent burnout.
It’s equally important to set realistic deadlines to protect your artistic vision and passion. Remember that a fresh mind is much more capable of producing innovative, engaging content than a tired mind.
If you want to perfect your content creation process, starting with the steps outlined above and focusing on continuous improvement will generate the best outcomes.
Step-by-Step Procedure:
- Get to know your ideal audience so you can successfully customize your content for them.
- Establish clear, reachable content creation goals.
- Devise a complete strategy with content topics, themes, and a timeline.
- Create and continually update your content calendar to keep your schedule organized.
- Use supportive tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion to optimize your workflows and team communication.
- Divide larger projects and assignments into smaller sections and handle them separately to keep everything manageable.
- Research topics thoroughly using reliable sources such as Google Scholar, industry blogs and market reports.
- Utilize modern technology and tools like Grammarly, Canva and Hemingway Editor for post-production precision.
- Start a feedback loop by sharing drafts with colleagues or mentors for more diverse insights and improvements.
- Regularly review analytics to gauge audience engagement and preferences.
- Adapt your strategy based on analytics to better meet your audience’s needs.
- Write consistently and practice regularly to enhance skill and efficiency.
- Use content templates to streamline repetitive sections and ensure consistency.
- Allocate specific time slots for content creation to maintain structure and discipline.
- Develop a library of content assets to reuse and repurpose where appropriate.
- Have regular brainstorming sessions to spark creativity within your team.
- Utilize multimedia elements such as images, videos, and infographics to enrich content.
- Implement SEO best practices to increase visibility and reach.
- Schedule periodic content audits to ensure alignment with current goals and adjust as necessary.
- Keep your workload balanced with regular breaks to avert burnout and preserve enthusiasm.
- Stay informed on the latest happenings in the content creation field.
- Always acknowledge and celebrate project milestones and achievements to keep the team motivated.
- Enjoy the content creation process, focusing on producing value.
Continually refining this approach can result in a much more efficient and enjoyable content creation experience. You’re sure to benefit significantly from the alignment of strategic planning, technological enhancement and audience-centric development.
