This is not a trick question, but a serious one. Why? Because it’s easy for us to fall under the spell of doing writing-related activities while secretly avoiding the hard work of writing.

There’s that course to take, that writing group to be involved in, that new writing craft book to read, that movie to watch so you can analyze the story structure, that fellow writer to have coffee with…

The list of things that help our writing is endless. But they don’t actually constitute writing.

The writer Matthew Kelly hit the nail on the head when he wrote, “Writers will do anything to avoid writing, and do it all in the name of writing.”

Can I get an Amen?

The joy and the temptation of being a writer is that we love what we do. We love talking about our craft, reading about it, and learning more about it.

And while all those things are helpful, even necessary, they don’t actually create the words.

What does produce the words, however, is sitting down to write. It’s getting the words down however you can. Whether it’s dictation, writing it out by hand, writing at lunchtime, getting up early, staying up late, or whatever it takes to get it done.

All those tools and resources for writing can be like the Sirens from Homer’s Odyssey. The hero Odysseus was tempted by the beautiful singing of the Sirens, but he stayed the course.

It’s tempting to spend all your time on writing-related activities without actually doing the writing. Yes, we must learn, connect, and grow as writers. But when you spend time on those activities, it’s helpful to ask, “Is it helping me get the writing done?”

The post Is It Helping You Get the Writing Done? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

So… you’ve done it again. You promised yourself you wouldn’t do it. You swore up and down that last time would be the last time. Yet here you are, feeling guilty because you’ve given in to the temptation once again.

Are we talking about some forbidden sin? Some horrible act that is slowly destroying your life or your family?

No, we’re talking about downloading yet another free PDF that will languish on your hard drive. It’s one more resource you won’t read, but you will still feel guilty because you know it will probably help your writing or business.

Don’t feel too bad. We’ve all done it. In today’s Information Age, it’s almost impossible not to be overwhelmed with email lists, free PDFs, podcasts, books, courses, and much more.

So how do you deal with this flood of information? Here is the key: the next time you read or listen to something that is helpful, determine whether it is something you need to do. If so, take action on it immediately.

This one simple concept can work wonders for your confidence and your success. When you do something you know you must do, you develop the habit of breaking down barriers. You also build your anti-procrastination muscle.

Don’t get overwhelmed by all the information out there. In fact, you should delete or unsubscribe from things that are not helping you on your journey right now. Too much information can absolutely paralyze and confuse you.

You can always download something again or find a similar resource on the internet when you need it. But the best course of action is clearing your mental clutter and taking the next logical step in your writing journey.

After all, the most successful writers are not the ones with the most talent. They are the ones who keep their life simple and take action every day toward their goals.

The post Take Action Immediately appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.