Writing tips

I’m a bit of a left brain/right brain strange combination. I love writing and consider myself a highly creative person - but I’m also a number junkie too. I’ve just finished writing 29 plays in 29 days by taking part in a project run by The Space called 29 Plays Later. The combination of words and numbers really worked for me. It made me productive, motivated and even more excited about numbers.

I’ve spent the last hour in an internet wormhole ‘researching’ procrastination. I made the usual excuse that it was necessary groundwork for this blog, but to be honest, I was delaying the task at hand. The instant hit of clickbait was preferable to knuckling down and earning the satisfaction that comes from effort.

What you do first thing can make or break your day. As well as making you feel super smug about getting stuff done before work, having a morning ritual can help you meet your creative goals. Tap into the science and psychology of daybreak to build your winning routine.

Management guru Stephen Covey said “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” If you read this blog you’re probably interested in writing productivity, and scheduling time to write is a great way to be productive. But does it have to be so painful?

When’s the best time to write? Is it in the morning when you’re fresh and ready for a new day? Is it in evening when you’re full of ideas and inspiration from previous hours during the day? Or perhaps it’s at night, when people are least likely to bother you, allowing you to focus on your work 100%?

What can you do in 15 minutes? Hard-boil an egg? Play Candy Crush? Look at some great Facebook photos of your friend’s office party? The point being that we often waste time – time that Dorothea Brande says could be dedicated to kick-starting your creative practice.

From his early days working with Chris Morris to make cutting edge radio shows like On The Hour to creating top US comedies like Veep, Armando Iannucci has always put writing - and writers - at the centre of of his work. But how does something like The Thick of It get written? And what tips does the man responsible for Alan Partridge and Malcolm Tucker have for writers?

Having a blog is an important part of an author’s marketing toolkit. Your blog is a place where you can test out your writing, get noticed by publishers, engage with readers, build a following and in some cases – sell your work. Whilst it’s great to blog purely for fun and creative expression, if you want your blog to help your writing career in some way then it’s time to get yourself a blogging strategy. So how do you start?

Henry Swindell from the BBC’s Writersroom has worked with writers his whole life. He’s also worked on many of the UK’s best-loved soaps and dramas including Coronation Street, Casualty, Doctors and Hollyoaks. We talk to him about spotting talent, staying focused, unfunny comedies and undramatic dramas.

Being a writer in the digital age is a fickle business. It’s a constant uphill struggle to keep on top of your social media accounts, ensuring you make the most of them and interact with your fans, and yet at the same time devote enough time to other activities such as, y’know, writing.