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Transcript

Feeling Stuck? Write Backward · The Daily Writer

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Rider Podcast, where we bring you tips and inspiration each day to help you build habits for writing success.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: For more resources, including your free Daily Rider Starter Kit, visit DailyRiderLife.com.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: This week we've been talking about ways to be a more productive writer.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: You know, one of the reasons that we get stuck in our writing is that we see how much left there is to do, especially in the beginning stages of a project.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Let's say you're writing a 750-word blog post.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: You would typically write this in sections.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: So you would have an introduction, you would have two or three main points, and probably a call to action of some kind.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: So really, this is not just a 750-word blog post, it's a collection of pieces, which are somewhere between 100 and 200 words each.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: And you would normally outline the piece, then start writing a first draft at the introduction, progressing through until you write the call to action.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: And it's easy to feel discouraged when you see how much left there is to do.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a 750-word blog post is not like a large piece of writing necessarily, but if you apply this logic to something like a book chapter or a whole book, it can really feel discouraging when you see how much left there is to do.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: And one way to break this cycle is to start at the end and work your way backward.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: So for example, with the blog post, write the call to action first, then write the main points from last to first, then write the introduction.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: If you've outlined this material ahead of time, this shouldn't be a problem because you already know basically what you're going to say.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: And the cool thing is that whenever you write a piece backward, you interrupt your normal writing pattern and you feel a new sense of creative energy.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have a clear sense of how much you have left, and therefore that reduces your tendency to feel distracted.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: For example, I usually produce these podcast episodes in batches of one or two weeks at a time.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: And most of the time, I'll write the last one first, then work backwards until I have the first one finished.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's a simple way to give yourself a different writing pattern and add a completely new energy to the process.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: In other words, going backward can help you to go forward.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Here's today's challenge.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Give this writing backward strategy a try on your next piece of writing.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, before I wrap up shop here, I want to give a shout-out to today's sponsor, which is The Word Wizard.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: You might have written a great book, but it's not ready for publishing until it's been in the hands of a master editor.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: That's why my good friend Karen Hunsinger, known as The Word Wizard, is the perfect partner to help you craft the highest quality book possible.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: And the reason is that an editor doesn't just correct grammar and spelling, they also correct things like wordiness, shifts in tone and voice, overuse of particular words, and they also enhance transitions, clarity, and accuracy.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Karen and I have worked together on a number of different projects, and trust me, she is your secret weapon for crafting an amazing book.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Visit KarenHutzinger.com for a free sample edit.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: And if you'd like a personal intro to Karen, let me know.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: I'd be happy to do that as well.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next time.