The Simple Little ‘Secret” That Can Explode Your Productivity

We all hate to waste time, yet it’s something we all do, and some do it way more than others.

Over the years I’ve read so many books on productivity and one common thread that they all say is that to be productive, you need to know what it is that you want to do and the order in which you need to do it.

And this is a great piece of advice.

It’s why I use a diary to write down everything I need to do every day. I make a list of everything and then I number them in the order they need to be done.

This has an amazing effect of giving me more time to write every day because it cuts out thinking time so that I can get straight to work.

And having a daily to-do list can help you too. If you’ve never done it before, give it a try. You won’t regret it.

But it’s not just writing related tasks that you need to write down. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’ll be more productive by not including everything you need to do on your list.

And remember, you’re not writing down jobs to be done, but tasks to be done.

What that means is listing each task that needs to be done, rather than a whole project.

So, for instance, if you have a few writing projects you might put –

• Outline blog post about productivity lists
• Write query for magazine
• Write blog post
• Proof and send query to ABCD Magazine
• Proof and read blog post
• Tweet and Facebook with link to blog post

That list is more ‘do-able’ than writing

• Write and upload blog post
• Send query to ABCD magazine

If you only write the project to be done instead of the tasks involved, it can make you more hesitant to start or put you off doing it at all. That’s why it’s so much better to write the steps needed so that you can get straight down to business.

Just don’t overwhelm yourself with too many things to do in a day. I usually include a set amount of time to get things done and over the years I’ve got a pretty good idea of how long it takes to get them done.

And all the books I’ve written about writing work the same way as a list of tasks, because that’s what they are. 

They’re all set out to guide you effortlessly through writing an article, an ebook, a short report (in only 2 hours), set up and run a profitable website, or how to overcome writers’ block instantly.

You can find them all by clicking the link below:

https://ruthiswriting.com/make-money.html

I'm Helping Thousands Earn Money From Writing

 I'm currently working on my second book in my Monthly Writing Challenge Series, and the first book, about freelance writing, will be available soon.

I'm going to 'pre-release' it as a discounted ebook on Amazon, and I'll be doing the same for each of them. Then later this year I'll publish them all as a complete series, available worldwide and in many different places, including libraries.

And my subscribers will be the first to know as soon as each ebook is released at a discount price.

And while you're quaking with unrelenting anticipation, I have other books and ebooks to help you write more and earn more, and they're already helping thousands of others.

Goodbye Writer's Block
How to Be a Creative Genius and Have an Abundance of Ideas Plus the Inspiration and Motivation to Write

How to Write An Article in 15 Minutes or Less

- Including Research, Writing and Proof Reading

7 Day Ebook

Writing and Publishing System

Living The Laptop Lifestyle

How to Start & Grow a Profitable Online Business So You Can Quit Your Job

So if you're not already earning (or not earning enough) money from your writing, now would be a good time to change that.

https://ruthiswriting.com/make-money.html

Earning Money From Freelance Writing

 I'm currently in the process of writing a series of money-making books.

It's going to be called, The Monthly Writing Challenge Series because each one is a stand-alone book that shows you how to earn money writing in just 30 days.

The first one in the series (which will be available soon) is all about freelance writing. And what's great about it, is that it will help you to start writing and earning money quickly.

It's a step-by-step approach so all you have to do is follow along and get straight to work.

This book will guide you through many different freelance writing opportunities, especially those with high pay because as you know, I believe in writers being paid well for what they do.

Freelancing is how I began writing and I never regretted it because I earned so much money from it. And the payments came fast which really spurred me on to write more.

I'll let you know when this no-fluff-straight-to-writing-and-earning-money guide is available.

So stay tuned.

In the meantime, how about writing, publishing and selling copies of your own ebook this week?

https://ruthiswriting.com/books/7day.html

How to Write More And Quit Procrastination For Good

 Procrastination is a word all writers dislike, yet it's simple to beat. And it's taken me years to figure this out.

You see, procrastination happens when you're not writing. It can even happen when you ARE writing and your mind wanders and you think of random things like, "I need to go out later and buy a loaf of bread." Then all you can think of is the loaf of bread.

So why does this happen?

It happens because you're reluctant to do whatever it is that you should be doing.

So what can you do about it?

It's easy.

You just have to love to write. If you don't love it you'll never want to do it or it will be hard to keep going once you start.

When you love to write, time flies. You get into the state of 'flow' and can write for hours.

The way to beat procrastination is to use the Pomodoro Technique, where you set a timer for 25 minutes and write as much as you can till the timer goes off.

I've used this hundreds of times because it's great for getting me going as I work against the clock.

But once I get going, flow takes over and then I can write for hours.

This is loving what you do.

Being a writer is for the long haul. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Can you see yourself writing for 5, 10 or 20 years?

If not, get a job.

But if you love writing, quit procrastinating and write.

Living The Laptop Lifestyle:
How To Start & Grow A Profitable Online Business So You Can Quit Your Job

https://ruthiswriting.com/books/LLS.html

Freelance Writing Markets: July 2021 Plus Writing Articles That Are Gold!

 Today I have a list of freelance markets for you plus a list of writing articles that are so good that, if you follow the advice, you could be writing and earning even more.

Enjoy.

Writing Markets:

Apex Magazine
Open to submission of short fiction.
Word count: 7,500 Max
Payment: .08 cents per word Plus extra .01 cents per word if made a podcast.
Submissions by online form only. No email.
Response within 30 days
https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Horror Tree
Open to submissions of short fiction.
The story must incorporate how a feminine figure is shaped by male hands through a horror lens. 
Word count: 2k-5k words
Payment: .05 cents per word
Deadline: 5th September 2021
https://horrortree.com

15 Magazines That Accept Freelance Writing Submissions
A list of high-paying freelance markets
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/magazines-accepting-freelance-submissions/

49+ Magazines Looking for Freelance Writers 
A good list of freelance markets including magazines looking for short stories and poetry.
https://carminemastropierro.com/magazines-looking-for-freelance-writers/

Updated Weekly: 2021 Submission and Freelance Writing Opportunities
A long list of freelance writing markets
https://catapult.co/dont-write-alone/stories/2021-submission-and-freelance-writing-opportunities-where-to-submit-literary-magazines-for-writers

Sci Phi Journal
Currently looking for short sci-fi stories that are not character-driven and instead, they want 
"hard SF that zooms out of the personal and lifts off into the structural, the systemic, the epic."
Word count: under 2,000 words
Payment: €0.03 per word
Deadline: 31st July 2021
https://www.sciphijournal.org/index.php/submission-guidelines/

Flash Fiction Online
Looking for short fiction stories across many genres.
Word count: 500 - 1,000 words
Payment $80 per story
Deadline: Open from 1st to 21st of every month
https://ffo.submittable.com/submit


--------------------------------------------------------

Writing Articles:

Never Run Out of Blog Post Ideas With These Simple Steps
Timeless writing advice from Neil Patel
https://neilpatel.com/blog/how-to-never-run-out-of-blog-post-ideas/

Why Working Faster Matters Even When You Make Mistakes
4 simple techniques to help you write better and faster.
https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/why-working-faster-matters-even-when-you-make-mistakes/

How To Become a World-Class Email Copywriter in 21 Days
Exact step-by-step 21-day plan.
https://chrisorzechowski.medium.com/how-to-become-a-world-class-email-copywriter-in-21-days-8414821b85f9

Invested In Not Writing
Amazing How Common This Is...
Basically put, writers, over time, develop a real and crippling investment in not writing. And, at the same time, often claim they want to write.
This advice from author Dean Wesley Smith is priceless.
https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/invested-in-not-writing/

If I can write a novel in a day, you can surely write a book in the next six months – Here's how
Inspiring words from best-selling author Michael Levin to get you to sit down and write.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/if-i-can-write-a-novel-in-a-day-you-can-surely-write-a-book-in-the-next-six-months-heres-how

Can Being a Writer Improve Your Love Life?

 I've been working as a writer for over 20 years now and it has changed my life in so many ways because it's so different to any other job I've ever had.

But can it improve your love life?

I believe it can and I'll tell you why.

Years ago I was dating a man who never supported my longing to be a writer. In fact, he could be downright sarcastic and rude.

So I dumped him because I wanted to write and I knew his stinky attitude would only hold me back.

I began a writing course and starting writing and submitting my work and I began to earn money from the few acceptances I got.

During this time I met and married my husband who was extremely supportive of everything I did.

We've grown together over the past 20+ years since we met. He's now retired (early) and works with me as I keep writing and publishing. He takes care of the financial side of things, correspondence, all our accounts, and looks after my websites.

And we couldn't be happier.

So yeah, being a writer can improve your love life because it needs a supporting and loving partner who understands and can live with us creative types who have a lifelong writing mission

Find out how you can do it too in my easy to read book:

Mission Critical For Life

https://ruthiswriting.com/books/MCFL.html