Making Writing Easier for the Writer

Be sure to keep an arsenal of writing supplies easily within your reach. There is nothing worse than developing your breakthrough topic and then losing it because you are rummaging the house like a mad person looking for a pen that works and a piece of paper that doesn't already have something written down on it! Keeping all the materials you need to be successful within arms reach will keep you not only more organized, but will help you be a better writer too! Here is a simple checklist to get you started:

Pens/Pencils
Post it Notes
Printer Paper (great for large note-taking!)
Spiral Notebooks for writing down topic starters
Erasers
White-Out
Stapler
Tape

There are other great items that will bring more comfort to you too, like sitting in the right chair. For me, it is sitting in my bed under the covers with my laptop on my knees. Making yourself comfortable is key in being a good creator. If you like fluffy pillows with you on the sofa while you write, get them! If burnings candles gets your creative juices flowing, light 'em up! If you enjoy music, then set up your CD player with gentle music (or whatever that inspires you!)

If you are on the go alot, consider carrying a small voice recorder with you. This is a super way to capture your ideas as they come to you. Carry backup batteries with you if possible that way you will never be caught without a way to remember your ideas again!

Get out! It is very difficult to maintain your speed and love for writing if you never change it up. If you stay in your home office day in and day out, you may be missing out on the opportunity to find new writing topics. If it is at all possible, get mobile! Let your laptop tag along with you to the park. Enjoy the soft summer breeze on a blanket under a tree, with only you, your creative ideas and your computer. Sit at the mall and watch the people and get a new perspective on the hustle and bustle. There are endless possibilities if you will only let yourself out of the box! If you do not have a laptop, carry your favorite pen and notepad around for easy note-taking or spontaneous writing while you are out and about.

If you are the type that truly enjoys the four walls of your writing room, then do everything in your power to make your writing environment empowering and inspiring. Minimize distractions by reminding those in your household that you are working. Sitting down and establishing "working hours" is a great way to let everyone know when they should not disturb you.

Write at your peak! Stephen King once told his fans that he would wake up every morning at 3 or 4 a.m. just to write because that was when his brain was most alive and alert. He could concentrate and be the creator during those times. Think about when the best time for you to write is. Consider trying out different times of the night and day for writing up articles. You never know what works until you try!

Remember to take your breaks! Depending on what you are working on, your articles may take thirty minutes or thirty hours! The point is, regular breaks will get you through with much less stress and strain. Stand up, walk around and stretch often. This will help keep the blood flowing in all the right places and keep the oxygen going to those working brain cells! If you can, take a step outside and enjoy some fresh air.

Pamper yourself! When you use your brain all day in order to make a living, you deserve to have a little special treatment! Brew yourself a soothing cup of warm tea, give yourself a facial or soak your feet in hot, bubbly water. Whatever it is that makes you feel pampered, indulge!

All in all, being a writer is not always easy, so making your life a little more simplistic will benefit you more in the long run.