In a previous post about finding time for article writing, I mentioned that there are several different tasks that you need to make time for. I started with brainstorming, and here are three more of them.
Drafting time
I like to write a minimum of two blog posts per week (and some of those will be full-length articles, but certainly not all of them), and I usually start the process with a drafting session. When I'm drafting, I develop my ideas into outlines or rough drafts of my articles, without too much concern for flow, grammar or readability. I really just want to get everything down - like a "brain dump."
For more clues about the best way to start drafting your articles, check out this post about writing structures.
Writing time
My writing sessions are more about refinement and detail - clarifying my main topic, checking the overall structure of my article, finding the links to previous blog posts, etc. I prefer to have a day or two between drafting and writing, so that I can get some space and perspective on the topic before I come back to the article.
Proofreading time
Sometimes I proofread at that point as well, though ideally I will do that a few hours later or the next day - again, a little space does wonders to help me be objective and put myself in my reader's shoes. In my proofreading session, I look for common writing, grammatical and typing errors.
When I choose to borrow (or hire) another set of eyes to help with proofreading, I have to plan extra time for that in order to meet my delivery date.
Article writing may seem like magic, but it just requires a series of specific and deliberate actions. Be sure to block out time in your schedule for all of these important article writing tasks.
For more tips on how to maximize your writing time and use the four stages of the writing process, check out the free resource, Write an Article, Who Me? Yes, You!
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