Yes, I Have Kicked Consistency to the Curb
How I made my yardstick frequency instead
How I made my yardstick frequency instead
I have decided that if you were to write and publish a story every couple of months, for you, that could be consistent. But that type of consistency won’t really accomplish much.
So it occurred to me that consistency was better with frequency. It seemed to me, that the ultimate goal of a writer is to write, to build a collection of writings, and to increase the exposure of readers to that writer's work.
To most casual writers like me, the first impression of trying to increase your level of performance is worrisome, bordering on scary. But these five practices helped me a lot.
I wake up, I get up. That was a pretty easy one — I would probably do that anyway. I determined that my writing would be the first part of my day. I scooted the alarm forward a little to give me an extra block of time that had not previously existed in my day.
The idea for that morning’s writing had usually already come to me while I was dreaming or even earlier. I may have had it and written it down in my power book, but in any event, I don’t have to sit and try to think of something to write about.
I knock out a few paragraphs until they say what I wanted to say fairly completely. The format for drafts in the Medium platform makes it easier, and when combined with Grammarly, it almost writes itself. I don’t dwell on editing or corrections while I am doing the early draft.
I now go through and correct the first draft, then I read it to myself two or three times and try to catch anything I missed or anything that sounds awkward.
I hit “submit” and then go to my regular job. I cannot resist checking from time to time to see if it was published, though.
This system became more natural after a few days until it became habitual, infectious, and then addictive. I almost can not avoid writing now.
It is also scalable. After the stories become easier and therefore faster, the system will accommodate more stories. Each story for me seems to suggest the subsequent one to that one. There is always more needed to complete a story or revise a story.
So while consistency is a good quality to start with, it was the first step for me. The frequency of writing and submitting every day seemed to be a more productive goal. The next step of increasing production a little at a time is easier.
Don’t be overwhelmed with impossible goals to start.
For now, thank you for your time. (my profile — Twitter)
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