Want to know one simple way to double your odds of getting produced?
Write twice as many plays!
As a writer, the more prolific you are, the more material you’ll have to submit to plays–and writing more material, more quickly might just be the #1 most effective thing you can do to speed up your chances of success.
Now, you may be thinking: “But I’m already writing as often as I can. How am I supposed to double my output?!”
By writing more efficiently.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that every hour spent writing is not necessarily equal. Sometimes, I’ve spent hours writing with little or nothing to show for it; other times, I’ve spat out page after page of great material in just ninety minutes.
And over time, I’ve learned how to have more of those productive writing sessions. Here are a few tips that have helped me to literally double my writing speed:
* Leave your phone in the other room. Even on silent, it’s a temptation machine. Out of sight, out of mind.
* Disconnect from the internet. Turn off Wi-Fi while you write, or use an app like Freedom to block distracting sites.
* Try the Pomodoro technique. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. It’s great for momentum and avoiding burnout.
* Music can help, but only if it’s instrumental (no lyrics), and only if it isn’t too loud.
* Set clear writing goals to keep you focused on a target. This could be a word count, a page count, or even a scene count (such as finishing a big scene by the end of the week).
In short, look for everything you can do to minimize distractions and help yourself focus. Anytime you find yourself getting off-track, pay attention and find a way to prevent that from happening in your next writing session.
Keep it up, and you’ll find that you’re getting a lot more done in your writing sessions.