Small Changes That Make a Big Difference in Your Writing Life

We’ve all heard about small changes that can make a big difference in our lives.

But we can still get stuck thinking we need to make big changes to get anywhere with our writing.

We need to quit our day jobs, we think. Then we’d have time to write!

Or we need to invest thousands of dollars into a marketing plan. Then we’d hit the bestseller list.

The problem with these big ideas is that we rarely (if ever) follow through on them. And in most cases, that’s a good thing.

After all, quitting your day job to write usually isn’t a very good idea if you want to continue to eat.

Small changes aren’t as glamorous as big ones, but they can and will make a difference if you try them.

Here are 10 small changes I’ve made in my life that helped me reach my writing goals. If you have some that have worked for you, please add them in the comments!

1. Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Find 15 Minutes to Write

Whether you have a regular writing routine right now or not, finding another 15 minutes to write each day can make a big difference.

We like to take our time to dive into whatever world we’re writing about, and sometimes mistakenly believe that we have to have at least 30 minutes to get anything done.

But I’ve discovered this isn’t true. If you’ve got an extra 15 minutes, open up your file and write. No judgment. No preparation. Just try it and see what happens.

Even if you get only 50 words written, it can be worth it, as it will plant the story back into your mind. Then when you go about your day, your brain will keep working on it behind the scenes.

When it’s time for your next writing session, you may find the ideas flowing even more easily than before.

2. Try Yoga

I started yoga because I was curious about it. I’ve stayed with it all these years because it’s so beneficial to my health.

The main thing it does is help me keep back pain at bay. As someone who works at the computer for hours every day, my spine suffers. Yoga–with all its back-bending and twisting poses—helps stretch tight muscles that pull on the spine.

That helps fend off lower back pain and neck pain, as well as sciatica and other issues that are common for those with desk jobs.

It’s free. It’s relaxing. And it’s meditative. There are no downsides, and it can help you live a more comfortable, active life as a writer.

3. Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Buy a Writing Book

As a writer, you probably enjoy reading about writing.

But writing books can do more than entertain you. I have bought a lot of them over the years, and several have made a big impact on my writing skills.

The right writing book can help you improve your plot, speed up your pacing, fine-tune your editing, and hone your characterization, among other things. Here are just a few that I’d recommend:

Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

20 Master Plots by Ronald B. Tobias

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

4. Listen to an Audio Book

Your ears are extremely important to your inner writer. You need to be able to “hear” how your prose is sounding, and if you have a good ear, you can detect the problems just by listening.

Most writing teachers will advise you to read your writing out loud. It’s a great way to find flaws you wouldn’t notice otherwise.

It can be just as helpful to listen to an audiobook. Choose a writer that you admire. Someone you want to emulate. Listening to their words can help you better “feel” the rhythm of polished prose.

Laura Hillenbrand, the bestselling author of Seabiscuit and Unbroken, has listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and has stated she believes listening to audiobooks has improved her writing:

“It has taught me a lot more about the importance of the rhythm of language. Good writing has a musical quality to it, a mathematical quality, a balance and a rhythm. You can feel that much better when it’s read aloud.”

5. Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Get Up and Move

Most people are far too sedentary these days. Our gadgets (computers, phones, televisions, tablets) keep us glued to the screen, and we’re not exercising our bodies like we should—if we want optimal health.

Authors must not only write and edit, but produce content for blogs and videos and then promote that content via social media, podcasts, and more. All these tasks keep us tied to our computers.

And that leaves less time for exercise.

Whether you’re dedicated to a daily workout routine or not, it’s important to get up and move around more often. Set a timer if you like and every 30 minutes, get up from your chair and stretch or do a few simple exercises like the following. It will get your blood circulating which will not only help your body but your brain too!

Jumping jacks
Push-ups
Quick walk
Run up and down the stairs
Dance

6. Listen to an Author’s Interview

Who are your author heroes?

Listen to interviews with them if you can. It’s amazing the nuggets you can pick up in an author interview.

Not only tips on the writing craft—which are valuable—but tips about balancing writing with life, maintaining your creativity, and making the right decisions in your career.

It’s amazing how many interviews with great authors are available out there for free for us all to enjoy.

Here are a few good interviews to get you started:

7. Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Read a Marketing Blog Every Week

What do authors often complain about?

Marketing.

And for good reason. It’s hard. The market is tough. There’s a lot of competition out there. Writers have a lot to do already without having to market too.

But if we want our books to sell, marketing is a must. So the only option is to learn more about it!

One small change you can make that will have a big impact on your career is to read at least one marketing blog per week. Here are some good ones to get you started:

8. Schedule a Bored Half Hour

With all the technology we have today, we never have to be bored.

Standing in line at the grocery store? Pull out your phone and watch a video or text a friend. Spending the night alone? Binge-watch your favorite series on Netflix.

This can be fun for a while, but it’s terrible for your creativity. That’s because your mind prefers space in which to create. If you’re constantly bombarding it with information, it’s less likely to shift to creating something on its own.

It’s the difference between consuming information and creating it. To create it, you need mental space.

Do yourself a favor and schedule a half hour each week to be bored. Go somewhere you will not be entertained armed only with a notebook and pen. You may feel restless. Welcome it. If you start feeling bored, even better! Give it time. Breathe. Soon your creative mind will step in to entertain you—and that’s where your ideas come from.

If you’re struggling with the plot of your current story, this can also help. It gives you the space to think up solutions. Try simply going for a walk (no cell phone allowed). The increased blood circulation is known to increase creativity.

9. Small Changes that Make a Big Difference: Guest Post Once a Month

If you want to expand your network and gain more readers for your books, try guest posting at least once a month.

It’s one of the easiest, best ways to market yourself and your work. Follow these steps:

Research blogs that your readers would be interested in reading. (If you write romance, look for blogs that deal with romance or romance stories, etc.)
Read a few of the posts to get an idea of the style.
Either pitch the blog host with a few potential topics that might work for them or simply write a blog you think will work.
Include a free offer at the end that calls readers back to your site to sign up for your newsletter.
Submit the post.

If the host accepts your blog, make sure you follow up by sharing the blog on your social media channels and answering any comments that readers make.

Then keep track of the blogs you submit to and how your posts perform. Those that garner you new subscribers are worth a repeat visit.

10. Create a New Subscriber Freebie

You know that building up your subscriber list is good for your writing career. But people are inundated with emails these days and aren’t so quick to hand over their information.

That means you need to give them something they want. You may think that’s a free chapter or a free book, but if your reader doesn’t know you yet—and doesn’t know if they will like your writing or not—that may not be enough.

Try instead creating a freebie that’s perfect for your reader. If you write crime novels, maybe a list of ten unsolved crimes would work, or a multiple-choice quiz to help the reader determine how good of a detective they might make!

Make it something that will attract your reader and compel them to exchange their address for your freebie. Then feel free to offer your free chapter as well. Use the main freebie to draw readers in, then give them the free chapter too. Once they review your report, quiz, or whatever you offer, if they like it, they’ll be more likely to read your free chapter.

Then who knows? They may buy a copy of your book.

What small changes have you made in your writing life that made a big difference?