Ongoing Tactical Experiments in Writing

My goal for this year has been to write every day. Could be technical/scientific writing, or blog posts like the one you are reading now.

I have been using the following steps to write faster and more persuasively. I urge you to give these a try and build your own habits. What you do regularly is who you are.

Four steps:

(i) Block off 2 hours each day (no distractions, no commitments, put it one the calendar),


(ii) Get a piece of music on loop and put on your headphone, write for 25 min (no editing) only using a note-taking app (I use Evernote) for notes (no web browsing),


(iii) Mild exercise or walking for 5 min,

repeat (i–iii) 3 times, I use Toggl Desktop for this 25-5 pomodoro-type time-tracking.

(iv) Edit your prose for grammar and flow, read aloud if you prefer.

Reduce the variables, build a habit, win the day.