Comments on: How Timed Essays Helped Me Become a Stronger Writer http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/ Ryan Healy on Copywriting, Advertising & Business Growth Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:18:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: anitaashland http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9379 anitaashland Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:50:17 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9379 During the past month or so I've finally acknowledged that I'm a sprinter, in regards to writing, and not a marathoner. Instead of starting the day with a vague sense of heaviness, knowing I have to get X amount of writing done, I now break it up in chunks and will tell myself, "I will write X by 11:00" and then write as fast as I can. It helps tremendously. During the past month or so I've finally acknowledged that I'm a sprinter, in regards to writing, and not a marathoner. Instead of starting the day with a vague sense of heaviness, knowing I have to get X amount of writing done, I now break it up in chunks and will tell myself, “I will write X by 11:00″ and then write as fast as I can. It helps tremendously.

]]> By: anitaashland http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9134 anitaashland Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:50:17 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9134 During the past month or so I've finally acknowledged that I'm a sprinter, in regards to writing, and not a marathoner. Instead of starting the day with a vague sense of heaviness, knowing I have to get X amount of writing done, I now break it up in chunks and will tell myself, "I will write X by 11:00" and then write as fast as I can. It helps tremendously. During the past month or so I've finally acknowledged that I'm a sprinter, in regards to writing, and not a marathoner. Instead of starting the day with a vague sense of heaviness, knowing I have to get X amount of writing done, I now break it up in chunks and will tell myself, “I will write X by 11:00″ and then write as fast as I can. It helps tremendously.

]]> By: Shaun O'Reilly http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9122 Shaun O'Reilly Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:17:35 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9122 Ryan - There's a wise old Irish saying "A good beginning is half the work" :-) <br><br>Like a stationary car, inertia can get in the way of even starting a task so having strategies to get started is important.<br><br>By the way, an additional tip to help you write better quality material in a given time period is to use the power of scents. For example, peppermint oil can help you focus more easily and it can also influence subconsciously to associate 'strong' writing periods with the smell of peppermint.<br><br>Use any triggers that can help you to get yourself in the groove. <br><br>For example, I know someone who dresses up (smart not kinky!) when they want to produce sharper work. They've got like a uniform - crazy but it works for them!<br><br><b>_</b> Ryan – There's a wise old Irish saying “A good beginning is half the work” :-)

Like a stationary car, inertia can get in the way of even starting a task so having strategies to get started is important.

By the way, an additional tip to help you write better quality material in a given time period is to use the power of scents. For example, peppermint oil can help you focus more easily and it can also influence subconsciously to associate 'strong' writing periods with the smell of peppermint.

Use any triggers that can help you to get yourself in the groove.

For example, I know someone who dresses up (smart not kinky!) when they want to produce sharper work. They've got like a uniform – crazy but it works for them!

_

]]> By: bartonmurray http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9121 bartonmurray Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:11:41 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9121 caution: just as anything on the desktop it can have a tendency to be ignored at times...;) caution: just as anything on the desktop it can have a tendency to be ignored at times…;)

]]> By: bartonmurray http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9123 bartonmurray Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:10:30 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9123 Hands down, that's good advice ;) I find that is the case for me Dan, NOT because I am lousy on the keyboard though hehe...it does seem that the creative juices flow in an uninhibited spirit that I prefer. Hands down, that's good advice ;) I find that is the case for me Dan, NOT because I am lousy on the keyboard though hehe…it does seem that the creative juices flow in an uninhibited spirit that I prefer.

]]> By: colinyjchung http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9119 colinyjchung Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:57:54 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9119 "And guess what else? I can't check my email on my notebook! :-)"<br><br>Most powerful productivity booster... ever.<br><br>Stupid e-mail. Making us check every five minutes... (maybe it's just me on my "off" days. heh.) “And guess what else? I can't check my email on my notebook! :-)”

Most powerful productivity booster… ever.

Stupid e-mail. Making us check every five minutes… (maybe it's just me on my “off” days. heh.)

]]> By: Fred Black http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9112 Fred Black Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:07:59 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9112 Ryan... as you know, I'm a "closet" songwriter. I attended a songwriting workshop a few months ago put on by a pretty successful singer-songwriter. One of the exercises was to randomly pick 2 or 3 words… and write as much of a song as you can (lyrics only) in 10 or 15 minutes. She does this in all her workshops, but also as a regular practice when she’s in a writing slump. After the timer went off we all took turns reading what we had written. It was actually a pretty fun experience… done regularly it would help creativity a lot! Ryan… as you know, I'm a “closet” songwriter. I attended a songwriting workshop a few months ago put on by a pretty successful singer-songwriter. One of the exercises was to randomly pick 2 or 3 words… and write as much of a song as you can (lyrics only) in 10 or 15 minutes. She does this in all her workshops, but also as a regular practice when she’s in a writing slump. After the timer went off we all took turns reading what we had written. It was actually a pretty fun experience… done regularly it would help creativity a lot!

]]> By: Ryan Healy http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9111 Ryan Healy Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:15:56 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9111 Dan - Writing copy by hand has to be the most underrated technique in copywriting.<br><br>I still carry a paper notebook and write out copy by hand. Not usually the whole sales letter, but enough copy to give me a solid start on a project.<br><br>And guess what else? I can't check my email on my notebook! :-) Dan – Writing copy by hand has to be the most underrated technique in copywriting.

I still carry a paper notebook and write out copy by hand. Not usually the whole sales letter, but enough copy to give me a solid start on a project.

And guess what else? I can't check my email on my notebook! :-)

]]> By: Ryan Healy http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9110 Ryan Healy Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:14:24 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9110 Shaun - I love your idea of using a 5-minute timer just to get started on something. Sometimes it's the "getting moving" part that's hardest. Shaun – I love your idea of using a 5-minute timer just to get started on something. Sometimes it's the “getting moving” part that's hardest.

]]> By: Ryan Healy http://www.ryanhealy.com/timed-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-9109 Ryan Healy Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:13:39 +0000 http://www.ryanhealy.com/?p=1334#comment-9109 Barton - Thanks for sharing... I'll have to check out "cootimer". That's a good idea. Barton – Thanks for sharing… I'll have to check out “cootimer”. That's a good idea.

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