Hi! I'm a drawing of Catherine. She does most of the writing here, including this blurb. (Does this count as writing in the third person?) Catherine believes that websites don't really run on technology, they run on emotions. If you agree, then she wants to help you rock it out and be awesome online.In the last three days, I have:
- Recorded three interviews
- Written two-and-a-half guest posts
- Shot, edited and uploaded a video
- Made about 70 comments
- Tweeted 350 times
- Resolved five technical issues
- Written another 4,000 words for the Awesome Fear-Wrangling resource
- Reviewed two websites
- Discussed ideas with an illustrator
- Reviewed and accepted three offers
- Filed a hundred emails
- Responded to thirty forum topics
- AND worked full-time at the Day Job.
Did you read that list and think, “Holy shit (or darn, I suppose), I could never do all that! Catherine is some sort of super-being that I cannot think of emulating?”
The ironical-type bit
Six months ago, I was saying the same thing.
Brainlifting
Writing, productivity and product creation are like weightlifting.
No-one goes into the gym on their first day, eyes up the huge weights that look like manhole covers and thinks, “Well, that’s where I’m gonna start.” Because we’re sensible. We decide that we don’t want a hernia today, thanks, and go find a weight we can actually lift. Sure, we look at the manhole cover and think, “Someday, sucka. I’m gonna rock your world,” but we know that’s not going to happen today.
So why do we do it when it comes to our brain?
How I built my creative muscles
Six months ago when we started this website I was puny. Look in the sidebar over there. —–>
See the Archives? In November we published most of our pre-written content. In December we published seven posts. Less than two a week. With two authors. And most of that content I’d written in the months when we were planning the website. The mental image you need here is me, tangled up in ropes on the weight machine, looking perplexed.
In January I started posting every day, all short 5-minute missions. I’d found the weight bar and was doing quick light reps, building my strength and stamina.
Kept going through February, supplemented by a few longer posts by Kevin (less often as he became caught in Day Job Stuff). I was starting to hit a rhythm, and I could pound out a 5-minute mission in 20 minutes or so. I’d plateaued.
Accordingly, in March I wrote much longer heresy posts every day. Whoo boy I added a lot of weight to my bar then. Those suckers took two hours or so each, and a lot of creative scheduling. I’d write before work, on the way to work, at work while waiting for meetings to start or reports to run… I exercised my butt off. (Metaphorically speaking.)
Then in April I took all that new strength and started using it. I began including some shorter posts again and some guest posts and video posts. Now I had the time to guest post and build products and do some consulting and try new things.
Now it’s May and (as you can see) I’m working damn hard. But like the jogger I am enviously eyeing outside my window, I’m not straining. On my first day this workload would have killed me, but I’m not on my first day. I’m on my 175th day.
In the Gym of Writing, I am now hardcore.
Have you got too much weight on the bar?
If you aren’t in practice you can’t write 2,500 words every day without spraining something. Well, okay, you can. But I guarantee that they’ll become All work and no play make Jack a dull boy and soon you’re chasing your wife and child down the corridors of a creepy haunted hotel.
If you’re starting to feel lethargic in front of the keyboard then you need to rest and let your brain recover. Just like any other muscle you’ve been exercising!
Don’t rub it with linament though. I bet that would hurt.
Is your brain on a sensible training regime? Come and tell me in the comments!
Cool post! There's definitely something to the steady build – and there's especially something to the added motivation of seeing the benefits of your work in those third and fourth months. If we were in a vacuum seeing no comments or interaction or hits and we were pumping out 2000 words a day, it simply wouldn't be sustainable.
But hopefully a comment like this makes the next post easier, and that next post will go on to help others — creating a really cool chain of goodness!
That's impressive. I hope to increase my daily interactions steadily.
You ARE a super-being. I seriously don't know how you do it. But your hard work is obviously paying off in a big way. You are an inspiration! I really admire how you manage to create so much content for yourself yet remain so active on Twitter and commenting on other people's blogs.
Hmmm, maybe I shuld try to write a short daily post to flex my writing muscles. At this point, I'm barely chugging by with my 3 posts a week (1 just for links).
In order to get more done, I take scheduled breaks. I set a timer and work for 50 minutes, and then take a 10 minute break. I spend part of my break time doing simple exercises such as stairs or stretches or light weights. I also keep a bottle of water at my desk and make sure to stay hydrated. Some days I put in 12 hours at the computer and I couldn't do that without the frequent breaks.
Sensible training program. Don't be silly. I like overcommitting. but at least I've managed to stop overcommitting to other people and only do it on the stuff I want to do for myself.
But, at least by surrounding myself with overachievers I always have something to aspire to.
Way to go, You!
Exactly! Without the commenters acting like my personal trainer I would have chucked in the weights long ago.
If you pick a level that's not too straining and stick with it for awhile, you find (well, I found) that you gradually start adding more activity almost invisibly. Let me know if you notice it!
Small weight, lots of reps. I strongly recommend it.
That's fantastic! You're really working with the awareness that your brain needs the same resources as the rest of your muscles. I need to get better at this part.
On that note, breakfast!
Aspiration is awesome, but a poor herniated brain isn't. Exactly the same process as your marathons, of course.
i love the analogy! it's so easy to get overwhelmed and find something else (easier) to do instead of write, often because of pre-conceived high standards (which ought to be more like goals).
i witness this daily with fiance because he keeps saying that he should write, and i ask why doesn't he just write something. it doesn't have to be your life's masterpiece on the first try.
awesome post.
Thanks Misty!
Tell your fiancé that he needs to go to the Writing Gym next time.
Hey Catherine – That's inspiring to hear how you did your steady build. I often hear successful bloggers talk about (what sound to me like) insane writing schedules like this, and just feel like giving up. I'm in the process of getting my blog designed and everything – right now it exists only in my imagination and in some scatter files on my friend the web designer's computer! I'm one of those people who are always saying “I should really write something today…” but then end up doing everything else instead because the task seems insurmountable. You've inspired me though. I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm hitting the 10 pound weights starting today!
Great post, Catherine, and I love the analogy!
As someone who is stuck in a bit of a writing rut and is trying to work out how to get back on the horse (there's a HORSE in my rut! What the?) I found this post very, very reassuring. They say that if you want something done, give it to a busy person, and I guess this is why – they've built up their stuff-doing strength to a greater level than the average person. This is something I definitely need to work on.
That's the reason I wrote this post! I used to read those too and think, “That'll never, ever be me. Why am I bothering? I'm lazy and I can't work 14 hour days!” And I was right. Back then I couldn't. Ah, but NOW…
Hit the reps! Small and often and you'll be as stunned as I am when I think about how much work I've gotten done!
Thanks Lisa! The more I think about it the more I like it. And more importantly, the more useful it feels.
Ooh, great point, I never thought of it that way. But you're totally right! I used to get emails asking me for stuff and I put them into the Too Hard basket. Nowadays, I'm all, “Yeah sure, easy peasy”.
Just start with the lightest weights you can but work out regularly. See if THAT gets that damn horse out of your rut.
Thanks for opening the door to your process! One reads a lot about people with successful online businesses and a day job–but not so much on how they fit all of that into a 24 hour day. You are an inspiration!!
Damn you for making so much sense, Catherine! You've totally demolished my action plan, to put off being an awesome empire-building blogger because I can't fit it into my real life…
Now, I just have to get in there and pick up those little hand-weights and start sweating…did I mention that I really hate getting hot & sweaty? I love the gym analogy, though. You sold me. Off to put in my five minutes…
I thought your analogy was great too! I'm just starting off now – I've had to move my website because of host issues and decided to make a new start. So far I've managed to write something every day, and today I've done done 3 posts/pages.
I'm feeling a bit smug now
)
I'm so inspired. You've achieved the blog equivalent of a bikini body. I'm now going to get mine in shape. I've been writing once a week, or less, which makes starting hard every time. And it takes too long. And it trains people not to keep checking in. I want them to check in!
Thanks for another way to B.A.O.
Now if I could just get myself to do actual weight training. I like cardio, but hate weights. And they leave your hands with that dirty metal smell.
Good post. Helpful to see your path and understand your game plan.
Way to go! I think it's awesome that you explained that it didn't just happen overnight. I hear on this one, and I'm happy to be here watching you go.
(Like going to the gym and creepily staring at other people work out… hehe.)
Thanks Maureen! I sometimes take a moment to think about bow much I have going on and I'm stagggered. It's been a long and interesting path.
Mwa ha ha ha ha!
It's irritatingly encouraging, isn't it? If I knew this stuff I would ahve had to start three years earlier than I did.
As well you should. You're a powerhouse.
“The blog equivalent of a bikini body” made me giggle. Now if I can only achieve the BODY equivalent…
That regularity was a core strength of the 5-minute missions. I like the schtick you've chosen for your daily posts… especially looking forward to the dental floss.
P.S. I hate that smell too! When I was going to ther personal trainer on a regular basis I wore weightlifting gloves so I didn't get that smell on my hands.
Thanks Marsha! Now of course I have to keep it up with winter coming… I'm ordering a light lamp this week.
I'm now thinking about sweaty weightlifting gloves.
The Witch on my website! How lovely!
Even with your forehead on the glass staring at the exercisers…
One day I'm going to write a product called “Stuff I Wish People Had Told Me Before I Began” and this will so be in there. I was SO intimidated by the people working hard and I thought I was never going to be one. How about you?
I cannot predict where your mind will go. I accept this.
Teehee yay! I guess it's never been much of an issue, since I love the work I do.
Sometimes I need help restraining myself so I get some rest from the computer.
Yes, that's a different problem. One I'm only starting to experience now (because I am naturally lazy).
I just tried to do a similar thing to your “in the last three days” list and I've come up almost empty. This will not do. Thanks for sharing your process! Reading you is like a regular kick in the butt. Which is exactly what I need.
*boot* *boot* *boot* *hug* *boot*
ouch! ouch! ouch! awwwww. ouch! *salute*
Great post Catherine. I've been doing some brain stretch too- and it feels fantastic! Thank you!
Dang, I haven't had a full-time job since January and I'm not accomplishing nearly as much. Thanks for the ass-kicking! On the other hand, I can see the slow but steady increase in productivity. Brain-flexing, attitude adjusting, and lizard-brain wrestling… It all adds up!
You're so welcome, Megan! Keep this in mind next time it feels hard, okay? Because if I can do it, then ANYONE can.
It does! Take one tiny action today, okay?
Wouldn't it be cool if you could figure out how to create a whole program like 100pushups.com but for bloggers?
Oh. My. God.
You're a genius!
When you are a squillionaire from my idea, I expect an autograph or something…
A GOLD-PLATED one!
Is this the answer to “How many words in a blog post?” because, I've received several different answers to that question….
My answer is “The minimum number of words required to entertainingly make your point.” I've had posts that were 80 words and some that were a thousand. Whatever gets the job done!
Ok, then where does the 2500 number apply, or come from?
Oh, that just happens to be how many I'm writing at the moment between posts, guest posts, etc. Not a guideline! (Most of my posts are 800-ish words.)
Exactly!!! That's what I shoot for in a post as well, but most of the time, come up short, however, I always believe that if you aim for the moon and miss, you'll hit the stars….