I didn’t invent it, of course, but I have been practicing it of late. What? The world’s best writing tip: Butt in chair.

Sure, I’ve heard it before but with my current workload (thanks, clients!), the only way to keep all the balls in the air and projects moving forward is to start cranking out copy.

And that requires putting my behind in the chair at my desk in front of my computer and getting things done. Not emailing, tweeting or posting my status. (During writing time, at least.)

It’s hard to sit still. But when I do, the words come. The type goes on the page. The copy gets done. The client is happy. And, frankly, so am I.

What’s stopping you from butt-in-chair-writing?

No ideas? Write about it. Too many ideas? Write about it. Not sure what to write? Write about it.

The point is to just sit and write for a period of time with no distractions. Set a timer if you have to. Reward yourself at the end of 30 minutes. Whatever it takes. I promise you will be more productive. I know I am.

Possibly related posts

• It takes time to write well (0)
• Big copy challenges we don’t talk enough about (0)
• 3 Ways to Become a Better Writer (0)

As most of my readers know, I’m a HUGE fan of the swipe file. So why it took me so long to find and use Evernote, I’ll never know.

I’ve had it on my iPhone for weeks now and only started using it last night started. Wowza! This is the electronic swipe file application I dreamed up in my head in the late 80s. Seriously.

Now there’s no excuse not to start and keep a swipe file. And Evernote makes it far easier to sort and find that little piece of information you just know you put somewhere.

I refer to my swipe file several times a month but I recently purged my office and made the mistake of purging some things I hadn’t used in years — just to save file cabinet space. Had I scanned it and put it on Evernote, well, you see where this is going. I would’ve had what I needed.

That’s it. Just wanted to make you aware of Evernote if you weren’t already. I’m off to start filling up my own Evernote swipe file …

Possibly related posts

• Use Twitter to practice writing more concisely (0)
• Survey: What do you do with what you learn? (0)
• Just what IS voice and tone? (0)

Regardless of your job title, you probably have to write something every day (email, memo, documentation).

Improve your writing instantly with my three top tips:

1. Read it out loud to see how it will “sound” to the reader. Fix anything that trips you up. (I call these hiccups.)

2. Examine each individual word. Can you delete it? If not, can you substitute a short, simple word? (One of my favorites is swapping “use” for “utilize.”)

3. Vary sentence length. Some should be short. Some long. Still other sentences should be longer, since they create a rhythm that’s more interesting to the reader.

Possibly related posts

• What kind of writer are you? (0)
• Common writing mistakes (almost) everyone makes (1)
• Write with care (0)

I’m feeling lazy today.

It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.

And today is one of those days. Perhaps I’m feeling this way because I’ve just come off several high-energy, fast-turnaround projects that required a lot of focus and creativity.

The projects were grand, for sure, but they drained me in a way. At least temporarily.

So now it’s time to put something back. It’s time for me to get re-energized.

And, for me, the way to do that is to give into the laziness just a bit.

I ticked away at a couple of small projects earlier today, put my ‘out of office’ on and now I’m refueling my creative juices by NOT working, by NOT writing, by NOT honing my craft.

Instead, I’m baking pumpkin scones, doing some deep cleaning and going for a walk with my husband.

On a work day?!!??!!

Yep. And guilt free, I might add.

Because I know that when I take time (a day, a half day or even an hour) to refuel, I come back rested, refreshed and renewed. I come back with so much more to give physically, mentally and creatively.

I come back ready to write. And write well.

When’s the last time you were lazy in order to get more productive?

Possibly related posts

• What are your writing strengths? (0)
• The world’s best writing tip (0)
• Why Starbucks needs a new copywriter (0)