You may have heard the Japanese term, "Kaizen," which means small steps. It's also the practice of making small, continual improvements. Big revolutionary changes are more exciting and dramatic, but in most cases a "small steps" approach is more practical and likely to succeed.
Here are six writing-related Kaizen strategies. See whether any of these might help you:
1. Each day spend 15 minutes reading an author you admire.
2. Each morning take 5 minutes to record any dreams you remember. (Often these reveal images or even sequences you can use in your writing.)
3. Once a day pick out one stranger you can see (out the window or in the coffee shop, for instance) and make up a 60-second story about them.
4. Choose a project you are working on or want to work on and once a day brainstorm for five minutes regarding characters, plot, description, dialogue, or any other aspect. Jot down your ideas and drop them into a folder.
5. When you read something--an article or essay, a book, even an ad--that affects you, take a couple of minutes to consider WHY it is effective. Is it the imagery, the choice of words, the fact that it makes you laugh?
6. Whenever your Inner Critic unreasonably undermines your confidence, replay what it says, but using the voice of Donald Duck.
Adding one of these every week can transform your writing. Give it a try and let me know how you get on.
(Another way to improve your writing habits is to enroll in my Writing Breakthrough Strategy Program. You start with an intensive 60-day series of lessons and then continue for as long as you like for a small monthly fee. Get full information plus my report, "Seven Things that Stop You From Writing and How to Overcome Them" by going HERE.)
