DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
Refcards Trend Reports Events Over 2 million developers have joined DZone. Join Today! Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile Manage Email Subscriptions Moderation Admin Console How to Post to DZone Article Submission Guidelines
View Profile
Sign Out
Refcards
Trend Reports
Events
Zones
Culture and Methodologies Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations
Culture and Methodologies
Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering
AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture
Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding
Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones
AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations
Building Scalable Real-Time Apps with AstraDB and Vaadin
Register Now

Trending

  • Using Render Log Streams to Log to Papertrail
  • Redefining DevOps: The Transformative Power of Containerization
  • Best Practices for Securing Infrastructure as Code (Iac) In the DevOps SDLC
  • Auto-Scaling Kinesis Data Streams Applications on Kubernetes

Trending

  • Using Render Log Streams to Log to Papertrail
  • Redefining DevOps: The Transformative Power of Containerization
  • Best Practices for Securing Infrastructure as Code (Iac) In the DevOps SDLC
  • Auto-Scaling Kinesis Data Streams Applications on Kubernetes

Ask a DZone Editor: How Do I Write More?

No matter how great of a writer you are, writing more often will make you better. If you'd like to write more, but don't think you have the time, check out these tips.

Kara Phelps user avatar by
Kara Phelps
·
May. 31, 18 · Opinion
Like (2)
Save
Tweet
Share
17.00K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

Need writing advice or input on how DZone works? Let us know! Email editors@dzone.com with "Ask a DZone Editor" in the subject line, and we might feature your question in a future edition of this monthly Writers' Zone column. We're here to help!

Lots of folks want to write more. Writing about the projects you're working on is a great learning tool, and blogging about them can help you grow your reputation as a developer. Not to mention, it's satisfying to teach others and to share what you know with your community.

Still, it can be really hard to sit down and commit a block of your day to writing — and really easy to tell yourself, "I have too much work to do," or "I'm too tired." The same is true whether you're writing a tutorial for a company blog, writing documentation, or even writing in a personal journal. I've collected a few tips here. 

Write at the Same Time, Every Day

The force of habit is incredibly strong, and you can use it to your advantage. Figure out a time of day when you can afford to set aside a few minutes to write. When you sit down, decide what you're going to work on, then set a timer. Write for that amount of time (half an hour or forty-five minutes, for example), then get up, stretch, and move on to other things. Lots of writers choose to write in the early morning, before they start the day, but if you find yourself getting bursts of mental energy at night, you could try writing then. The important thing is to do it at the same time every day, and to build a habit for yourself.

Write in the Same Space

Part of establishing a habit is setting up an environment you enjoy. Whether it's a well-designed writing app or a beanbag under a window with lots of light, find a space that's clean, comfortable, and will minimize distractions. Experiment with different setups! The object is to condition yourself to write consistently.

Write With Others

As developer Elsa Gonsiorowski recommends, find a writing buddy! You can help each other stay accountable to your goals. Plus, having a buddy just makes writing more fun. To find and talk to like-minded folks in real life, try attending a local Meetup group. There may be a Women Who Code or TechBreakfast chapter in your area, for example. 

You could also join a Slack group devoted to writing about tech. Slack groups are great places to share projects you're working on, ask for advice, and connect with other devs who are also trying to write more.

Keep Track of Your Streaks

"Writing more" isn't a trackable metric, but writing every day is. Track your writing time using a tool like 750words.com. 750words is a personal writing platform that records how many words you write per day, how often you get distracted, and how fast you write — giving you really cool data about yourself over time. 

As Mattan Griffel writes on his blog, "Specificity matters. If you want to change your behavior, you have to know how to measure it."

Use Prompts When You Need Inspiration

Keep a running list of writing prompts that you can refer back to on those days when you just don't know what to write. Ask your writing buddy for topics they'd like to see you expand on (for example, your open source contributions, tutorials on your personal projects, thoughts on the latest language you're learning, a writeup of your experiences at a recent conference, and so on). Come up with a list of writing subjects for them, too.

And did you know DZone has a Bounty Board for writing prompts? The prompts are organized by Zones to make it easier for you to find the topics you like the most. Everyone is welcome to "claim a Bounty" and submit an article covering that subject. If it's published on DZone, you'll receive a prize. Here's how it works.

Good luck! Daily writing will almost certainly make you a better writer. The hardest part is keeping the habit going, but as you can see, there are hacks to make it easier.

Do you have other tips for starting and maintaining a daily writing habit? Let me know in the comments!

DZone article writing

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Trending

  • Using Render Log Streams to Log to Papertrail
  • Redefining DevOps: The Transformative Power of Containerization
  • Best Practices for Securing Infrastructure as Code (Iac) In the DevOps SDLC
  • Auto-Scaling Kinesis Data Streams Applications on Kubernetes

Comments

Partner Resources

X

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com

Let's be friends: