How I Produce Quick, Consistent, Helpful Content

Producing content that’s meaningful on a consistent basis can sometimes be difficult.

For any number of reasons, life can sometimes seem to get in the way of you pursuing your dreams.

Sometimes it’s things you can’t avoid, nor should avoid — relationships, raising children, going to work, etc.

But most of the time, it’s simply a lack of preparation.

I was a Boy Scout.

Their motto is “Always Be Prepared.” This is a familiar theme that would echo on later in my military career, which has informed many of my practical habits when it comes to writing.

I have a tendency to sit down and look at my next article as a mission that needs to be completed. It needs to be efficient, precise, and make a point. I have a planning phase and an execution phase.

And I don’t let anything get in the way of the mission.

I know that’s a little hardcore, especially if you have never been in the military.

It’s not a mindset that will work for everyone, but the tricks I use to maintain that mindset will.

Using tools and strategies I’ve cultivated over the years, I’ve turned it into a very simple process.

It works every single time I can sit down and helps me pump out an article in less than an hour. Frequently I can get one ready to go in less than thirty minutes.

It also works for me in both long and short formats. It’s tested and true and will almost always produce desirable results.

Here’s how I do it.

1. Curate idea lists.
   I’m constantly finding ideas all over the place. Website articles, YouTube, Reddit, social media, Medium — you name it and that’s where I find my ideas. Then, I bookmark these ideas in Raindrop.io, one of the very best bookmarking apps I’ve found that works in every browser I can find, either via their webpage or an extension. This means I typically have a never ending source of ideas from which to pluck an amazing article idea and it gives the additional bonus of giving me instant access to research.
2. Have a format, and stick to it.
   Many like to use templates and this is always a good idea. Having a format will speed your process up immensely. I have several that I’ve cultivated in Google Docs that I use on a regular basis, but I’ve used them so often, I now just use them from memory. Good writing habits increase your speed.
3. Use AI to speed the process of writing, research, and editing.
   AI is one of the most amazing tools ever from the perspective of any writer who can see its potential. While I never use it to write my article word for word, I do use it to help me develop ideas, give me good resources I can check to make sure my research is good or back up my ideas, and it’s indispensable to me when it comes to the editing process, frequently catching things I just don’t see.
4. Create an environment that is conducive to your writing.
   Many people need silence. I am not one of those people. I thrive in chaos, so not much interrupts my writing ability unless someone is literally on top of me looking over my shoulder while I’m working. However, if you need something to help you stay focused, I suggest a good set of noise cancelling headphones with something like the music of Jóhann Jóhannsson playing. When I do have a hard time, it helps me.
5. Stay focused, but don’t force it.
   Trying to write when the vibe isn’t there is a mistake, in my opinion. Don’t use that as an excuse to be lazy, though. However, if you’re preoccupied with something else you need to do, go do it and come back to the writing. You won’t stay fully focused on the writing if there’s something hanging over your head in the background and you won’t produce your best possible output.

I could probably keep droning on about this subject because I’ve made it a point to study it in-depth for my own advancement.

These five pieces of advice will help you tremendously though if you adapt them to fit your needs when it comes to producing your content.

But even if you don’t follow these pieces of advice, I do implore you to learn to prepare. Preparation doesn’t have to be boring or a task. I find it fun, personally, to come up with strategies to make things simple and faster.

At the end of the day, proper planning will produce prolific results.

Give it a shot and tell me I’m wrong.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

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