Productive Writer Tips & Tools to Help You Write More Stress Less & Create Success

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Average customer rating 4.8 (4 comments)

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In all her writing, Cohen has a way of first allaying our fears so we can open our minds to the unlimited possibilities before us. But, she doesn’t stop there! She follows up with great, detailed advice; clear steps for us to take towards success; along with examples from her own writing life. In The Productive Writer, she adds a new dimension with printable worksheets and checklists she’s made available on the web to serve as companions to The Productive Writer. One such worksheet is “Your Platform at a Glance.” After reading through her example, I finally understood what a platform entails. I’ve read so much about platform and how important it is to my writing success, but never have I seen it broken down into the simple steps Cohen presents in this book. I was able to follow the worksheet and develop my platform which gave me a whole new outlook on my writing. What made the biggest impact on me was Cohen sharing her perfectionist tendencies and how it was hindering her success as a writer. Her solution: Do the best that you can and then send out your work. Let others decide if your writing is worthy of publication. Don’t sabotage yourself by requiring that everything you write be absolutely perfect before you release it to the world. Like what has happened to me, your writing will go nowhere. It will collect dust among the computer archives. Cohen doesn’t just say “Do the best that you can,” she tells you how. She provides editing advice, organizational tips, and suggestions on how to find time to write. She has an entire chapter devoted to “Publishing and Landing Gigs!” Through her writing, Cohen encourages us to find our own writing rhythm. She tells us that it isn’t absolutely necessary to write first thing in the morning as is often suggested. It is important for us to find our own writing rhythm. Through debunking some of the common myths about writing, she gives us the freedom to become our own unique writer selves. Even as she offers suggestions, tips, and personal experiences, she tells us: “Find what works for you!” The Productive Writer is structured in short chapters, usually about ten pages in length. The structure helps you find what you’re looking for easily and also makes it a great book to bring with you while waiting at the doctors, or at your kids’ soccer games, or wherever you have a little free time. This is another aspect of the book I love. It shows Cohen’s attention to detail and consideration for today’s busy writer. Cohen provides information for writers of all levels. The Productive Writer will become your permanent writing companion. If you’re a beginner, Cohen provides the inspiration and knowledge you need to begin your journey as a writer. It is a book that will grow with you and you will return to again and again as you progress. If you are experienced, Cohen provides excellent suggestions on topics such as organization, social media, and the collection and storage of your random thoughts as well as the edited out portions of your writing so you can easily find and use them later. The information and inspiration she provides will be the fresh perspective you need to take your writing to the next level.

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Long lists of hot tips. A full tank of momentum fuel for writers of all types. Cohen makes it possible for more people to realize their artistic and financial ambitions through their true calling in art. This book goes far not in debunking the “starving artist” archetype, but in giving it a much smaller role within writing mindsets and careers. It’s not that there aren’t a lot of people out there struggling to make ends meet through art, it’s that there are a lot of other people who let their dreams and ambitions get short-changed by a prevalent belief, often before they even start writing or creating. Book has lots of organizational and networking advice. It's incredibly motivational because it's all about the biz. Cohen offers free useful and fill-inable worksheets that go along with all the ideas and get the reader in an even more pro-active mindset. I found them very helpful. Click on "Free Productivity Power Tools" in middle column of www.pathofpossibility.com either before considering reading the book or during your reading of "The Productive Writer".

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I strongly suggest that any cats who supervise writers they think could be more productive should require their staff to read this book. The book is entertaining enough to keep your staff reading. Sage engages her readers in conversation, asking questions and making them think. She gives examples of her own successes, how she achieved her goals, and what advice she found useful along the way. Sage doesn’t just sit and preach how to become more productive. She provides a blueprint while giving individual writers tools to define how they see success and develop plans to reach their goals. “Often it is the approach that seems least appealing or intuitive that offers the best results.” “Productivity is a lifestyle choice,” according to Sage, and “there are endless ways to establish and sustain a productive writing life.” I've written a more detailed review on my blog, if you're interested. editorkitty.wordpress.com

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I was pleased to get the opportunity to review a pre-release copy of Sage Cohen’s latest book, The Productive Writer. Having read her two previous books (Like the Heart, the World and Writing the Life Poetic), I was expecting to receive both practical advice, as well as inspiration for improving productivity as a writer. I was not disappointed. More than simply a collection of time management tips, Sage’s book covers everything from defining one’s own ideal writing life, to practical considerations such as deciding where to submit one’s work, how to track submissions, and suggestions for preparing for a successful workshop presentation or reading event. As a poet, a non-fiction author, and one who has a day job as a copywriter, Sage has a wealth of real-life experience from which her knowledge was gleaned, and I found that when she used examples from her own life to illustrate various points, it gave a high level of authenticity to the work—a decided feel that she practiced what she preached, and that these were indeed time-tested principles that worked for her. Sage is quick to point out that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to a writing life. There are many places in the book in which the reader is asked to personalize the lessons presented, by setting writing goals, defining what “productivity” means to them, and creating their own strategies for success. By not simply just reading this book, but by taking the time to answer the questions posed thoughtfully, and by completing the exercises, all writers, from novices to seasoned veterans can tailor the strategies presented to their own needs. The Productive Writer is a wonderful book for any writer to have in their arsenal of writing resources, whether they write poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. In fact, I found that many of the time management and goal setting techniques presented carry over into other endeavors in life as well!