I write 5,000 words every day. How? By treating my writing like a...
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
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Aug 16, 2024
~3 min read
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I write 5,000 words every day.
How?
By treating my writing like a mental sport.
Here are 9 simple habits I use to stay mentally fit as a pro writer:
How?
By treating my writing like a mental sport.
Here are 9 simple habits I use to stay mentally fit as a pro writer:
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1/ Read 1-2 pages of a thesaurus
This takes me 15 minutes every morning.
It’s a great brain exercise and teaches you a lot about language.
Words are your tools, so keep adding to your toolbox.
Here's how I fit it into my routine:
This takes me 15 minutes every morning.
It’s a great brain exercise and teaches you a lot about language.
Words are your tools, so keep adding to your toolbox.
Here's how I fit it into my routine:
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2/ Journal daily
90% of being a writer is understanding your own journey.
Journaling helps you process life events, see your progress, & visualize your future.
With it, you write from the scar, not the wound.
90% of being a writer is understanding your own journey.
Journaling helps you process life events, see your progress, & visualize your future.
With it, you write from the scar, not the wound.
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And if you’re looking to get started with journaling, here’s how I do it every day:
(I’ve been doing this for 14 years)
(I’ve been doing this for 14 years)
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
I've journaled for 30 minutes every morning for 14 years straight.
No fancy journal. No complex rules.
Just a pen, paper, and 4 simple prompts to help focus my mind and find clarity.
Here's the dead-simple system I use every day:
No fancy journal. No complex rules.
Just a pen, paper, and 4 simple prompts to help focus my mind and find clarity.
Here's the dead-simple system I use every day:
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3/ Read 10-20 pages per day
My recommendation?
High-grade literature.
Every writer should study “the greats.”
Even if you don't plan on writing novels, these teach you more about language than any blogger or social media writer can.
Here’s how I read these works:
My recommendation?
High-grade literature.
Every writer should study “the greats.”
Even if you don't plan on writing novels, these teach you more about language than any blogger or social media writer can.
Here’s how I read these works:
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And if you're looking for the best way to get into iconic literature, start here:
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4/ Exercise 4-5x/wk for 60 mins
In my early 20s, I was a bodybuilder.
But today, I work out 4 times/wk & walk my dog every day.
It gives me space to think.
Some of my best pieces have been “written” in the weight room.
In my early 20s, I was a bodybuilder.
But today, I work out 4 times/wk & walk my dog every day.
It gives me space to think.
Some of my best pieces have been “written” in the weight room.
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5/ Meditation
This isn’t about wearing Lululemon and subscribing to Headspace.
Meditation is about finding yourself in the silence.
Learning how to stop and see yourself separate from your thoughts is a key skill for all writers.
Here’s why:
This isn’t about wearing Lululemon and subscribing to Headspace.
Meditation is about finding yourself in the silence.
Learning how to stop and see yourself separate from your thoughts is a key skill for all writers.
Here’s why:
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Meditation builds self-awareness, which helps you:
• Question your ideas
• Challenge your inner critic
• Pause before reacting to feedback
All essential qualities in a writer.
To be a great writer, master your mind. Don’t be a slave to it.
• Question your ideas
• Challenge your inner critic
• Pause before reacting to feedback
All essential qualities in a writer.
To be a great writer, master your mind. Don’t be a slave to it.
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6/ Drink 1.5 gallons per day
If I don’t have enough water to drink, my mind feels sluggish.
Drinking water is linked to the creation of serotonin, the “feel good” hormone — key to overcoming any self-doubt.
I highly recommend Mountain Valley Spring Water:
If I don’t have enough water to drink, my mind feels sluggish.
Drinking water is linked to the creation of serotonin, the “feel good” hormone — key to overcoming any self-doubt.
I highly recommend Mountain Valley Spring Water:
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7/ No caffeine after noon
I’ve struggled with sleeping through the night for years.
To help, I eliminated caffeine in the afternoon.
Now I know I’m getting good sleep for mental and physical recovery.
I’ve struggled with sleeping through the night for years.
To help, I eliminated caffeine in the afternoon.
Now I know I’m getting good sleep for mental and physical recovery.
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8/ Asleep by 9:30pm
There’s a non-negotiable to being a great writer:
Getting plenty of sleep.
Last year, I upgraded my sleep.
Here’s a breakdown:
There’s a non-negotiable to being a great writer:
Getting plenty of sleep.
Last year, I upgraded my sleep.
Here’s a breakdown:
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
Want perfect sleep?
I invested $4,000 into my sleeping environment.
These upgrades changed my life (and had a massive ROI on my everyday productivity & performance):
I invested $4,000 into my sleeping environment.
These upgrades changed my life (and had a massive ROI on my everyday productivity & performance):
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9/ Write every day
This is obvious.
With my sleep dialled in, I jump out of bed every morning to write.
I have 4 writing sessions per day, Monday - Friday:
• 6:30 - 8am
• 9am - 12pm
• 1pm - 3pm
• 7pm - 9pm
I don’t write as much on the weekend, but I still write.
This is obvious.
With my sleep dialled in, I jump out of bed every morning to write.
I have 4 writing sessions per day, Monday - Friday:
• 6:30 - 8am
• 9am - 12pm
• 1pm - 3pm
• 7pm - 9pm
I don’t write as much on the weekend, but I still write.
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Here are the 9 habits to stay mentally fit as a writer:
• Read a thesaurus
• Journal
• Read literature
• Exercise
• Meditate
• Drink 1.5 gallons of water
• No caffeine after noon
• Asleep by 9:30pm
• Write daily
And the best way to use this mental fitness as a writer?
• Read a thesaurus
• Journal
• Read literature
• Exercise
• Meditate
• Drink 1.5 gallons of water
• No caffeine after noon
• Asleep by 9:30pm
• Write daily
And the best way to use this mental fitness as a writer?
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Become a Premium Ghostwriter.
I firmly believe it's the single most effective way to monetize your writing skills:
• Land high-paying clients
• Earn a dividend on your talents
• Get paid to learn & build your network
Here's how:
x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?utm_source=co…
I firmly believe it's the single most effective way to monetize your writing skills:
• Land high-paying clients
• Earn a dividend on your talents
• Get paid to learn & build your network
Here's how:
x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?utm_source=co…
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That's it!
If you enjoyed this, follow me @nicolascole77 for more posts on digital writing and publishing.
Then like and repost the thread so more people can find it.
Here's the link to the top of the thread:
If you enjoyed this, follow me @nicolascole77 for more posts on digital writing and publishing.
Then like and repost the thread so more people can find it.
Here's the link to the top of the thread:
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
I write 5,000 words every day.
How?
By treating my writing like a mental sport.
Here are 9 simple habits I use to stay mentally fit as a pro writer:
How?
By treating my writing like a mental sport.
Here are 9 simple habits I use to stay mentally fit as a pro writer: