Jerry Seinfeld’s simple productivity tip is no joke.
Looking for writing inspiration? Check out our free ebook, 365 Writing Prompts which offers a new writing prompt for every day of the year.
Thinking about starting or resuming a writing practice with the kids ensconced in school but having doubts about your ability to stick with it? Stand-up comic Jerry Seinfeld offers a simple productivity tip that might be just the thing to keep you coming back to your notebook or keyboard consistently.
You may also be interested in “Getting Started with a Prompt Box,” in which Andrea Badgley shares a little bit about where she gets inspiration for her writing practice.
He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day. But his advice was better than that. He had a gem of a leverage technique he used on himself and you can use it to motivate yourself—even when you don’t feel like it.
He revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here’s how it works.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.
He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”
“Don’t break the chain,” he said again for emphasis.
Looking for some writing inspiration to kick-start that writing practice? Check out our Daily Prompt, with all-new reader-created prompts through the month of September.
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Great advice! I have a calendar that I use for tracking words written for my novel. Each day I write, I put the new word count. It’s not only rewarding to see that I’ve written for so many consecutive days, but also how far I’m come in such a short amount of time. 🙂
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This was so helpful for me because I’m a visual learner. I will definitely be putting this tip into practice in the future. I tend to write only when I’m inspired, but I’d like to write more. I think the tip adds just the right amount of accountability I’d need for myself.
Thanks for sharing.
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I have tried to do this method in the past and I found it impossible for me to write every day. I felt discouraged until I realized that it was OK for me just to “work” five days a week. So now I write M-F and if I write on the weekend it is a bonus, and if I do not write on the weekend, I do not feel like I have failed.
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This reminds me of the tool I use for tasks – Toodledo – it has a chain graphic for the habits you build. Very helpful!!
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Advice from comedians seem to be some of the best at times. They always know what to say and when to say it.
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Lovely post and a great advice!
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The book “365 Writing Prompts” is offered in French, Spanish and Indonesian. But not English…
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Perhaps it is your location… I just downloaded and English ePub directly to my Calibre eBook Reader. Also available as PDF or Kindle format.
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Try these links below the page title:
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Just downloaded the 365 Writing Prompts e book pdf and its in English. Its better than I thought it would be- I might give it a try. Thank you for the great advice as well. My big secret for beating writer’s block is mind mapping. I use this awesome program discussed here in my blog: https://yourlifeisfiction.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/let-there-be-freeware-mindmaple/ .
Do check it out!
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Thanks. Now that I’ve looked again at the post, I see there’s a link in the header to the English version. But the three links in the body of the article don’t include the English version! Thanks for helping me find it.
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No problem glad you got hold of it. Happy writing!
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Amazing Article.
Can I ask for some help please?
I need to change my primary domain for it is spelt wrong.
Please assist me.
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Please give us a shout in Support.
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How am I to do that?
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Click on the word Support in my first reply. It will take you to the contact form.
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Krista:
Thank you for sharing this ‘gem’ with us. What a grand way to motivate yourself. Placing it on a wall where everyone who visits can see it is also self-satisfying. At the end of the year we don’t have to wonder what it was that we accomplished with our writing; it is right there in front of us.
Thank you again,
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Really great advice!
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Awesome, now where is that marker of mine 😉
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Great idea, I’ll have to try that one!
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Good idea
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Great idea I will try it
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Great Advice. I think I need to push myself to write more day by day then.
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I love Jerry Seinfeld! Who would’ve thought he would have a writing advise for us 😉
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Wonderful content! Just when I felt myself running out of topics. Thank you SO much.
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Oh yeah I saw this tip once in a magazine. Well, writing every day is surely the fastest way to improve.
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I LOVE Jerry! Thanks for the tips!
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I really like this idea but I need more than a red Sharpie. I need a green, an orange, a lavender … you get the idea. It would look like multicolored snake which would be more interesting for others to look at too.
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nice I’ll try this out 😀
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Great.. Thank you.
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Hey there! Just thought I’d let you know this blog inspired a post from me. Here’s to building a chain!
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I wrote about this exactly! Even with the same title some time ago. I’ve been writing for nearly 2 years using this technique.
https://improvingslowly.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/dont-break-the-chain/
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I’ve been doing exactly that for a month now. Jerry’s right, I do like seeing that chain grow longer. Thanks for the article and I will check out your ebook! I need some prompts. 😀
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