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What gets you motivated to write?

By Derek Massey

Title Insurance with Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services

January 04, 2010 12:52 AM

Pen and Paper One of my New Year's resolutions is to write something of substance every day. It can be a blog post or an email blast to my team, but something that provides some value to any one of my communities on a daily basis. I truly admire those who do it regularly... they make it look effortless.

I have only had short-term success when challenged (see the REBarCamp Philly 21DBIH Challenge) or when I committed to writing a 12-day series on RESPA. For what it's worth, as much work as it was, I am definitely going to commit myself to a "series" again. I learned so much from researching, writing and answering questions.

But I'm interested in something more sustainable. My friend Marney Kirk posts something every day, and has drawn upon other agents Heather Elias (as a motivator) and Zach Hosford (as a weekly checkup) to keep her on task. All this while maintaining a busy real estate practice.

If you are a regular writer, what's your trick?

Do you timeblock? Write Sunday nights while watching Desperate Houswives? Repost content from other places (with proper credit, of course)? What things do you do to make this a habit?

Flickr photo by Kristian D.

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Kathy Toth

Ann Arbor Market Center Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor Real Estate Experts - Kathy Toth Team

You know, I am not the king of this, but I do get enormous ideas from books; the most recent being The Whuffie Factor by Tara Hunt. The Energy Bus is another recent read. Having an accountability coach is a super idea.... jsut visited those other sites - so glad you shared - love marney's stuff

Jan 04, 2010 12:59 AM

Derek Massey

Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services - Hunt Valley, MD

Thanks, Kathy. I am about halfway done Whuffie Factor, but will add "Energy Bus" to the Kindle Wish List. Thank you!

Jan 04, 2010 01:01 AM

Malcolm Johnston

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON

Trenton Real Estate

Carry a digital tape recorder around with you so that the thoughts that pop into your head can be captured at all times. You'll be surprised at how many salient thoughts just come and go without us paying very much attention to them.

Jan 04, 2010 01:02 AM

Thanks, Malcolm. I should use the Blackberry voice notes feature more often for sure.

I am less challenged by coming up with content than finding the discipline to write regularly. I have many marbles rolling around the noggin, I just need to regularly spit it out on the keyboard.

Jan 04, 2010 01:04 AM

Anonymous

Chad Northrup

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to this, Derek. I love to write but the discipline part can be difficult. One thing you might try is becoming a contributor to a blog other than your own. I recently made this commitment with the Every Other Thursday daddy blog. It's a very relaxed group of guys, and the only thing they ask is for contributors to post something once per week. This mandatory requirement has been a nice incentive for me, and now I've fallen into a bit of a routine. On Wednesday nights after my kids go to bed, I do my initial draft. Then on Thursday nights I refine the draft, find an image or video to compliment whatever it is I've written about, then post it for review. The other thing I try to do is write in a location other than my office, just to change things up a bit. Doing this on a weekly basis has given me a better perspective on what it would take to post daily entries for work and other personal interests. That seems like a daunting task, but obviously the benefits from an SEO perspective could be huge (especially in your line of work).

Another idea would be to start with a slightly more manageable goal like posting twice a week. This way you could ease into that goal of daily posts while you refine your routine.

Good luck! I'll be reading. :-)

Jan 04, 2010 06:27 AM

Thanks, Chad... that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Love the idea of starting a draft, then coming back to refine it/add images, etc. Sometimes it's daunting to start because you feel you need to finish at that sitting. Different locations....love that too.

Jan 04, 2010 07:45 AM

Ellie Shorb

Compass Real Estate - Chevy Chase, MD

Realtor DC, MD & VA Luxury Home Expert

Derek: I sometimes take a passage from a good book like the ones suggested above, or I use a quote, a funny (true) story, or phrase, or lesson learned to get me going.... If you login to Active Rain daily and get motivated by reading some of your favorite colleauges' blogs, you'll get the creative juices flowing in no time. I enjoy your blog and am very impressed by your frequent Tweets!

Good wishes for your goal, and for a wonderful 2010!

Jan 04, 2010 10:21 AM

Thanks, Ellie! I think I need to pick between the "write when inspired" and "write on a schedule" techniques.

Jan 04, 2010 11:29 PM

Marney Kirk

Cummings & Co. Realtors - Towson, MD

Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Derek, I am humbled to be mentioned with such a great writer in Heather Elias. I have learned so much from her.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your post!

I find that the challenge Zach gave me was huge. I was already doing it, but I can tell you, the days when I just "don't feel like writing", I realize that the next day I would have to do 2...and suddenly I figure out something to write about... ;-)

I can always use another accountability partner...would love to work with you on this!

Thank you again!

Jan 05, 2010 10:45 AM

Thanks, Marney. Yes... I look forward to the KirkMasseyChuk blogging work group to kick off soon!

Jan 06, 2010 07:14 AM

Leesa Finley

RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC

RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

Okay, Derek - holding ya accountable! Are you keeping up with the writing everyday?

Jan 26, 2010 11:27 AM

Believe it or not, SOCIAL MEDIA FOR DUMMIES has a lot of good ideas too... These are tried and true and you are good to remind us that we have lots of tools available as agents- we just have to use them effectively.

Jun 27, 2010 03:11 AM

What gets you motivated to write?

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