You likely have stumbled upon this blog post because you’re looking for ways to be more productive in your writing life. (Hi there!)

I want to begin by asserting that it is not absolutely necessary that every writing session be focused on cranking out new words. There’s something to be said for creative play. Some of the greatest melodies of the twentieth century came from talented musicians noodling around on their guitars for an afternoon! However, if you’re up against a deadline or you’ve had several writing sessions in a row that you could call a wash, here are four ways you might be able to bribe yourself into creative focus and productivity.

1. For focus while working, try binaural beats.

There are some largely unverified claims that binaural music, which plays at two slightly different frequencies to create the illusion of a third, helps with anxiety and other mood disorders, though they may have some effect on memory and focus. I'm an editor, not a scientist. All I know is that the music feels soothing and doesn't have distracting lyrics, so it helps me when I'm trying to get deep work done. If you search "binaural music for productivity" you'll get a ton of results on YouTube, but here's a favorite of mine to get you started: https://youtu.be/Wa9YSAdbKh8.

2. Give yourself a treat once you hit a milestone.

This should be a sustainable treat. Your capacity to work will diminish if you give yourself a glass of wine every time you finish a new chapter, but maybe a sip wouldn’t be so bad. Treats might include: a walk outside, an episode of your favorite TV show, a dance break. You might even count out how many chapters you have to finish and make a list of different treats so that you have a menu to pick from when each one gets done.

3. Try writing in an online word processor like Written? Kitten!, which gives you a new picture of a baby cat each time you hit a word milestone.

This is not really my style—I find the new picture popping up to be the mental equivalent of walking into another room and forgetting why I came in—but maybe it'll work for you.

4. When all else fails, take comfort: There is an old adage called Parkinson's Law, which essentially states that the task load you've been assigned will be completed within the timeframe you allot to it.

The same person can get twenty-five math problems done in two minutes or ten. Though the "law" was originally written as part of a humorous essay, I've yet to find the falsehood in it. If you set a SMART Goal for when you’ll get a draft of your novel done, trust that this work will get done in time because you have a set deadline in mind.

I hope these tips help! If you’d like more suggestions on how to create a daily (or at least regular) writing routine, check out my recorded lecture and workbook, Building a Productive Daily Writing Practice ($9).