Saving me 1000’s of hours, serving to me create greater than I can

Raised by a father with a army background, self-discipline, group, and compartmentalization come simply to me.

And if there may be one phrase that defines me completely, it’s ‘record.’ If my identify hadn’t been Lipika, it certainly would have been Listika…dangerous joke…pbbt

I’m an inventory individual; I’ve an inventory for virtually every thing. I’m obsessive about them. Title it, and I’ve an inventory for that.

Issues I want to choose/purchase, folks whose birthday fall this month, my daughter’s lunchbox choices, music playlists [english funky, Sufi, workout, + 4 other], my upcoming trip planning……I can go together with many extra.

No surprise after I began my writing profession, true to my nature, I had lists for every thing, although they weren’t on paper anymore.

However what began as a product of behavior quickly turned a lifesaver and time-saver. As I scaled up my content material technology, these recordsdata turned my lifeline.

So, in case you are a author, particularly within the honeymoon section of your writing, that is one of the best time to start out organizing your work. And for individuals who have already traversed far — sweat not. Begin anyway.

Let’s dig in to disclose all.

Doc sort: Google spreadsheet

I’m huge on headlines. No surprises there that this was arising. So, what all goes on within the headline sector?

a) My headline templates:

Everyone knows how a lot time it takes to put in writing a great headline. Hell lot. So, it solely is sensible to reuse it, proper? This sheet shops the templates of all my headlines for future reference.

PRO TIP: By no means publish two headlines with the identical templates, very shut to one another. It sounds repetitive, and readers discover such issues.

b) Different headlines:

No, it’s not stealing. You’ll be able to gather different peoples’ headlines that you simply like and suppose you possibly can work on. And also you MUST do that. I’m not saying to repeat it solely however templatize and retailer it.

c) LinkedIn opening strains:

Once more, these are headlines solely however are extra ‘hooky.’ I stash them in a sheet of this file for reuse.

d) Energy phrases:

Energy phrases add that ‘punch’ to your headlines that arouse potent feelings, making them extra clickable. Having such phrases useful is a horny cheat code.

That is one other excel sheet that hoards an almost-exhaustive record of energy phrases I take advantage of for my headlines and saves me eons of time.

Say I would like an alternate energy phrase for ‘secure.’ My sheet tells me I can go for — ‘research-backed,’ ‘accredited,’ ‘worry-free,’ ‘fail-proof,’ and many others. Equally, I can decide energy phrases for quite a few different phrases as properly.

You could entry this strongroom of 700+ energy phrases right here. 👈

PRO TIP: After you obtain this sheet, don’t neglect to maintain including your energy phrases and construct on this.

Doc sort: Google spreadsheet

That is my second most important go-to sheet. With an entire stack of concepts, I’ve by no means encountered author’s block.

Burnout, sure. Block, by no means.

Frankly, my concept dump is scattered all around the home — the kitchen counter scribbling pad, writing pocket book, 2 WhatsApp teams [LinkedIn breadcrumbs and Writing muse].

However every thing ultimately finds its manner into my concept storehouse — The Concept Dump.

This broadly comprises:

• Medium writing concepts
• Linkedin publish concepts

However a factor or two that helps me maneuver this concept land simply is:

a) I elaborate as a lot as I can on the concept. A easy line like — Numbers are for comfort; don’t begin defining issues with numbers, would possibly confuse me later in regards to the exact context I had in thoughts. So, I am going like this:

Numbers are for comfort; don’t begin defining issues with numbers/fewer likes, fewer followers, don’t bounce to conclusions, totally different success in numerous platforms, psychological bar graph…

Complicated for you, I’m certain, however later after I learn it, my thoughts is instantly wired again to my unique thought course of.

b) Cleaning the dump: If you end up a creator, concepts flock to you, and it’s good that you simply retailer them. However letting them pile on is a hazardous apply.

So, after you have acted upon and used an concept, bear in mind to dump it from the record. AND copy the hyperlink to the ultimate product within the backup file (we are going to come to that later).

Doc sort: Google spreadsheet

As I used to be saying — collating your completed product and retaining them useful.

I’ve a content material planner that I take advantage of for Medium and one for LinkedIn.

What goes into it?

Every part — the lengthy and in need of it. Every part that I’ve revealed is fastidiously categorized, earmarked, and arranged in neat rows and columns.

When you come up and ask me — Lipika, are you able to pull up that headline story you probably did a 12 months again that talked about energy phrases? I can do this earlier than you decide up the espresso mug and sit again to sip.

Benefits of utilizing a content material planner:

There are a lot of execs to documenting your content material and having them on the suggestions of your fingers.

• Inner linking of tales: Subsequent time you wish to hyperlink again a narrative, you don’t have to go rummaging by means of your outdated tales. Set the appropriate filters within the file, and it’s easy-peasy.
• Repurposing: When you plan to be right here for the long term, you can not shrink back from repurposing. It’s a lifesaver. With older tales useful, repurposing turns into a cakewalk. Else…lord save your soul…
• Earmarking for future initiatives: My articles are categorically earmarked for my headline e-book, Medium e-book, and on-line course. So, after I sit for the mission, all I do is filter those earmarked and get to work.

Doc sort: Numerous

Now, this one will likely be distinctive to everybody. However I strongly and vehemently counsel everybody have one.

It is a doc, or paperwork, that you have to parallelly create alongside along with your traditional content material creation.

A product that you simply envision creating sooner or later, that manufacturers you as a creator, and that you simply intend to promote/market — a one-time factor.

It may be an book, a journal, an internet course, or a easy compilation of essays — something.

For me, it’s my headline book and LinkedIn information. And one free digital product that’s at all times within the pipeline.

Consider this as dropping cash in your piggy financial institution as you save to your dream sneakers.

Hold creating content material and including mass to that dream mission. Earlier than you already know it, you have got a sizeable quantity of knowledge to start out engaged on.

After the preliminary pleasure of beginning a brand new writing mission fades away, the truth of the day by day grind units in. Deadlines, author’s block, distractions, and self-doubt can derail even probably the most motivated and disciplined author.

Earlier than lengthy, you might be in a rabbit gap.

I speak lots about productiveness as a result of as soon as the honeymoon interval of being a beginner is over, it’s the hell-breaking-loose state of affairs in a author’s life.

Having programs round you to work with ensures that you’re in charge of issues, therefore, sustaining productiveness and momentum.