How to Be Creative and Productive at the Same Time (Tips for Writers)

Being an effective writer absolutely requires us to be functioning at peak creativity - but just as important is maintaining our productivity.

A professional writer is able to follow threads of inspiration, be spontaneous and find a flow state. But they are just as able to meet deadlines, hit word counts and stay focused.

That balance is an important one.

These are tools that I use to kickstart both creativity and productivity.

🔹 Banish Writer’s Block With Multiple Projects on the Go

I’m almost always working on more than one project at once.

That might sound chaotic, but for me, it’s the cure for writer’s block. If the novel is not flowing, I can work on a blog. If I’m stuck on a scene in a play, I can shift to children’s books, or structuring and brainstorming. 

I’ve stopped expecting creativity to behave like a machine.

Sometimes, the best way to keep writing isn’t to bang your head against a wall when the words won’t come, but to keep moving.

🔹 Get Feedback and Support

Writing may happen alone, but creative growth usually does not. 

The right feedback can save you months of going in circles. It can help you get clearer, sharper, braver. 

Find a teacher whose approach resonates with you. Share work with an accountability partner. Work with an editor who helps you see your work honestly (and yes, sorry to say it, but you’ve gotta kill those darling little darlings). 

Writing is a solitary job but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build yourself a team.

🔹 Read Widely (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

Writers need fuel. 

I try to invest in my creativity, not just demand output from it.That means reading across genres—both similar to and completely different from my own work: women’s fiction, fantasy, crime, romance, historical fiction.

I listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I read non-fiction on topics that intrigue me, as well as books about creativity itself like The Artist’s Way and Unicorn Space. 

Read books with an analytical eye. Why is this structured this way? Why is that phrase so effective? Why don’t I believe this moment? Why do I love this character, and why does this character frustrate the heck out of me?

Input matters just as much as output.

🔹 Make Time for Life Beyond Your Desk

Writing doesn’t only come from sitting in a chair and trying harder. 

It comes from living. 

From conversations with friends. Time with kids. Walks. Events. Family life. Observing people. Feeling things. Paying attention. 

If you want to write about the world, you need to stay connected to it.

If you want more tips on how I ensure I am effective as a creative person, check out these four systems I use as a creative and mum (to overcome my disorganised, messy and vague nature!!)