Amanda Stein, Author at Craft Your Content - Page 2 of 4

All posts by Amanda Stein

writing routine

Practical Creativity: Craft Your Perfect Writing Routine

Routines tend to get a bad rap. They’re stuffy, uptight, unforgiving, and only for the most anal types who wear suits to work and get huffy when things don’t go exactly as planned. But in reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

When you design your routine the right way, and take into account your personal style and needs, you can actually boost your creativity and become even more inspired (and say hello to your muse whenever you want).

If your personal brand of writing isn’t creative writing (say, if you’re a copywriter or a journalist), molding your schedule around creativity may seem a bit frivolous. But even the most factual, reality-based writing is still creative at its heart; you need to find a unique, personable way to educate, inform, or reach people using only words, which is an art form in itself.

If you’re a creative writer, you may think that scheduling your creativity is the perfect way to kill it — but that’s true only if you try to force it into a schedule that works against it, not with it. Or you may feel guilty for making getting inspired such a priority. But when writing is your passion (and especially if it’s your career), then your creativity deserves care, focus, and commitment — and the right routine will give it just that.

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6 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Make Your New Year Creative and Productive

It’s that time of year again: new starts, fresh beginnings, and creative resolutions.

There’s no more perfect time to kick-start your creativity and plan for a new year that’s bursting with productivity and inspiration — but if that’s what you’re craving, the standard resolutions just aren’t going to cut it.

So how do you set resolutions that you’ll actually want to stick to (and not end up with the creative equivalent of an unused gym membership or an unread recipe book on clean eating)?

The answer is to set resolutions that will help make your next year a happy, motivated, and creative one by keeping your professional ambitions at the forefront of your resolutions. By following a few simple tips, you’ll be on your way to a new year full of productivity and inspiration.

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holiday inspiration

Practical Creativity: Staying Productive and Inspired Through the Holidays

Ah, the holidays. Whatever your personal beliefs, this time of year is full of nothing but magic, joy, and celebration—all of which will spark your creativity and reward you with a bounty of inspiration.

Or so we tell ourselves.

More often than not, this season is stressful, hectic, jam-packed, and full of endless obligations. (Seriously, how do I need to send so many Christmas cards? Who even are these people?) It’s easy to miss out on the wonder of this time, and even easier to let your own creative projects and goals fall by the wayside.

Never fear; we’re here with five simple tips to keep your creativity and inspiration alive this festive season—and maybe bring a little holiday magic to your productivity and workflow.

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monster clients

What Classic Monsters Can Teach Writers About Monster Clients

The night is dark.

Your lights flicker — and then go out.

Your heart is pounding. Your palms are sweating. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Suddenly, you hear a soul-piercing sound echoing through your empty house, seemingly coming from everywhere at once, causing a chill to race up and down your spine and your skin to break out in a fevered sweat.

Is it the howl of a monster?

No, it’s worse.

It’s your client.

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