How to Make Time to Write and Develop a System to Take Notes, with Bryan Collins

Bryan Collins relies on a simple system that captures notes and ideas that flow directly into his projects when he sits down to write.

His writing routine doesn’t take all day yet achieves significant results. Find out how he works and test it out.

When you combine that with his simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects, you’ll be on your way to completing a full manuscript.

Ready to do the work and write the truth?

Learn from Bryan:

• Hear how Bryan has “green-lighted” himself
• Learn how to capture ideas with Bryan’s systems
• Discover the magic of building your body of work in a surprisingly small pocket of time
• Find time for writing in your day like Bryan did
• Develop a flow for reviewing your own ideas and the notes you
• Try his advice for breaking out of writer’s block

Meet Bryan Collins

Bryan Collins is a USA Today best-selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity, This Is Working, I Can’t Believe I’m A Dad! and a best-selling series of books for writers.

He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, Lifehacker and Fast Company.

Today he runs his website Become a Writer Today, with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year. And he hosts a popular writing podcast by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times best-selling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink.

Resources:

• Become a Writer Today, Bryan’s website
• Become a Writer Today, Bryan’s podcast
• I Can’t Believe I’m a Dad, Bryan’s book (affiliate link to paperback)
• Bryan’s interview with me: Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing with Ann Kroeker
• Zettelkasten System
• Day One app
• ambient noise on noise-canceling headphones (to minimize distractions)
• brain.fm (for focus and flow)
• otter.ai, rev.com (for transcription/dictation)
• Medium
• Wattpad for fiction
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (affiliate link for 30th anniversary paperback ed.)
• Twitter for microblogging
• Story by Robert McKee (affiliate link to Kindle ebook)
• Choose Yourself, by James Altucher (affiliate link for Kindle ebook, on sale at the time of publishing this interview; about green-lighting yourself)
• Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (affiliate link to paperback ed.)
• Inspiration: singer Nick Cave and author Stephen King

Listen to the interview, or read the transcript below.

Bryan Collins Interview

This is a lightly edited transcript.

[00:00:00.190] – Ann Kroeker

How would you like to develop a simple writing routine that doesn’t take all day to achieve significant results? And what if you could combine that with a simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects?

Today I have Bryan Collins of Become A Writer Today on the show, and he is sharing his one-two punch of a system-routine combo that turns out an impressive body of work.

I’m Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. If you’re tuning in for the first time, welcome. If you’re a regular, welcome back. I’m sharing my best tips and training skills and strategies to coach writers to improve their craft, pursue publishing, and achieve their writing goals.

Bryan Collins is a USA Today best selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity this is Working, I Can’t Believe I’m a dad, and a best selling series of books for writers. He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, LifeHacker and Fast Company. Today he runs his website, Become A Writer Today with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times bestselling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink.

Let’s hear his practical advice for writers.

Ready to do the work and write the truth?

[00:01:32.770] – Ann Kroeker

Well, we have Bryan Collins on the show today. He is a podcaster and an author and a writer, and I cannot wait to ask him all kinds of really practical questions that we can pass on to listeners today. Bryan, thanks for being on the show.

[00:01:45.590] – Bryan Collins

It’s great to be here. Thanks for having me on.

[00:01:47.450] – Ann Kroeker

Thanks for taking the time. We’re in different time zones and I am excited to hear more.

Would you share with listeners a little bit about your own writing, your own writing past and what brings you to today?

[00:02:03.090] – Bryan Collins

Sure. So, ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer and earn a living from the written word. I was a big fan of Roald Dahl back in the day, children’s author, and I figured the best way to do it was to become a journalist when I became 18 and it was time to pick something to study in college or university.

But I went to journalism college and spent more time going out to parties than I did actually taking notes. And I found it really difficult to find paying work. So I kind of drifted in and out of various freelance writing gigs during my 20s. I’m 40 now, by the way, fo