So just do the work, period. No amount of prodding will help you get started if you do not have the willpower to commit to the task. Motivational articles can only go as far as guiding you towards self-improvement. The entire legwork is still up to you. “Just do it,” as what the Nike slogan says. Sometimes, distractions do not crop up from your immediate vicinity, but from inside your own head. Armed with discipline, you learn to set your priorities. You learn to condition your mind to shut out things that will not help you achieve your writing goal.

Stick to your topic and zoom in on the related issues that need addressing. Do not veer off to subtopics that do not help tackle the main idea. Remember that your objective is to address a topic sentence, so make sure that all your subtopics are related to it.

Keep writing and edit later. Most writers will tell you that writing and editing at the same time are counterproductive. The purpose of a first draft is to put your initial thoughts down on paper. The first draft allows you to see your article’s body frame and how you can tweak it. Editing should come later. Let your thoughts flow on the first draft.

After you are done with the writing process, reread what you have written. Read it out loud. This is the right time to review it. Start editing and proofreading. Be relentless in your judgment of what must be omitted and what must be retained.

Check for coherence and organization of ideas. If something appears to lag, see if it needs further support of ideas. For grammatical errors, try reading your work backward how most proofreaders do when proofing documents. Make sure that your ideas are clear and well-presented.

Learn to relax. Do not tackle your writing in straight, consecutive stages. After the first draft, let it sit for a while before rereading it. Give your mind enough time to energize. A tired mind cannot maximize its potential. At the same time, you give your article enough time to breathe. Once you have been replenished and you get back to your article, you will be surprised at how your fresh eyes see how you can further improve your piece.

Always check your title. It is often the most overlooked part of any article. See if your caps and lower cases are consistent. Check the style guide you are following for rules of usage.

Discipline yourself to write all your articles in good faith. By that, cite sources properly and have a concrete plan for drawing traffic especially if you are writing content. Provide links when necessary. If you are submitting to a publication, be sure you adhere to their guidelines.

Discipline helps you achieve your writing goals from start to finish, as it teaches you to develop a streamlined process. Lastly, discipline teaches you to stop reading this, so that you may start on your own writing.