Eric Kim structures his day to make writing easy. He usually writes in the morning, after coffee and a shower, when he feels most energetic . A typical routine: wake up, brew coffee (he even makes coffee before showering so it’s ready right away), drink water and coffee at his desk, and review ideas in Evernote. Then he launches IA Writer full-screen with Wi-Fi off (“focus mode”) and writes uninterrupted for 1–3 hours . He tries to “remove friction” from these routines – for example, keeping his laptop and writing app always ready – so he can dive right into writing without delay .
These habits build consistency. Early on he even blogged three times a week (Mon/Wed/Fri) for years, waking early or staying up late to meet deadlines . He admits it could be stressful (“I would get anxiety if I missed a post”), but he kept the schedule for consistent output and audience trust .
Tools & Platforms for Blogging
Kim uses simple, open tools. He runs his blog on self-hosted WordPress (installing WordPress.org himself) because it gives him complete control of content . Early advice he gave beginners was to start on WordPress or Medium, but switch to your own site when possible . In practice, his workflow relies on:
In short, Kim favors the simplest tools possible – a good laptop and camera, plus basic apps like IA Writer and Evernote – over complex gadgets or social media tricks .
Workflow & Content-Creation Process
Kim’s content pipeline is streamlined for speed. He typically:
He limits real-time posts to 1–2 per day, even if he writes more. (Once he said, “I actually wrote 19 blog posts in a day,” so scheduling was essential .) This process – writing offline, then using Pages to “hit publish” and scheduling – removes friction and fear, building confidence to produce more .
To stay focused during writing, Kim divides research from creation: he only connects to Wi-Fi when gathering facts or images, then turns it off again to write . He also likes working in cafes for ambient energy – the buzz of people, caffeine, and natural light help him concentrate . In coffee shops he writes until he needs a break, even doing a few push-ups or squats by his table if he feels tired .
Content-wise, Kim mixes formats: long essays, Q&A, listicles, photo features, interviews and community posts. He integrates his own photos (often B&W street shots) with the text to illustrate points. Importantly, Kim says publishing is the lifeblood of a blogger – he doesn’t let editing slow him down. He often publishes “half-baked” ideas and refines them in later posts, rather than delaying for perfect prose . His emphasis is on writing a lot: the more he publishes, the more momentum and audience engagement he builds.
Idea Generation & Inspiration
Kim keeps his ideas flowing by making creativity a daily habit and by seeking inspiration from everywhere. He journals and makes lists every day, goes on photowalks (even with just a smartphone), or doodles – any small creative act to keep the spark alive . He also purposely mixes disciplines: for example, reading psychology, sociology or biographies of innovators, then applying those lessons to photography. He admits he’s “more of a sociologist with a camera” – many blog posts tie street photography to concepts from Steve Jobs, Kanye West, or Elon Musk . This “cross-pollination” of ideas keeps his content fresh and unconventional.
Kim often challenges himself with constraints or prompts. A favorite trick is to play devil’s advocate: “What if the opposite were true?” – e.g., if people say “shoot every day,” he’ll ask “what if you shouldn’t photograph every day?” . He also sets quick creative challenges (e.g. “10 photos in 10 minutes” or “write a 5-minute poem”) to force himself to generate something fast .
Crucially, he blogs the answers to questions he himself has. As he says, “So I ended up starting the blog I wanted to read.” He began blogging because he couldn’t find guides on how to do street photography safely . Even now he imagines his readers as his past self: “I am writing these new articles… for my 18-year-old self.” He asks, “What do you wish you could find online that isn’t there? Fill that hole with your own ideas” . This mindset – writing the content he personally needs – means he always has topics to cover.
Mindset, Principles & Productivity Strategies
Underpinning all this is Kim’s philosophical approach. He sees creativity and blogging as daily disciplines rather than one-off tasks. His “creative everyday” philosophy is that small, consistent creative acts (writing, shooting, thinking) compound over time . He treats blogging as a long-term commitment: the goal is longevity, not viral fame – “the secret to a successful blog is simply not letting it die.” . He admires bloggers who have written for decades (e.g. Leo Babauta, Tim Ferriss) because they do it for love, not quick rewards .
Practically, Kim prioritizes process over perfection. He rejects rigid quotas (“no 750-words rule”) and instead writes when inspired . He publishes drafts quickly (“publish as a page to remove fear”) and only lightly edits later . As he put it, “99% of your audience isn’t going to notice small errors… Publishing is the lifeblood of a blogger” . His writing style is conversational and personal (“write as if you’re talking to a friend”), which keeps it authentic .
On productivity, Kim follows a “subtraction” principle: he trims social media and busywork so he can do more important work . He uses simple life-hacks: e.g. looped music or a favorite drink to get in the zone. He also ties physical health to creativity – ensuring enough sleep and exercise to keep his mind sharp . In short, his strategy is to engineer his habits and environment (coffee, Wi-Fi off, focus mode, a favorite chair) to make writing easy and natural.
Above all, Eric blogs out of passion. He admits he never did it for money (he later monetized only through teaching workshops), and blogging itself brings him satisfaction . This love of writing – seeing it as meaningful work and a way to help others – is the driving force that makes him one of the most prolific bloggers in photography .
Sources: Kim’s own blog and interviews (quoted material is from Eric Kim’s posts).