For professional writers or students juggling multiple assignments, meeting deadlines with a piece of polished, error-free writing is no joke. Many aspiring writers struggle with writing interesting content or content that flows with a pleasant rhythm, or even something their readers will want to read. Not because they have run out of ideas or lack talent but simply because they can’t seem to do it in the requisite amount of time. That said, writing faster is no superpower. It is a skill that anyone can acquire with time and practice.
For writers aiming to write faster and better, here are 5 surefire strategies recommended by experts.
1. Identifying the Best Time to Write
One of the first things writers do is determine the time(s) during which their productivity is at its peak. Every writer works differently and has a different lifestyle, so this can vary from person to person. Some writers prefer the tranquility of late nights or early mornings; others must squeeze in their writing whenever their schedule permits; some can work in coffee shops; others cannot work unless they have absolute quiet.
Whenever this time is, it is important to make the most of it. A writer who knows they are more focused at night must schedule as many night writing sessions as possible. Writers who thrive in a kid-free environment need to capitalize on the time when the kids are at school, in daycare, or with a babysitter. Determining the best time to write and arranging a schedule around it may take a bit of trial-and-error, but writers will notice a huge difference in output once they begin to write at their most productive time of day.
Tip: During this time, it is helpful to shut down email, switch off the phone, and quit the internet to avoid all possible distractions caused by disruptive technology.
2. Writing Regularly
It is a cliché that writing is like building muscles – the more writers exercise their creativity, the stronger and more efficient it gets. Even if there is no deadline to meet, it is important that writers assign a daily or weekly slot devoted exclusively to writing, and thus establish a writing routine. Writers who want to boost their productivity should make writing a habit and consider building a ritual around it, like using a specific location or a special mug of their favorite beverage as they write.
Viewing writing as a deeply ingrained habit often gets writers into the spirit of writing regularly and quickly. Just showing up to write every day is enough to get into the habit, regardless of whether they write a few paragraphs or an entire chapter.
Tip: Writers thrive when they have people who encourage them if they are struggling, offer healthy feedback, and hold them accountable for their writing goals. A community can be crucial for maintaining a writing habit.
3. Defeating Writer’s Block
A common stumbling block for many writers is the need to line up their facts and examples before they start writing. This leads to over-researching, overthinking, procrastination, and often an inability to write before everything is in place and sometimes not even then.
Journalists have an ingenious solution for this kind of writer’s block. TK (short for “to come”) works as a placeholder for content the writer intends to add later and allows them to move ahead when they get stuck and need more information.
For example:
The Holocaust was the state-sponsored mass murder of TK Jewish people, queer people, people with disabilities, and other persecuted groups by the Nazi regime during WWII. The word comes from TK.
TK, being an unusual combination of letters in the English language, is easy to spot later when the draft is ready and it’s time to fill in the gaps. It’s surprising how a two-letter combo can help writers finish their piece faster.
Tip: Once the draft is complete, search for “TK” with spaces around it to avoid tripping on words like Atkins.
4. Setting a Timer
This might sound contradictory at first – why would anyone want to stop when they are in a good writing flow? Experts suggest that stopping in the midst of a flow makes it a lot easier to go back to writing because the writer knows what they want to write next. Setting a timer also keeps procrastination at bay; the writer is keenly aware of wasting time when they see the timer ticking inexorably away, so they do all they can to keep writing, even if it’s gibberish. There’s no temptation to check email or hang out on Facebook when the writer knows there’s little precious time to write. Many writers use deadlines as a way to get work done, but it only adds to their stress. A timer allows them to work quickly, avoid stress, and enjoy the writing process. And the result is more work in less time.
Tip: The Pomodoro technique – a 25-minute work session followed by a 5-minute break – is a good way to boost energy levels and stay focused on work.
5. Cutting up the Writing Process
Taking on a writing project, especially an ambitious one like a book or a novel, might feel like an insurmountable task. But experienced writers know that they don’t have to do everything all at once. The trick is to divide the project into small, manageable chunks and tackle them individually. An essay, for example, has 4 essential parts – the title, the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. A blog post consists of a headline, the opening lines, the main body, and the final paragraph. Dealing with individual sections helps the writer complete the project faster and avoid mental paralysis.
The writing process itself can be divided into steps for simplification – generating ideas, doing research, creating an outline, writing a first draft, revising, editing, and formatting. Making each step as small as possible gives a sense of accomplishment and makes writing a breeze instead of a chore.
Tip: Freewriting is a good way to generate ideas about a topic. It involves writing about any random topic for a fixed amount of time, jotting down any thoughts that come to mind without worrying about spelling, grammar, or punctuation.
