How to write quickly
Below is a transcript of the video.
Probably the number one question people ask us is - how can I write more quickly and efficiently?
So before we say goodbye, we want to send you off with some strategies for getting your idea down on paper with the minimum amount of pain and fuss.
And our first tip is:
TIP 1 : Think before you write
We strongly believe clear writing is the result of clear thinking. And doing that thinking before you write can really save you time.
That’s why earlier in the course we emphasised the need to answer those three key questions before you sit down to write.
Who is my reader?
What do I want them to do, know or feel after reading?
Why should they care?
Taking the time to answer those questions before you start won’t just produce a more effective end product, it’ll also save you heaps of time.
TIP 2: Use the three-tweet method
Knowing your who, what, and why will help you identify your lede - or your key message before you write. But if you’re struggling to work out your main point, try the three-tweet method. This is a method I developed with one of my clients who was struggling to get his ideas down on paper.
The idea behind it is to think like a social media manager and ask yourself:
If I only had one tweet to get my message across, what would that be?
That’s your lede - that’s the point you need to ensure comes out loud and clear in your piece.
If you need, you can then follow up that second tweet and a third tweet to home in on the next most important points.
I call this method the three-tweet method because it my client was able to structure an entire report using just three tweets.
TIP 3: Start with the easy bit
Writing isn’t a linear process where you start at the beginning and take a straight road, point by point, to the end.
It’s actually much messier than that. So embrace the messiness and make it work for you by starting with the bit you feel most confident to write and developing momentum from there.
TIP 4: Write in intense sprints
Writing takes huge amounts of concentration - even for those of us who are paid to do it. And that can also make it really hard to get started.
One way to kickstart the writing process and limit the brain-ache is to write in short, intensive bursts.
If I’m struggling to get something written quickly, my go-to strategy is the Pomodoro Technique.
Here’s how the Pomodoro Technique works:
First of all, take yourself off to somewhere quiet and switch off all digital distractions (Twitter, email, Slack - you know what yours are).
Then commit to writing for 25 minutes flat, with zero interruption and set an alarm. I time myself using the online Tomato Timer.
After 25 minutes when the alarm goes off, take a 5 minute break and start again.
Repeat those 25 minute bursts until you’re done.
You’ll be amazed at how many words you can get down when writing like this. I find it particularly useful when I’m NOT on a deadline, because it stops the drift and really forces me to get focused.
I also usually find it gives me so much momentum I actually find it hard to stop writing and I no longer need those 25 minute timed bursts.
TIP 5: Have a research strategy
It can be tempting to use research to delay the moment you actually have to start putting words on the page.
To avoid turning your research into a procrastination activity, you need to be targeting about it.
So don’t just read everything and anything that’s vaguely connected to your topic. Instead, start with a clear idea of your lede - the big point you want to make - and test every source you consult against that point. Ask yourself:
Why am I reading this?
How can I use it?
How does this source support or challenge my point?
If you can’t come up with compelling answers to these questions, stop reading and start writing, or move on to a source that will help you advance your argument.
TIP 6: Don’t get it right, get it written
The better part of writing is the editing - that’s when the magic happens. But to get to the editing stage, you need to have something to edit right?
So don’t worry about getting your writing perfect first time - we’re professional writers and we never do!
Instead it can be really liberating to actively commit to producing a terrible first draft, safe in the knowledge that you can - and will - go back and edit it later.
TIP 7: Don’t beat yourself up if you think you’re slow
As any professional writer will tell you, writing - good writing, at least - takes time. Every professional writer you’ll ever meet will tell you that writing takes longer than most people realise.
So if you feel you’re slow:
Chances are, you’re not and
Chances are you’re doing it right.
For more writing advice, enrol in my online course, Writing With Confidence, available at the Doris and Bertie Writing School.
Cover image credit: Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash