Last Updated on January 29, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower
I’ve been told I write really fast.
At one point in my life, I was cranking out thousands of words per day. This is what led me to publish hundreds of short stories.
This is not the case anymore, mostly because career and life circumstances prevent me from writing much today, but I am still pretty efficient when I do write. Many people have asked me how I can write so quickly, so let’s dive into some of the tips and tricks I have learned over the years.
How To Write Faster
Writing fast isn’t a gift that every writer is fortunate to have. Although being able to write quickly is a sign you are a great writer, some of the best writers I know are incredibly inefficient. Some of them take hours just to get started with a simple topic.
While some writers can draft, edit, and publish a solid blog post in under two hours, others take four or five hours just for the drafting phase. Imagine how much more successful these writers could be in their daily lives if they learned to write faster and become more efficient.
As a writer, it’s easy to get bogged down in the creative process. Whether you’re crafting an email, a blog post, or a book, finding the right words can take time. However, there are a few proven techniques you can use to boost your writing speed and improve your productivity. In this article, we’ll explore five of the best methods for becoming a faster and more efficient writer.
Plan Your Writing in Advance
The first step to becoming a faster writer is to plan your writing in advance. Before you start writing, take some time to outline your thoughts and organize your ideas. This will make it easier to stay focused and on-topic as you write, and it will also help you identify any gaps in your knowledge that you need to research. If you start writing without planning, then you have to stop and do research, this will kill your speed and productivity and often make it difficult to get back into the groove of writing.
To start planning your writing, try using a tool like a mind map or a concept map. These tools allow you to visually organize your ideas and see the connections between them. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to write about, you can start outlining your thoughts in a more structured way.
If you have no idea what to write about, then you may want to turn to a topic generator. Or, if you are looking for a short story idea, you can select one from one of the many lists you can find through a simple search.
Write in Short Sessions
Another great technique for boosting your writing speed is to write in short sessions. Instead of sitting down and trying to write for hours on end, break your writing into shorter sessions of 20-30 minutes. This will help you stay focused and avoid burnout, and it will also make it easier to fit writing into your busy schedule.
If you’re having trouble getting started with short writing sessions, try using a timer. Set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and make a commitment to write for that entire time. Once the timer goes off, take a short break, and then start another writing session.
Writing in short sessions doesn’t work for everyone, and it may be difficult to get much done in your first few sessions if you are a notoriously inefficient or slow writer. However, if you practice this technique for several weeks, you should find yourself becoming much more successful producing quality work in a short period of time.
One of the keys to being successful in these short sessions is that you have to not worry about what you are writing. You can’t stop and correct your grammar or go do research. You just have to focus on writing the whole time.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions are the enemy of productivity, and they can be particularly frustrating when you’re trying to write. To boost your writing speed and improve your focus, it’s essential to eliminate as many distractions as possible.
One of the best ways to eliminate distractions is to create a dedicated writing space. This could be a physical space in your home or office, or it could be a virtual space like a text editor or a word processor. Whatever form your writing space takes, make sure it’s free from distractions like email, social media, and other online distractions.
Another way to eliminate distractions is to use a tool like Freedom or Cold Turkey. These tools allow you to block specific websites and apps for a set period of time, so you can focus on writing without getting sidetracked.
Eliminating distractions is one of the best ways to fight off writer’s block, but it’s certainly not the only method.
Use a Writing Template
Using a writing template can save you a lot of time and help you stay organized. A writing template is a pre-made document with a structure and format that you can use as a starting point for your own writing. It can include headings, subheadings, bullet points, and other formatting elements that you can use to organize your thoughts and ideas.
When you have a clear structure to follow, it can make it easier to organize your thoughts and ideas, and it can also help you stay on topic. Additionally, if you’re writing repetitive content like emails, reports or blog posts, you can use the same template to save time.
You can create your own templates or you can use pre-made templates available online or in word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Experiment with different templates to find which one works best for you and your writing style.
If you are writing short stories, make sure you use this template for short story format.
Practice Writing Every Day
One of the best ways to improve your writing speed and productivity is to practice writing every day. Writing is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice to get better. By setting aside time every day to write, you’ll be able to build your writing muscles, increase your speed, and improve your overall writing quality.
Set a daily goal for yourself, whether it’s writing a certain number of words or spending a certain amount of time writing. By making writing a daily habit, you’ll be able to write faster and more efficiently. Additionally, it will be easier for you to overcome writer’s block, and you’ll be more confident in your writing abilities.
Disclaimer: I don’t write every day (unless you count the dozens of emails I send), and I have spoken out against the need to write every day, but it’s definitely a way to help improve your writing speed.
Bonus Tip: Use an AI Writing Tool
I’ll probably take some heat for this one, but another way to boost your writing speed and efficiency is to use an AI writing tool.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools are becoming increasingly popular among writers, and for good reason. These tools use advanced algorithms to analyze and understand language, and they can provide a variety of helpful features to improve your writing speed and productivity.
One of the most useful features of AI writing tools is their ability to automatically generate content. For example, you can input a topic or a prompt, and the AI tool will generate a complete article or blog post. This can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re writing repetitive content or if you’re struggling to come up with ideas.
Another helpful feature of AI writing tools is their ability to check your grammar and spelling. These tools can quickly scan your writing and flag any errors or inconsistencies, which can save you a lot of time and improve the overall quality of your writing.
In addition, some AI writing tools have a built-in research function, which can help you gather information and sources to support your writing. This can save you time and effort you would have spent on researching.
Just keep in mind that if you are going to use an AI writing tool, you will need to spend some time revising anything the AI tool produces for you, which can actually slow some people down in the writing process.
Final Thoughts On Improving Your Writing Speed
When it comes to writing, speed certainly isn’t everything. In fact, you may even sacrifice some quality when you write more quickly. When you write faster, you may produce more content, but you might also find your content sometimes lacks depths or contains more errors.
That said, if your profession depends on your ability to write quickly, then you have to find a way to make it happen. By following these tips and techniques, you’ll be able to boost your writing speed and improve your productivity, and as a result, you’ll be able to write more, and better content.
What are your tips on writing more efficiently? Share your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to share this post on all your favorite channels.
