If you’re a blogger maintaining multiple blogs or a freelance writer with a good number of writing assignments, one skill that’s going to take your blogging or freelance writing career to the next level is the ability to write fast.
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Sure, you can always outsource work, but that can be costly – costly because finding good and reliable writers takes a great deal of trial and error. Trial and error, in this context, takes money and time, time that you already lack in the first place.
Speed writing, anyone?
I was going through my social media feed one day when a link about speed writing caught my attention. Writing at half my normal writing speed is a goal I have yet to attain. If I manage to accomplish that, that would mean more writing assignments for me. No more frantic search for another writer who can demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and meet tough deadlines.
Oh, yes, there are a lot of talented writers out there. I encounter them everyday – in my place of work, in my social circles, in blogging communities, in job sites. But finding those who can beat deadlines is tough work. Plus, walking around with the thought that there’s another writer who’ll bail me out if I don’t manage to produce articles myself is enough to render me complacent at times.
Complacency, in the freelance writing space, can be disastrous.
My clients are mostly referrals from other clients, and not being able to perform as expected means two reputations on the edge of a cliff: mine and that of my referrer.
(Okay, now, I should banish that thought. There are only so many hours in a day, and I can only write so much. I will still need help, at one point or another.)
S.P.E.E.D. writing
Going back to the speed writing article, (shame that I can’t share it here because I already forgot where I read it), I was expecting some sort of magic formula. Surprise, surprise! No magic formula anywhere. Instead, the article simply reinforced what I already know but don’t fare well in: focus and proper time management.
If that’s not adding insult to injury, it was a wake-up call, at least. Yes, I suck at both of these – like, really. And if it came to a point where not having those two in my arsenal means defeat, my freelancing career would be dead as a doornail by now.
And because I really wanted to share that link here, I Googled around a bit. Well, the link proved elusive, and not that I didn’t try hard. Instead, I came across a timeless article from Copyblogger that had been published in 2009. Timeless as it is, the points mentioned are still, to this day, very much relevant.
Plus, I love how the post was written. Writing and editing is a “crime” that should put me in jail for life, too. 😀
Here’s the link to Dean Rieck’s S.P.E.E.D. writing article. I enjoyed every bit of it. And just so you have an idea, S.P.E.E.D., according to the author, means:
- S – Select a topic.
- P – Prepare your facts.
- E – Establish a structure.
- E – Eliminate distractions.
- D – Dash to the finish.
Oh, and there’s this one piece of advice in the comments section that sounded silly at first. But when I paused to really think about it, it made sense, and one day I just might put it into practice. In case you’re wondering what that is, it’s this: Turn your monitor off as you type.
The first key to writing is … to write, not to think! – Finding Forrester, 2000
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I can type at least 80 words per minute.
Hey, Jerome, thanks for visiting and commenting. Wow, 80 wpm is unusual. But you know what, I type at roughly that speed, too, and it does help a lot when I write articles. 🙂
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When I writing articles, it takes 4 to 6 hours to finish.
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Four to six hours is, I think, just right depending on the type of article you’re writing. Still, you’ve got a lot of headway to go, Emp. I’m sure you can cut that in half over time. 🙂
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I tend to write faster when I’m near the deadline! Social media is such a time trap. Twitter and Instagram? I would be reading news links and admiring travel pics for hours. The SPEED writing advice is great. Copyblogger rocks!
Indeed, Copyblogger rocks!
Well, I tend to write faster when my deadline looms near, too, LOL. But some people, I believe, tend to fare better without the added stress of a deadline. You’re right about social media, Mas. While they’re very helpful, they can provide a lot of distractions, too. I’m glad you liked the article as much as I did.
Thanks for the visit and comment.
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