How to Write Fast

If you want to run your own business, you need to write fast. No matter whether it is a script, an agreement, or just an email to your colleague, speed is key. But writing can be a tedious, time-consuming process, and it can make you want to rip your hair out. This is how a lot of people feel.

Well, this is about to change. I have struggled with this problem for many years throughout my schooling – how to write fast and effectively. If you do not have time to deal with it, just try an essay writing service.

Actually, there are a lot of people that can “ride a bike” without having to think about it, without having to try, but most of us have to get back up after we fall down. It’s the same with writing anything fast. To write fast, we just need to hone our writing skills and practice often.

Pick the Most Productive Time

Everyone has their preferred time to create something, and you should find the time that works best for you. In most cases it depends on whether you are a night owl or an early bird. One day try to write in the morning, then in the mid-day and at night. Keep track of how many words you write and how fast ideas come to you. Try to quantitatively determine which times you are the most effective.

If you are doing your writing during the most productive time of the day, a three-hour essay or article could turn into an easy one-hour job.

Find Your Place

Once you have figured out the perfect time for fast writing, you need to have a place which is exclusively yours. It can be a whole room or a secluded corner in the attic. Do not use this place to surf the internet or listen to music. Treat that space the way priests treat the altar. It is where you are going to give birth to your story; where you are going exercise all your demons.

Turn off Annoying Red Lines

The truth is, when you are in the process of writing, anything can throw you off the pace. The ring of a cell phone notification is a good example. In writing fast, distractions can kill an idea. So the little red squiggly lines that denote spelling mistakes or appear under the last name of the author can mess up your rhythm. Switch off the grammar and spelling checkers so you can work fast and without distractions.

Try to eliminate the distractions while you are in the process of brainstorming. When you’re done writing, you can turn them back on, but later proofread your work thoroughly.

Set a Timer

At first glance it might seem a little crazy. But to write fast, try to set a timer to handle the procrastination and the distractions. When you actually see the time passing, there is a voice inside you that motivates you and tells you not to waste time. So, you immediately find ideas to keep writing and push through writer’s block. It can be gibberish, but you still keep on working instead of checking Instagram or Facebook.

Plan Ahead of Writing

I have lately discovered that a lot of creative people, artists, musicians, and authors all thrive on having a plan. But I used to postpone my writings until the due date, just waiting for the inspiration to strike. The truth is, it doesn’t really work. Inspiration is not going to fall into your lap while you are sitting and staring at the blinking cursor on a blank page. To get faster, you need to research and organize your ideas before you actually put pen to paper or type on your keyboard. Before you dive into writing, you need to know where you are going.

Psychologists call it an ‘implementation of the intention.’ How does it work? It reduces your procrastination. When you’re facing a time consuming, difficult task without having a plan, your brain says “No, it is too hard’. Your mind starts to wander, distract itself and lose focus on the task. Planning helps you ease onto the path toward effective writing. You see the goal and the task for you is not so vague anymore.

So, try to figure out the three main things – your beginning, the middle and the end. It can be just three fast sentences, but you need to understand the stages of your writing and the ultimate goal. Jot them down so you can see them clearly and know what your goal is for sure. So, I have to start here, move here and end here. Once you have a road map, you can dive in.

How to Write Articles Fast

If you want to do an article quickly, just chop up a writing process, divide it into a couple stages. A picture is worth a thousand words.

First stage (ten minutes to an hour) – choose a topic and give a name or a title to your text. Picking a topic in a lot of cases means research, that is why it can take an hour or more.

Second stage (30 minutes to an hour) – set down the outline. Think of the three main things I have already mentioned – what are you going to talk about in the three main parts of your text?

Third stage (one to two hours) – make the first draft. Try to gather your ideas and make the text coherent. This is a part where you should not listen to your inner critic who says all the time “No! Not like this! I have to be perfect!”

There is actually a section in Harvard University’s library where they keep the first drafts of famous authors’ works. It is amazing to realize that most widely known works were not written in a single flash of a genius.

Fourth stage (two to three hours) – edit your first draft. Read what you wrote again and again. Figure out if there are some parts of the text you can get rid of, read through each sentence again, add some synonyms and strong words. One sentence should flow from another. If you do not like how the whole paragraph sounds, fix it or delete it.

Fifth stage – deal with introduction and conclusion. Once you have the whole concept in your head, come up with a catchy introduction and a smart conclusion.

Sixth stage – proofread again and again. It is time to switch on the grammar and spelling checkers.

Do not Edit Yourself

The most important part of writing fast is the ability to manage your personal flow state. The concept of the flow state is studied very heavily these days. One of the things modern science has allowed us to do is to see how it works neurologically. We can literally tell which areas of your brain are working when you are in a flow state. And those areas are quite different than when you are doing something like editing.  So, the crux of what works for me at least is separating your editing and your writing process.

I am turning off my inner critic and focusing solely on creation. This little voice in your head that tells you the sentence or the choice of words is wrong, and you should fix it has to be silenced for a while. Censoring and editing your first draft is going to slow you down when you are in the writing process. You should try to do one part at a time. If you try to do writing and editing at the same time, you will not be able to focus. Once you are done with one task, you can move on to another.

When you turn off your inner critic, you are creating a favorable atmosphere for the flow state. You are basically allowing yourself to get into it. Editing and writing at the same time is much more challenging to do because as humans we actually cannot truly multitask. There is a reason we have laws which prevent you from being on a cell phone while you are driving.

How to Write Fast During Exams

Talking about your writing tasks in exams, I need to highlight a different aspect. Being unable to complete the exam because of a slow writing is quite disappointing. You might know the material, but if you run out of time, get nervous or misinterpret a question, you will lose precious points. So now I want to help students avoid problems with writing slow and thus not completing all the answers before the final bell rings. There are particular practices that will help students write swiftly and accurately, and I’d like to discuss them here. 

Choose the Right Pen

Choose a ballpoint pen instead of a gel-based pen. The latter has a much thicker ink. In a test or an exam aesthetics is not the key to scoring high marks. Speed is more important. Therefore, whenever possible use the ballpoint pen instead of the gel-based one. The first one generates less friction and lets you write faster.

Your pen has to be comfortable for you. Avoid using new pens on the exam days because such a change may hinder your writing ability.  

Practice handwriting for at least 15 minutes before the exam day as it will help you warm up and make you well acquainted with the tools you are going to use when writing your papers. This would enhance flexibility in your muscles and help you use your hand better in order to improve your writing speed.

How to Hold Pen to Write Fast

Do not clench your fingers tightly. Sometimes students tend to clench their fingers while writing, especially when they are under pressure. As a result, they get tired easily after writing just a few sentences. Try to relax. Press the pen gently with your fingers and let it move in a smooth fluid motion. You will see that you can write faster and longer this way.

Keep your fingers free. Try to avoid things which can disturb you while writing, such as rings, long nails or watches. They may not only distract you, but also hinder your hand movements.

Of course, there are some basics to writing faster like outlines, concentration, and consistency. But actually, writing faster is all about finding what works for you, what makes your mind and words flow. If all you need is inspiration, just try and write to motivate yourself. If deadlines motivate you, wait for them, but beware that deadlines and crunch time may hamper your writing ability.