by Nicola MarshFor some of us writing comes as naturally as breathing. It’s not who we are but it’s something we just have to do.
That said, it can be darn hard work getting those words to make sense, getting those characters to behave and most importantly, getting the whole lot to make sense in a well-rounded, well-motivated plot that will keep readers turning the pages of the book.
I’m lucky. I’m a fast writer. When I plant my butt in my office chair, I can usually write 16-20 pages in 2 hours. Some people write more, some people write less and we’ve all had those days and those books where writing one page is a momentous achievement and we reach for the chockie as a fitting reward (at least, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!)
So is there any magical formula to write faster? I wish. However, here are a few tips on what works for me.
- DON’T EDIT
I usually write 5 nights a week from 8.30-10.30pm. Sitting down at the computer at this time of night is hard. Very hard. I’d rather be watching TV, reading a book, chatting with hubby, lazing around, doing anything other than writing but with a young family, this schedule works for me for now. It has to!
I used to love reading back over the last few pages before I started a day’s work but I don’t have that luxury anymore. If I have 2 hours to write, I want to spend every second of that time writing and that means switching off the internal editor.
I may read the last paragraph I wrote the night before but that’s it. Do NOT be tempted to read back any more than that for you will find yourself polishing/editing/rewriting before you know it. And you’ll have plenty of time for that later once you’ve finished the first draft.
- SET ASIDE W.T.O.
To increase writing speed you need to specifically set aside ‘writing time only.’ Even if this is ten minutes a day, nothing else happens during that time. Nothing.
No answering phones, no kiddie distractions, nada. If this means you have your W.T.O. late at night or early in the morning before family life takes over, so be it. Yes, you’ll be tired.
Yes, you could use those extra hours of sleep but just think of all those words adding up into a nice, juicy manuscript much faster than you dreamed possible.
- IGNORE THE INTERNET
The ultimate distraction…it’s so easy to research/network/promote/play on the Internet. We all need the Net. We’d all be lost without it but if you want to increase your writing speed, set aside a time frame when you ignore the Net completely. Even if you’re expecting an email from your editor/agent/publisher (okay, you can be a little lax here and keep your inbox open but do NOT check it every time you hear a beep, perhaps once every half hour!)
- PERFECTION? WHAT’S THAT?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I like my first draft to not need a lot of editing at the end. I used to be so bad that I’d need the perfect word in a particular scene before I could move on. Not good. This is a classic time waster.
These days if the word doesn’t come to me instantly I draw a line, highlight and move on. Much quicker and it doesn’t disrupt your thought processes half as much. The best part? When you go back to polish, it’s amazing how many times that word you couldn’t think of before just pops out of nowhere and is a perfect fit!
- SKIPPING IS GOOD
No, not the rope variety (exercising is not my thing!) Why not skip a scene? Skip a chapter? Skip the whole sagging middle and jump straight to the conclusion?
If a scene/chapter/etc…isn’t working for you, don’t get bogged down staring at a blank page. Skip ahead.
Write a totally unrelated scene but one that’s so clear in your head that the words fly from your fingertips and you can’t type fast enough.
The conclusion clear in your head? Write it.
Remember, time is precious and you want to make the most of every minute so why get bogged down in a scene that isn’t working when you could be letting those words flow?
- GET IN TRAINING
The more you write, the faster you will become.
If you can’t write every day (and let’s face it, we all need time out which is why I have weekends off) try to write as often as possible. Whether it be short blocks throughout the day or a few times a week, get into the habit of writing.
Train yourself to sit at the computer for W.T.O.
Practise all the hints above but most of all, make writing a ritual.
Trust me, the more you do it, the easier it becomes (well, that’s the theory anyway!)
- SIZE DOES MATTER
At times portability is the key to speed.
I love Alphie.
Alphasmart is a portable word processor which runs on 3 AA batteries, can sit on your lap quite comfortably and can slip into the average handbag.
But the best part?
Alphie turns me into a speed machine. I can’t edit. I can’t compulsively check my page count by glancing at the top right hand corner of the screen every few pages. I can’t do much of anything but sit there and let the words flow.
When I’m stuck or bogged down or just need a change of pace I grab Alphie, plop on the sofa and write. Usually for an hour non-stop (the keys are quite clunky so I get a bit tired of it after that). It’s amazing how many words you get when you upload onto your PC the next day.
So go ahead and fall for Alphie too. I’m happy to share
- HEALTHY COMPETITION
Though I haven’t done this, I know many writers who love a bit of healthy competition to motivate so will go up against buddies or colleagues in BIAW (Book in a Week) Putting your word count out there for all the world to see can push you to greater heights and to write faster than you have before so go for it. Let those words pour out. Fast.
My final piece of advice?
Remember, speed isn’t everything.
Ultimately, it’s about getting those words to jump from our imaginations onto the page and creating a great story. So do whatever works for you.
Writing is magical, exhilarating and darn hard work! If we can do it that little bit faster, great. If not, remember the tortoise and the hare!
Happy writing 
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HI Nic,
Love your post. So true about setting time aside for your writing. I’m lucky in that my kids are grown and have homes of their own. Hubby works, so my days are mine to do as I please. (Well most of the time). I have a two to three hour period where I write, most days. Except when hubby is on holidays, and it’s raining and has nothing to do but sit inside and want to talk. (That was last week)
:read ATM I’m judging a comp so I’m working that into my time, as well as trying to edit my NaNo project. (Which I have put off, and off for way too long.) :whistle
Okay so my writing time has expanded ATM to four hours. If I sit and just write, blocking out all the outside activity of the farm (horses running around, horses whinnying, horses making noises horses should not be making) then I’m fine, and I can write up to 5,000 in one sitting. Today it was hot here, so hubby rings to tell me horses need rugs changed. Arrrrrrr My time. My writing time. Tomorrow I’m putting ear plugs in, because he’s home. Working on the horses. (Get the feeling horses run our lives here. :cowboy )
Today I wrote 2,249 words. I was bad, doing research while writing. See in one day I broke all the golden rules; no phone, no internet, no distractions, no sticking to W.T.O. :write
As for BIAW, I love it. I stick to a routine better if I challenge myself. I do two BIAW each month now. I also do word sprints with a couple of girls when we are all working on WIP. We have fifteen to thirty minute sprints every hour on the hour for three to four hours a night. It is really amazing just how much you can write in a short period of time. We average 400 to 1,000 words per sprint depending on how long we go.
Okay, City v Country Origin is on here in NSW (NRL) I’m off to watch the boys. :bounce
Thanks again Nic.
Hugs
Sandie
I’ve added another 1,192 words to todays total, giving me 3,441 words today. And 4,326 word for my novella. :write
:bounce
Hugs
Sandie :zzz
Great output, ladies! I’m impressed! :wave
Has anyone else noticed that selecting just the right emoticon for a post is much more fun than getting back to work? :bad
All very good suggestions, Nicola. After not editing for one day I was surprised how much more I got accomplished. Gonna try it again tonight (home with kids today–not conducive to writing during daylight hours.) It’ll be hard not to get lured into the TV, but I refuse to give in.
Marcy
Life got in the way today, and tomorrow not looking so hot either. But that check in Monday will hopefully get me moving again.
We’ll be waiting to hear how you do, Cat. Don’t beat yourself up about it — sometimes life just intrudes. :cry Right now I’m fighting off a cold and not too able to concentrate. But tomorrow is another day!
Welp, I’m not getting any writing done today or tomorrow…but that’s because I’m going to a BDSM seminar that’s tonight and tomorrow! So, hey, it’s research! *grins*
I’ll make up for it Sunday though. *smiles*
Good luck everyone!
Blessings,
Dena
It’s always about butt in the chair, hands on the keyboard.
Linda
Wow, great production ladies! I’ve run into a little snag – see, I write long-hand, then type into my alphasmart. It’s a method that works really well for me, even if it is a little slower.
Anyway, I think I’ve done about 1000 new words since yesterday. I’ll know more next week when I download.
Somehow between loads of kiddie distractions, a spouse needing errands run, a guest blog stint, and oh yeah, the fact that I started with no PLOT, I still managed to get 50 words over goal. Not as far ahead as yesterday, when I topped 1100 words, but enough for me to promptly desert the laptop and go celebrate with a walk over to the ice cream shop. heh. :partyhat
Barb,
I wrote my first four books long hand first then typed them up. On an IBM Executive no less. But the great thing is once I started typing I’d find those little errors.
Linda
A great way to celebrate, Lisa!
Linda
Loved your post, Nic. You’ve nailed just about all my faults — especially the perfect word stall and the edit and polish thing. And the internet. And I do have a perfect scene I’ve had in my head since i started this book and I’ve been waiting to get to it. Next time I grind to a halt that’s where I’m going.
Now I’d better get out of here and start writing. :write
Sandie, Marcy, Barb and Lisa… :clap
Cat, life gets in the way, no worries. Just means we’ll crack the whip harder next week
Dena, research is good
Liz, so glad the article resonated :cooldance
Friday was busy, and I didn’t get any writing done until late at night; burning more then a little midnight oil. I only got 250 words written, but hope to get more written today, right after I log off the internet.
I’ve already spaced out on the first check-in and procrastinated, so not a good start. :wall
I’ve only managed about 1,000 words, but at least I have a start now…
Cassandra,
You forget, you still have 1,000 words written! It’s not like you spaced out so much you didn’t write at all.
Linda
TJ and Cassandra,
every word counts.
You can always go back and fix words, you can’t fix a blank page
How true! Plus that blank page will call out that it needs to be filled. I have notebooks everywhere, even in my car, where I’ll jot down ideas when they occur to me.
Linda
Nicola, I really feel like your Day 2 psot gave me some down to earth, solid advice. I don’t feel quite so bad, now, even though I am really starting the challenge late (I haven’t yet started my story, yet. I posted my issues on the 5/4 challenge blog. You can check that out if you want to read about my “sob story.” :cry
I am going to try just writing something, anything, from either of my story ideas & see where that gets me, tonight. I want to go to bed, but I also really want to feel like I’ve accomplished something before the TV Guide declares it’s Monday (5am-ush; till then, I don’t consider it “tomorrow.”)
Lina, I am also utilizing your great, straight forward advise, her: butt in chair, hands on keyboard. You made me laugh, my friend! And maybe that’s the best way to start my story..with a laugh.
Sorry I am joining on othe posting, late, too, ladies…it’s not for lack of interest, I promise. :hug
Justine
Hi Justine!
The best thing is you’re here and raring to go.
Linda
I was bad I played spades and chatted but I’ve written too though and added about 430words. I had to edit because the way I wrote the sentence was literally the opposite of the one I’d just finished lol. It made no sense so I erased it and rewrote it to make it flow with where I was going. Right now I’m working on this while I get ready for NaNo next week. I’m determined to finish the story I began in Sept for Unleash Your Story. I’ve been trying to focus on just writing forward not editing. But soemtimes the ideas flow over each other and get tangled I had to fix it.