Mastering Speed Writing: Five Essential Steps to Success
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Chapter 1: The Journey to Faster Writing
In my early writing days, crafting a 1,000-word story took an entire week, from inception to a publish-ready state. At that pace, I was likely one of the slowest writers around, managing only four to five stories monthly. While that might suffice for those who write for pleasure, I aimed to earn from my writing. This reality struck me hard during my initial year on Medium, where consistency and frequency are crucial for success.
To gain traction on platforms like Medium, publishing less frequently isn't an option unless you're already a well-known figure or have a significant follower base. It was clear that I needed to accelerate my writing process.
The Five Steps to Speed Writing
Three years have passed since I embarked on my writing journey on Medium, and I can now produce 1,000-word articles ready for publishing in just a day. Here’s how I transformed my writing process to achieve this level of efficiency.
#### Step 1: Prepare Your Main Points in Advance
Begin by researching and gathering relevant materials, including links to sources that substantiate your claims. One major interruption in your workflow occurs when you stop to verify information while in the creative zone. This disruption can break your concentration and extend writing time. If your piece is based on personal experiences, a simple outline will suffice.
#### Step 2: Write Freely Without Overthinking
With your research and outline in place, it's time to let your creativity flow. Focus on pouring your ideas and thoughts into a coherent narrative without worrying about grammar or punctuation; you can refine those later. Initially, this might seem challenging, but it becomes easier with practice.
#### Step 3: Separate Editing from Proofreading
At this stage, you have a rough draft that needs refinement. If you tend to be a perfectionist, you might find yourself obsessing over minor details, wasting precious time. To combat this, I divided my editing into three phases with set time limits for each:
- Correct spelling errors.
- Improve grammar and punctuation.
- Ensure smooth sentence structure and coherence.
Utilizing tools like Grammarly or Wordtune can significantly streamline this process, but be cautious of getting bogged down by unnecessary suggestions. Ultimately, what matters is that your writing resonates with readers and conveys value.
#### Step 4: Utilize Text-to-Speech for Proofreading
This step should be quick if you've edited thoughtfully. Typically, you shouldn't spend more than an hour proofing a 1,000-word article. I prefer text-to-speech software for this task, as it efficiently catches errors while allowing me to focus on content flow.
#### Step 5: Embrace a 'Set and Go' Mindset
Letting go of a completed article can be the toughest hurdle for many writers. We often feel attached to our creations, but perfection is an illusion. Accept that your work will have imperfections—just like every other article out there. Establishing deadlines is essential; once the deadline passes, move on to your next project.
In this video titled "3 Steps to Master the Art of Writing (The 3rd Step is the Key!)", you’ll discover pivotal strategies to enhance your writing skills and productivity.
Chapter 2: Speed Writing Techniques
The second video, "Triple your WRITING SPEED with these 4 steps," provides practical tips to significantly increase your writing pace and efficiency.
By implementing these five steps, you too can transform your writing process, allowing you to publish more frequently and enhance your earning potential.