How Can I Write More Quickly? Any Tips?
So, I've been here at WA for just over six months now and while I'm fairly pleased with my progress, and happy with my blog, but I'd still like to do more.
So far I have set up my niche blog, and written nineteen posts, plus three pages, so it's been a little slower than I had hoped. I've a few posts on page one of the search engines, but not as many as I'd like. Hopefully with time, that will improve.
Ideally I'd like to have had gotten further in the training by now, but I find it's the blog post writing that takes me a long time. I've had some blog posts take up to three weeks to write!
At the moment, I'd like to get it up to at least one post per week, but I'm finding it a little difficult to get there. At the moment, it's taking more like one post every two weeks.
I am doing something on my blog almost every day, but it just seems to take me longer to write my posts.
I was hoping I could get some tips from the community on how to write a little faster, or get those posts done a little more frequently.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Chris
Recent Comments
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There are some really good answers in the thread especially Simons 7 practical tips.
Another idea you may wish to consider is a You Tube vid by The Income School Boys, (Jim & Ricky) they follow almost identical way of writing a post as Kyle has taught but they drill it down to “writing a response post in an Hour” they actually show you how in real time. It’s very informative and is only 15 mins long, if you have’nt heard of Jim or Ricky before then this will be a good introduction. (Highly respected in the community) they also have a “recipe post” breaking each paragraph and the initial Ans Para into bite sized and timed pieces.
To be fair it still takes me flipping hours, with both editing and adding images and I am always envious of those who sling one post off every day, sometimes twice a day.... 😳 but never the less I have got a routine and by doing the research pre writing the blog even if it’s just a quick search here and there during my 9-5 day really helps and I can now do a response post in 2.5 - 3 hours.
Good luck
Cordelia
Thanks Cordelia!
I've never heard of Jim and Ricky; I'll definitely check out their channel, and those videos you mentioned.
Thanks!
Hi Chris,
I see that you've got some great answers here.
As for me, to find ideas for my writing outline, I like to go to answerthepublic.com since they will give me the mind map for the topic I am looking for. It helps me a lot to get my outline done fast and to shape my writing in good order. (see pic for example if I am looking for ideas to write about affiliate marketing).
I hope it helps,
Ferra
Hi Ferra,
I also use answerthepublic.com. A very helpful website; thanks.
I think I have identified now that I maybe spend too long on researching, and then polishing and refining the article when writing it.
Some good suggestions here though. Hopefully they'll help!
Thanks for your reply!
Glad to know you also use http://answerhtepublic.com. At least that is one helpful website to get us started writing new content. :)
Yes, I have learned from reading the answers to your question here. I think they'll be helpful.
I do have that problems sometimes. Since English is not my first language, it is even harder for me. Sometimes I get comments about grammatical errors or typos I made even though I already use Grammarly and Site Content's spelling check feature.
They say, practice makes perfect. Let's keep on going. The more we write, the better we get. :)
All the best,
Ferra
Yes, I find Grammarly and Site Content's spellchecker very helpful. I'm from the UK, but I'm writing in American English for my blog. There are more differences than I first thought.
Your English seems very good to me, but yeah, keep it up!
OMG!!! You're an angel for sharing that site!!! It's absolutely BRILLIANT!
I tell you what... I didn't get that involved in the WA community at first because I was so overwhelmed with everything else I was learning that I didn't think I'd have time for it. But in the last couple of days, I've gotten more involved and my mind has been blown about how helpful and nice everyone is!!! I've learned SO MUCH every time I take a quick peruse.
I know right? WA community is awesome. That's why I love it here. There is always something new to learn from this platform everyday. I was overwhelmed too when I just started.
My mentor, Grace Lilmama, was the one who introduced me to answertopublic.com.
A few practical things which have helped me are:
1) Set a specific time to work when I know they'll be fewer distractions.
2) Have a specific place to work
3) Set a time limit and using countdown timers like https://tomato-timer.com/
4) Create a basic template as a launchpad for posts
5) Personally I listen to 'beast mode' type playlists on Spotify to help get me in the zone :)
6) Start off by planning your subheadings and the rest should fall into place.
7) Try batching your tasks. Instead of trying to do keyword research, then images, then coming up with a title, then research, then writing, see if you can spend a day planning out your target keywords for the next 30 days. Then go through and create clickable titles out of those titles and so on.
Hope these help Chris! :)
Thanks Simon.
I do try to do most of those things, however I've never thought of using a countdown timer. I could try that. What are the benefits of this?
Now, after writing this WA blog post, I realise now that I spend more time refining things, as well as researching articles and links for my posts. Maybe I need to cut back on that too.
Added urgency and pressure! lol
They've been studies that show if you have all day to do something it'll take you all day, but limit your time and you'll get it done quicker.
As far as polishing and refining, that's proofing and should come after you've written your post, preferably at least a day after as you don't always spot the typos straight after writing.
When you're writing, just write. You can make it better later. Just get the information down. I say this as a perfectionist who used to refresh the preview tab after every paragraph (literally!)
Having a high standard is good, you want quality, I'd say just try a more intentional and methodical approach.
I will try that.
I think I'm guilty of refining as I go. I'll definitely try it right at the end.
Thanks again!
I love your idea to listen to "beast mode" playlists! It actually made me LOL a little, but more importantly got me a bit pumped just thinking about it. I could definitely see that working for me. Thanks for the tips!
Hey Robyn, honestly I laugh at myself...
I like to listen to bodybuilding/weightlifting playlists and I just imagine spotify looking through your laptop camera and making a collage of everyone listening to that playlist at that time.
Just picture it... there's people working out in the gym, people running and then there's me.. staring straight ahead with nothing moving but my fingers!! LOL :-D
You are not alone with this issue, Chris!
Recently I've heard from several members that writing has been a challenge lately. I have two blog posts where I share my tips to write content and encourage others to do the same, with the hope that more people add their own strategies to cope with the infamous writers' block. Motivation Chores However, it seems to me that you may be going through what Jay calls "down a rabbit hole." I'd be curious to know how much time are you actually spending on writing versus doing research. I find that sometimes what keeps holding me back from writing is the urge to constantly look for more and more and more information.
I've noticed that if I do my research, gather my sources, and commit to write with whatever information I have then the process is much more smooth and faster. On the other hand, if I try to write and then allow myself to look for that one quote from this great book I read four years ago then I lose track of time, I lose that inertia that keeps you going when you start writing.
I hope some of my comments help you find some insight into what might be happening in your particular case. I look forward to reading more responses from other members.
Good luck,
Majo
Thank you Majo :)
Thankfully, I haven't yet had any writer's block, and hopefully I won't any time soon! Thanks for your links though, I will check them out.
In terms of research, I do tend to look for as many articles and posts as possible on the subject I want to write about. Sometimes I do find too many, and don't actually use the information in them, or they are too similar to other research I've done.
When I come to write my own post, I'm taking a lot of time going through those articles to extract the relevant information.
It's also difficult for me to stop editing and refining the things I have written.
Like you, I think I am also guilty of spending too much time looking for that specific info I read some time ago.
Thanks for your help!
I get it, Chris!
I hope that you can find some suitable answers soon.
A few extra tips that came to my mind just now come from breaking the "creating content" goal into smaller tasks. Something like:
1) Do reading and research one day, then let the information sink
in.
2) For a second step write a quick draft of your post. Don't think
about images, external/internal links, or the exact words you
want to quote from external sources. Just get the body of the
post.
3) Fill-in the places where you need to add quoted information,
statistics, or other blank spots you left on your first draft. This
is where you may go back to the sources of information, but
you will go looking for what you need and nothing else.
4) Proofread for grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
5) Add affiliate links, external links, internal links, and images.
If you break down the task of creating content, you'll feel much more productive and you'll get the hang of the process faster.
Thanks for posting your question, Chris. I am really taking a lot in from other responses you've received.
Good luck,
Majo
Solid, practical suggestions, good to keep firm boundaries in mind to stay on track. Otherwise, there's S-O-O much out there! ;)
LOLing at "and then allow myself to look for that one quote from this great book I read four years ago"
GUILTY!!!
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Hi, Chris, you make a point.
Sometimes the words come more easily when you write like you talk. If you have something to say, there's always a way to say it.
Have you considered sitting down in a comfortable spot and recording yourself simply talking extemporaneously about a subject, without even thinking about putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) until you've spun your ideas out and listened to where you've gone with it...?
Just a suggestion, if nothing else works. I've been doing this to create content for writing gigs, and it's helped me to reframe the experience and make it enjoyable to write again.
Best regards,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I did try that once, but I was so full of "Erm"s and "um"s and couldn't really think of much to say. I guess with more practice it will get easier though.
Perhaps I'll try it again...
Thanks!