3 Tricks to Quicker and Easier Writing: by Chris Garrett
I write a lot. People often wonder how I write so much. There are many tricks to being more productive with writing, we all have our own techniques
Here are three tips to help you write more easily, and get your writing completed in less time. Please share yours in the comments?
1. Block out perfectionism – I write a lot but that does not mean I always write perfectly. It annoys a lot of professional writers that an uneducated so-and-so such as myself can get so much writing work.
It’s true, I often break writing rules without realizing it. To begin with I would agonize over every draft, worrying what people would say if they found a glaring contravention of international grammar rules.
Now I try my best and trust that is enough or leave all that to editors who are much better than me at that stuff anyway. We all want to produce great work, but we also have to understand there are limits and we can not polish forever.
2. Write, write, and write some more – You will have likely heard this before, but it is true. The more you write, the easier it becomes. When I write twenty articles a week I actually find it easier than then times when I only have had to submit two. Part of it will be stress and adrenaline of course, but I do think with writing it becomes easier and flows more with practice.
3. Write when inspired. – Obviously deadlines can make this difficult but sometimes “right now” is not the right time to write. I find if I let my subconscious stew for a day or so I can sit down and knock out a draft much quicker than if I sit starring at the blank screen of doom for hours trying to force it. Even a small break, a coffee, short walk, playing with the kids, stroking the cat, can re-energize the creative juices.
OK, those are my tips. You might disagree, you might agree, or you
might have tips of your own? Please do share in the comments …
This is a guest post by Chris Garrett from chrisg.com- you can read more of his writing there and many other places in the blogosphere besides!
He’s challenged himself to write as many guest posts as he can this month to help boost his own Technorati rankings – and to provide some ideas and quality content for the readers of his blog.
Hi Chris
Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks. You certainly seem to get through a lot of writing in a week!
I guess I use some variation of all of these. The other thing I do when I get stuck is focus on the positive intention behind my writing (to make a connection, to share some information, to cheer someone up, to earn a crust(!)) – I find that helps both to switch off the internal critic and to tap into the right words.
Joanna
Chris,
Thanks for this post and particularly for point number one! That’s the one I need to work on, as I am the consummate perfectionist when it comes to writing, editing, etc. While I’m generally pleased with the finished product, my perfectionism usually causes me to spend an inordinate amount of time on my writing, which can be quite impractical.
So, I’m afraid I won’t be able to offer any tips for quicker and easier writing, since I’m still trying to master it, myself!
Thanks, again!
Jeanne
Jeanne, I’m glad you enjoyed this piece. I think point #1 is a stumbling block for a lot of people – if that’s any comfort to you
Joanna
I love your blog. There are some really good tips to help writers on here. I am trying to do better with my work and to get into school so that I can become a better writer. I recently read some of my work that I had done a year ago and I have to say that you are right; the more you write, the better you will become. My writing was crap back then and I am suprised that anyone had even excepted the articles.
Rosa, I’m glad you’re finding some useful material here.
It does get easier the more you write, and if you have an open, enquiring, curious mind, if you want to keep on learning (as you obviously do!) you’ll find that you learn, change and improve as you go along.
I reckon I learn something from everything I write – about what works language wise, but also about some of the things that I find myself writing down – which often surprise me!
Joanna
[...] expanded on this topic on his post at Confident Writing. Now I try my best and trust that is enough or leave all that to editors who are much better than [...]
[...] expanded on this topic on his post at Confident Writing. Now I try my best and trust that is enough or leave all that to editors who are much better than [...]