In the last post, we took a look at how you should just keep on writing and not edit on your first go. Here are other tips that could help you speed up your writing.
Don’t underestimate the power of outlines
I still remember when I was in grade school and we had essays to write. My mother, who was a school teacher, would always tell me to make it clear in my mind what I wanted to write about. She would then urge me to outline my thoughts on paper. Though at first, I didn’t want to do this as I felt it just wasted my time, it didn’t take me long to realize that outlining does work! Not only will you be able to have a clear idea as to your flow of thought, you end up saving time because you have something to follow as you write.
Outlines do not have to be detailed – that is why they are called outlines. All you need to do is to jot down the main points of your post (or posts, if you are writing a series). Note down main ideas and perhaps subheaders. Once you are done, do a once over and see if your outline is coherent. If not, make a few adjustments and then get down to writing.
Trust me, the few minutes that you spend on your outline will be well worth the effort once you do your actual writing.
Originally posted on July 28, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
