Writing Fast
Writing fast is about uninhibited invention and
good organization
- Allow yourself to start anywhere; you don't have
to start at the beginning
- Move to some other aspect of the topic if you
find yourself bogged down
- Let digressions happen; they may prove fruitful
later
- Don't try getting it right the first time—draft
/ rewrite as many times as you need to make the
writing clear
- Write down thoughts when they strike you even
if you're doing something else
- Keep a separate "thoughts" file
- Try talking your thoughts out loud
- Write about your frustrations
- False starts and dead ends are normal; just pick
up somewhere else
- Be willing to throw stuff away
- You have a reasonably good idea of what you want
to write—then make an outline
- Don't let yourself be trapped by your outline;
abandon it if you find it draining your energy
- Don't edit or proofread before you have a complete
draft
- You can save time by putting in a placeholder
and filling in a section later
- You don't need to wait until you've "completed" your "research" before
you begin—research will still be necessary
while you're drafting, rewriting, editing and even
proofing!
- Allow yourself to be messy—spread paper
all over your desk and floor; scribble, use arrows
all over your printouts
- Talk out your ideas to someone else
- Just write and keep writing
- Make lists
- Use highlighters
- Always create a separate "references" file;
fully record each reference (including page numbers)
as soon as you've cited it in your writing
- Save all deleted sections to
an out-takes file; that material might be useful
- Brainstorm on index cards—they're easy to
move around
- Don't worry about order in your writing—you'll
shift elements around later
- Use point form; it forces you to be succinct and
it's easy to flesh out
- Revisit your thoughts file—there may be
ideas there to strengthen what you've written
- While you're inventing / drafting: If in doubt—PUT
IT IN!
- During rewriting: If in doubt—TAKE
IT OUT!
- Be sure to leave enough time to do a careful "third" read
- Solicit feedback from naive readers and from experts
- Develop an outline after you're finished; this
lets you check the architecture of your piece
- Introductions are often best left to last! It's
not until you're finished that you really know what
the piece is about
- Remember, no part is done until the whole is done!
Don't "finish" one
part before working on another—the parts need
to interact
- Set yourself deadlines
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