Does writing feel like a painful process?
We’ve all been there.
You want to write, but you can’t. You’re staring at a blank sheet. You’re racking your brain.
And precious minutes are ticking by.
You feel irritation creeping up. Why are you wasting your time? Why is writing such a difficult, painful, energy-sucking, agonizing, grueling, and torturous process?
Can’t writing be simpler? Can’t you write quicker?
Yep, you can. You can write faster, create better content, and have more fun. All at the same time.
Sound impossible?
Let me tell you how I did it …
1. Skip the biggest time suck
Want to stop wasting your time?
Start with defining your message. Before outlining your post, think about your favorite reader and answer these questions:
- Which problem does your post solve?
This post helps solve the problem of not having enough time to write - How does your post transform your reader’s life?
Feel more in control of writing and enjoy it more - What do you expect your reader to do after reading your post?
Adopt a more structured process to writing - Why will your reader believe you and follow your advice?
Other artists also follow proven structures. I can show how I saved time. A couple of research results.
Writing sales copy? Ask yourself these questions instead:
- Which problem does this product solve?
E.g. This app helps save time when posting on multiple social media channels - How does your product transform your reader’s life?
She becomes more relaxed because she doesn’t need to log in to LinkedIn every hour of the day - What do you expect your reader to do after reading your web page?
Set up a trial - Why will readers trust you?
Testimonials from other users
If you know what your content must achieve, you write both faster and better. Your content becomes more persuasive because you focus on your reader. You help. You encourage. You inspire.
2. Allow time for percolation
Imagine you’ve picked a topic for your next post.
Let’s say you want to write about packing for a long-distance cycling trip. What should you do next? Start writing? List your packing tips? Compose an attention-grabbing headline?
Sometimes, the best thing is wash the dishes or get out on your bike first.
Sound crazy?
Research has shown, that when we know we need to perform a creative task later, we unconsciously process the task and improve our creativity. Psychologists call this incubation time.
This is how I structure the blog writing process to take advantage of percolation and write faster:
- On day 1, pick a topic and write a working title. My working titles are usually how-to’s because that helps me stay focused on solving a specific problem for my readers. For instance: How to Write Faster. (I keep notebook with ideas for blog posts, so I’m never stuck with this first step.)
- On day 2, outline content—write down one bullet point for each section of your post. For this post, I wrote down draft subheads only.
- On day 3, write a first draft—silence your inner critic by writing as fast as possible. My first draft is usually the main body of the blog post only (without opening and closing paragraphs).
- On day 4, edit your draft—eliminate redundant sections, review each sentence and improve word choice, and read your content aloud to improve rhythm. On this day I also write my opening and closing paragraphs, and finalize the headline.
- On day 5, format in WordPress, proofread, and do a visual check—add bullet points and chop long paragraphs to ensure your content looks inviting and easy to read.
The process is similar when I write web copy for clients. On day 1, I do research (sometimes this takes several days). On day 2, I outline and plan the copy. On day 3, I write a first draft. On day 4, I edit. On day 5, I edit a little more before sending the draft to my proofreader.
Splitting the writing process over several days has probably made the biggest impact. I write faster. My content gets better. And I enjoy writing more, too.
Combine this 5-day plan with the next step and you can virtually eliminate writing stress …
3. Beat first-draft-hell with a timer
This might surprise you …
I hate writing.
I love editing, but I hate writing a first draft. I’d rather do the laundry, empty the dishwasher, or go grocery shopping than start writing my first draft.
But I’ve learned to get my first draft out of the way as quickly as possible by writing it first thing in the morning. Before breakfast.
I’m not an early-morning person. I like to wake up slowly. I don’t feel energetic in the morning. But my groggy mind is surprisingly fast—it concentrates on doing this one sucky task as quickly as possible.
If you’re a morning person, you might want to try the opposite approach and write a first draft later in the day. Because research shows we’re most creative when we’re at our groggiest.
So, before breakfast, I sit at my desk with a cup of tea and open only a Word document to avoid any distractions. I set the Focus Booster for 25 minutes and try to write as fast as I can. I make another cup of tea, and then set the timer for another 25 minutes. I’m getting hungry now, so I write even faster.
Do whatever it takes to fool your mind and get your first draft written. Stop worrying about choosing the right words. Stop dithering about punctuation. Get those sentences written down. Type as furiously as you can.
Editing and polishing can be done later.
4. Use a proven template
Writing isn’t conveyor-belt production (of course not!).
Writing is an art.
A template doesn’t strangle your creativity. Instead, it channels your creativity to help you engage, persuade, and inspire your readers.
Novels often follow an 8-point arc. Sitcoms follow a proven structure. Even Picasso copied scenes of other artworks.
Most of my blog posts follow this template:
- In the opening paragraph, I empathize with a problem and promise you a solution. The opening paragraph of this post, for instance, empathizes with the struggle to start writing and I promise you a method for writing faster.
- In the main body of a blog post, I write down a series of tips in logical order. I’ve numbered the steps in this post, but you don’t have to do this.
- In the closing paragraph, I encourage you to implement my advice by giving a pep talk or taking away your biggest objection to taking action.
Whether you’re writing landing page copy or a product description, you can follow proven templates. Find an example you like. Analyze its structure, and notice how the parts fit together.
Writing faster isn’t your ultimate aim
Writing faster doesn’t mean lowering your quality standards.
The opposite should be true.
Aim to write better content.
Be more useful. More engaging. And more seductive.
PS
Want to know the figures?
In the past, I didn’t measure how long it took to write a blog post. But my estimate is between 6 and 8 hours. I now write a blog post in about 3 hours—sometimes even in 2½. I probably take more time for editing than most.
My posts are around 1,000 words. This one is 1,212 words.
Recommended reading on writing faster and better:
How to write faster: 12 unusual productivity hacks
A 5-day plan for creating weekly blog posts
The magic of shitty first drafts
Great advice as always Henneke!
As a senior fitness coach I struggle between using medical facts that may sound boring and trying to talk to the customer, using my personality…am great face to face!!
Thank you.
Dannie Alter CSFT CPT
What can you do to mimic that face-to-face experience?
When you write, do you have a person in mind who you’re writing for?
Or have you tried recording and then transcribing your content? Of course, you’d have to edit your transcript quite extensively. Written text is more concise than spoken language. Plus, you usually use stronger, more precise words in written texts. But it might help you get away from the jargon?
Writing faster has always been my biggest nightmare.😣 But after reading this post, I’m confident things will change. I just feel the need to ask this? ” How long should topic research take specifically for content writing?”. When writing new topics for my clients, I’ve realized I get stuck in research. It’s like I want to include all the helpful tips out there and I can’t help myself. Later when I start writing and filtering the points I get confused, tired, bored, and just want to scream!😫😣 Yeah, long research is definitely a demon I’m trying to fight. Any advice on this?
It can help to set clear research questions before you start doing research. Which questions do you need to answer? This can help focus your research and make it easier to outline and write your post, too.
The other thing is, of course, to write more topics you know already (at least partly) but this may not always possible when writing for clients.
I am a little ashamed of this selfish thought. And wonder if anyone else sometimes has it. Henneke, this post is soooo good that I want to have it just for myself.
It’s a bit tricky to keep my blog secret 😉 Thank you for the compliment!
Thanks, Henneke! A lot of people give advice. You give a ‘How To Manual’ and make it fun. This is SO helpful!
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, Laurie! 🙂
Writing is something that not everyone can master quickly.
This needs a lot of experience.
Practice, Practice & Practice makes you perfect.
While keeping these things side.
The points above are really meaningful and will be really useful for the newbie content writers.
It’ll help a lot of people out there.
I love you, Henneke! You are such an inspirational writer mentor. I’m so attached to your blog. I wish I could hide away and catch up on all your blog posts. Thank you for genuinely giving yourself to help many of us that experience these day-to-day writing challenges. Every single post of yours that I read changes my life. I hope, one day in the near future, that I can take your coaching program “Enchanting Copywriting”. I am working towards that. You’re sensational. Thank you. <3
Wow, what a lovely comment, Natalie. Thank you so much for putting a smile on my face 🙂 Happy writing!
This is brilliant!
Thank you, Helen 🙂
Wow.
Hi, Henneke.
I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much in one post.
The questions to ask in number 1.
The simple 5-day plan in number 2.
The morning thing in number 3.
The cool template in number 4.
Awesome stuff!
Thanks for tips, Henneke. 🙂
Cheers,
Julian
That’s great to hear, Julian! Thank you.
And the post isn’t even that long 🙂
Happy blogging!
No kidding! Just goes straight to the point.
Guess long content isn’t everything, huh?
Exactly 🙂
I’m personally not a big fan of long content, as content often becomes too long-winded and starts to lack focus.
Thanks so much, Henneke! I always feel energized and encouraged after reading your blog posts. Enjoy your humor too. Happy biking!!
That’s great to hear, Betty. Happy writing!
Here’s what I love about this post…everything. I often like to write without worrying about punctuation, grammar etc with the first draft and then go back later and edit. Spending so much time worrying about it seems to curb my imagination. Thank you for sharing your methods for writing, it is greatly appreciated. Jeanne
Yes, that’s a great point. Focusing too much on choosing the right words and getting punctuation and such right also interrupts my flow. It might require a different way of thinking? I find the writing journey is much smoother when I focus on specific tasks rather than try and do everything at the same time. Thanks so much for stopping by again, Jeanne!
You are always engaging and fresh with ideas. I enjoy this post although not all the content is not new to me. I enjoyed it. All your advice is actionable and this is mark of an experts; thanks very much for your help.
My pleasure 🙂
Good to see you again, Marlene!
Very nice tips. I think when one start a new blog, face this problem the most. Managing time while blogging is the biggest problem, it sometimes hamper personal life and health as well.
Your health is your most precious asset. Making it your first priority helps you get more done over time.
Hi ,
You have given great and useful tips ,
It is really very hard to create 1st draft of your post , I Spend maximum time on it.
I will try it in your way now .
I really liked you 5 days tips .
Will work on it .
Thanks for such sharing such informative article with us .
Great! Let me know how you get on?
Hey Henneke,
Great tips here! The one I resonated the most with was #2
I actually been putting this into practice for over a year now. I have a pretty tight schedule and I have to squeeze in times to do blogging the other actions related to blogging.
So I have to split it up.. like for instance, I would come up with an engaging headline on the first day, come up with an intro using one of the copywriting formulas I written about before, write up an outline of each point, fill in the blanks, and edit later, and then proof read.. this takes me about a week if not more to complete.
But I tell you that it cuts down time so I can focus on those tasks I need to do for that particular day! Thanks for sharing Henneke and I hope you’re enjoying the week! Take Care!
Hey Henneke, your timing is spookily perfect. I finally hit publish on my blog post for this week at 12.48am this morning. The stress and pressure (possibly in part due to the 3 French bol-sized cups of coffee I drank), I put myself under (again) to write and publish in nearly one sitting taking a toll. There’s got to be a less painful way of doing what I love was the last thought as I fell into bed – exhausted!
THANK YOU for a great practical ‘how to’ post. Particularly useful is the guide to spreading creating the post over a few days.
Thanks to the other commenters for sharing tips on working ahead!
Much appreciated,
Nicole
I’ve been there so often, too—using my last sparks of energy to finish a post late at night.
For some reason, I’ve found it really hard to get away from that mindset and to start earlier with writing. But now I’ve made that change, I find it so much more enjoyable to write.
Happy writing, Nicole!
Hey Henneke,
I need to take this advice to heart and cut my writing time DOWN. I take more than 10 hours usually to write a post and I know that could really be cut down to a total of 5 hours.
Your second point is correct. You have to let it percolate for a bit. I’ve been doing that and it’s been getting some pretty good results for me.
I already have my post for this week, but I like to work ahead. So, I’m going to work on a few guest posts and try this guideline. Hopefully, I can get it down to 5 hours and then maybe less.
Thanks for this.
– Andrew
The 6 to 8 hours I quoted was already down from 10 – 12 hours a while ago (and several days for writing guest posts), so it’s possible to get substantially faster by finding the method and plan that works best for you.
Working ahead is already a good start! I wasn’t able to do this in the beginning, always working like crazy when the deadline came close.
Thank you for being a loyal commenter, Andrew!
Henneke,
Your tips are great to increase productivity! I wish I could write first thing in the morning, but I have to tend to to my twins first. I don’t get to sit down and actually write until past noon when they take their nap.
For me, though, I get my creative juices flowing once I’ve seen the feature image for a post I’m writing. And if it’s client work, I still go to Pixabay or wherever and explore new images.
Pictures set the mood and tone for me and while it can take time to find the right picture, once I have it, boy do the words just fly by!
Elna
I admire you can get so much done while being a mother of twins, Elna. As a mother it’s more difficult to be selfish and claim your own time. You can’t leave the twins crying because you want to get a first draft written.
I don’t usually start with an illustration (sometimes I do), but once I can picture the illustration in my mind, my words flow easier, too!
Hi Henneke,
Great post! I am already using the steps to writing a blog as I write my blog this week. I love having a system to help me organize my thoughts. I am an organized person by nature but sometimes I feel all over the place when I begin to write my blog. I like having a step by step procedure so I don’t feel so overwhelmed with the task. I really look forward to your posts, they have been so helpful so far. Have a great rest of the week:)
I found it really useful to cut the writing process up in different steps, but also the content in different sections – that makes it so much more manageable. Glad you’re enjoying my post! 😀
Thank you for stopping by, Sheri.
Hello Henneke,
I never knew of the incubation period as a fact but I always had found that working for me. thanks for backing my instincts with some brick and mortar data.
This is a real post that I have to bookmark. I haven’t read it fully too. And this is not because its not worth it but because your post contains so many wonderful ideas that I need time to absorb and practice each of them.
Subscribing to your newsletter was one of the best things I did! thanks <3
Thank you so much, Swadhin. Glad you found the blog post useful.
And yep, the incubation period is a fact. I think this is related to the idea that we often get our best ideas under the shower – we unconsciously continue to process problems and ideas. Apparently, even Einstein discovered the theory of relativity when daydreaming outside on a sunny day.
Hello Henneke, I did not get to read your post right away this week, but
like the four tips. I am like you, groggy in the mornings, going outside to get the dog out of the kennel or bed, where ever that is. I had a go at starting to write early it did work, but house sitting always demands first things first. Phone calls, messages to be taken, animals to be fed etc. By then am wide awake. I will do it as often as I can though and maybe I will learn to ignore the phone and simply leave it on the recorder. But some keep bleeping for ever until listen to the message and write it down. Technology, ha.
I’d try to ignore the messages if you can – for only one hour. Most things can wait for one hour, right?
I’ve found that when I’ve written for an hour first, I start my day feeling much better, because I’ve got a priority for myself out of the way. I leave answering emails (and reading the newspapers!) for later.
I also find it much easier to get started, because I only have to write for one hour (actually even less: twice 25 minutes), and then can have breakfast. It feels doable.
Happy writing, Annamarie!
Awesome post Henneke! I read your post when I’m at my groggiest and I absorbed so much of what you are trying to teach, thank you! 🙂
So, reading when groggy works, too?! 😀
I struggle with this all the time, and in fact, wrote a post of my own on this very topic today. Hopefully it was as good as yours. 🙂 Perfect timing for me today. Thanks, Henneke!
Some people argue that writer’s block doesn’t exist and we simply have to get the work done. But I do think we all suffer from resistance to writing from time to time, and we have to find what’s stopping us from moving forward and then find ways around it.
Sometimes this can be creative burnout and we need to take a break. Sometimes we’re looking for excuses and are feeling sorry for ourselves – then we need to find a way to break the deadlock.
Happy writing, Terri. Thank you for stopping by again!
1. State
2. Incubate
3. Don’t wait (Or Do wait)
4. Template
Sure did laugh at your drawing of ME! 😉
You mean you’re able to hoover while phoning someone and reviewing your writing all at the same time? 😉
NO!
I mean I’m usually spilling papers everywhere and overextending the phone cord! 😉
And the floor always is needy thanks to environmental scientist husband… 😀
Wow, although I think all your posts are awesome, this one is “awesomer”! I’m 100% convinced that anyone who tries these tips will not fail to cut their writing time in half.
Thanks for the tips and I will certainly implement them!!
Blessings
Linda
Thank you, Linda
Happy writing! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Mely Brown forwarded this article to me as I was complaining to her about my inefficient writing process 🙂
I love your article, I can relate so much…I have a rather long incubation time, and I know first-draft-hell all too well. Then it’s smooth; I edit a lot but that’s fine. So, I have to work on the first draft and the incubation (ie pick the topic well in advance so my brain can process it).
Thanks for this article!!
Yes, if you know you need a lot of incubation time, then allow yourself that time. You might find it easier to work on several pieces of content, so when you feel stuck with one article, you can work on another.
With difficult, big projects (like a book), I sometimes need to leave it for a week or two, and then return to it with fresh eyes and new energy. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to push ahead (because you’re only looking for excuses) and when to leave it alone to let incubation do its work. But when you listen well to your own thoughts, you can figure out when you’re looking for excuses.
Thank you for stopping by, Anne. I hope these ideas help you enjoy your writing more!
Thanks Henneke! I think you’re spot on. I need to incubate 2-3 posts at a time but then write a single one at a time. I relate to the “looking for excuses” part…
That’s a good and true one: For client work tracking your time is important and necessary – you do it naturally. Whereas for your own blogs you like to experience the freedom of not having to stay within certain bounderies. But you’re better off imposing certain limits when frustration levels rise… 😉
I’m used to the wonderful workings of percolation for myself and customers and know I can trust that completely – something allways shows up. How nice is that! And a relief. 🙂
I’ll keep you posted on the timer. Such a useful idea!
Yes, exactly. Setting the boundaries actually helps me enjoy the process more – it doesn’t limit my freedom or my creativity.
It’s counter-intuitive, but the boundaries increase freedom, creativity and enjoyment. I don’t know why it took me two years to figure that out! 😉
Also, note Quincy’s comment above for using the Workrave app instead of Focus Booster.
Thank you for yet again another lovely and useful post, Henneke.
I like the idea of a setting a time(r) for your first draft and not exceeding that set period, no matter what. I’m going to use that immediately!
My own blogs take about 8 hours in total each. For clients I’m a lot faster, but that’s because I mostly edit for them. So yes, also with me you’ve hit a nerve: I love editing more then writing.
Good idea to keep that in mind when planning/facilitating your writing and why setting a first draft timer seems like the perfect idea to me.
I also used to be faster with client copy – even if I had to write it from scratch. I think this was because I already implemented the tricks of percolation and I was tracking my time, so I would get distracted a lot less.
For some reason, my mind always resisted implemented the same tricks for writing my own blog posts. I felt that I had to have the freedom to play, but still I was frustrating myself, because I also got irritated about being too slow.
Let me know how you get on with setting a timer? Some people use an old-fashioned kitchen timer. I hope it works for you, too!
Well, Henneke, the old fashioned timer works! And because of that I can increase my blog frequency back to ‘normal’. (Some time ago I reduced it to once every two weeks, because it’s busier and my own blogs took too much time.)
Wow, that’s great! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
Happy blogging!
Love the tip about spreading client work — or just large pieces of copy — over multiple days and especially in different kind of tasks.
I recognize the “percolation” concept. I call it “pruttelen”. So do you I guess 😉
Yep, “pruttelen” that’s percolating for coffee, and simmering for a curry 🙂
I find it amazing how effective it is. Even when only picking an idea on day one, then outlining on day two becomes easier.
You must be telepathic Henneke, I got up early this am to re-write a new draft of a 1st draft I knew was not making the mark for the reader. Despite several days of further research to “put things right’, I hit the blank page wall you opened your blog with.
Well, I want to thank you for getting me back on track ; your 4 point kick-start got me back to knowing why, what and to whom I was writing. From the number of posts ahead of me I am glad I am not the only one to have the blank page experience. Thank for your terrific insights into the art of writing. Paul
Good writers require a certain sense of telepathy 😉
I’m glad to hear this post help you get back on track, Paul. And rest assured, we all hit the blank page from time to time.
Happy writing! 🙂
Thanks Henneke – I forgot to mention I like your 4th point that to engage the reader you must first empathise with their need to solve a problem. It’s something I try to do – but I just realised that “blank page” syndrome may mean the writer, me!, has forgotten who the audience is. Cheers
Great post Henneke.
I find most of the time the thought of writing that first draft is a lot more daunting than actually sitting down and doing it.
I’ve learnt to trust in the process and just write, as you said, then you can tweak and edit to your hearts content until you are happy with it.
Of course that is easy to say when its for your own blog and you have no time restraints. 🙂
Yes, that’s such a good point.
And I guess confidence and trust in your writing process increase with experience. I don’t think that’s any different whether you write for your own blog or for clients. 🙂
Nice to “meet” you, Kate 🙂
So much goodness in this post, Henneke!
Love the questions you prompted us to ask before we even begin writing. And I’m definitely going to try the timer method for writing my first draft. I use Toggl to track my time throughout the week but I’m going to check out Focus Booster to see if I like it better. Thanks!
Focus Booster doesn’t track your time. What I like about it is that you can physically see the time ticking away, so I’m more inclined to start writing and to keep writing. When the 25 minutes are nearly finished, I feel like upping my writing so I get more done before the next break. It’s weird how our minds work 😉
The only irritating thing is that Focus Booster often requires updates which feels like a time waster. I’ve not looked for alternatives recently. I might need to do another search.
Ah! Good to know. Thanks, Henneke 🙂
I know of a few others you could check out…
>> Toggl.com
>> E.ggTimer.com
>> Pomodorotechnique.com
Hope you find one that works for you!
Thank you!
I used to use Office Time to track time for client projects, but they didn’t have the visible timer; and the trick for me is that the timer must be clearly visible on my screen, whether I’m working in Word or WordPress. If I don’t see the time ticking away, it doesn’t work. This is what I like about the FocusBooster. The E.ggTimer doesn’t have this feature, for Toggle I’m not sure. The Pomodoro Technique are developing an app – this will probably be a good one! I’ll keep my eye on it 🙂
Henneke,
If you’re interested in an app that works well with The Pomodoro Technique then take a look at Workrave ( http://www.workrave.org/ ). It’s a simple timer that can be used to set micro-breaks and rest breaks, like what is described in The Pomodoro Technique. And yes, it has a visible timer, which can be displayed anywhere on your screen. I have this program running all the time. It’s my timer of choice.
Great! I’m going to check it out.
Thank you for your suggestion, Quincy 🙂
That makes sense – needing that visual reminder. For Toggl you can see the time ticking away in the bar in your web browser but I’m not sure if that’ll be enough of a visual cue for you. Sounds like the Workrave is a good pick (thanks, Quincy!) Good luck checking it out 🙂
Hi Henneke,
This is a wonderful post with so much valuable information. It’s going to help me a lot because I tend not to write first drafts. I usually write one draft and edit, and it takes me much longer to write a blog post.
I’m going to follow your guidelines and stop wasting valuable time.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’m glad to hear you found the post useful, June. I hope it helps you write faster and enjoy it more.
Happy writing!
Aha and confirmation moment.
Now I realize why I had mixed feelings about writing. When you said I like editing and not the first draft, you hit a nerve.
I was feeling that maybe I’m not cut out to be a writer. I’m going to try your methods.
I like how the tasks are separated by a 24 hour period.
I’m feeling optimistic again. You have a gift at making people feel they can do this type of writing.
Yes, I truly believe that we can all be writers when we use the right methods.
If you hate writing first drafts like I do, do whatever it takes to get them written as fast as you can, so the fun of editing can start 🙂
Happy writing, Sandy!
Hi Henneke, Thank you for writing this article. I can’t tell how big a problem this is for me. I want to write twice a week, but I am not able to. I need to write a client’s article but I am unable to start and the deadline is hovering near. I will try to write using your method, writing does seem easier using this method, but I need to try it first to believe that it will work for me.
Yes, I know how that feels. I used to wait until the deadline was close, then write late at night, not get enough sleep, and be exhausted the next day.
Spreading your writing over several days really helps. If you struggle to find ideas for writing, use a separate session (half an hour is usually enough) to generate blog post ideas for the whole month.
I hope these ideas help you, Sundar!
I don’t know if it was Hemingway who said, “Writing is easy, just sit down and open a vein.”
I do love to write, but sometimes feel that, revealing the self to the Self is what is hard.
To help others is easy, and your post makes that much easier. Thanks.
Well yeah, writing anything is easy. But making it good can feel daunting sometimes 🙂
Thank you for stopping by again!
Hi Henneke,
Point #2 – Allow Time For Percolation is a great one. I like the idea of breaking a post into chunks and completing each part separately. It’s easy to get sucked into the research part or the first draft.
And writing the first draft before breakfast is an interesting idea. I’ll try it…a cup of coffee and a first draft:)
Using percolation time is also excellent if you have busy days, because you don’t need a lot of time for each step – even editing can be broken down over two days if required. It’s also a good way to cap your time for research!
Let me know what happens with your first draft before breakfast?
Brilliant! (As always!) I find that when I branch away from a familiar template into more creative waters it becomes harder to find the focus. Your questions will definitely help. Thank you!
Sometimes it’s nice to branch away and try a different format, but I’m more aware now that when I do that, I need to have more time to finish a post as the re-structuring takes longer.
The advantage of freewriting is, though, that sometimes you uncover new ideas and fresh thoughts.
Good to see you again, Melinda!
You make even the most daunting challenges snackable, Henneke! Great post. Here’s another neat tool you can use for writing a first draft: http://blindwrite.herokuapp.com/
It’s very simple: you set a timer and a topic, and the app prevents you from seeing what you’re writing until the timer is up. It’s perfect for editing junkies 😉
That sounds interesting!
This would probably quite a challenge for me. Even when writing my first draft as fast as possible, I can’t help but still correct a few typos, or re-read a few sentences when I get stuck. I might try it. Have you tried it?
Thank you for sharing, Kara 🙂
This article really came at the right moment as I have been frustrated recently creating new, interesting articles. After years of cranking out blog posts quickly and easily , I have recently been stuck in the mud. I can see how following this “process” will definitely help me put together better quality writing.
“Empathize with a problem” …such a simple a concept, thanks!
I hope it helps you, too, Doug.
Here’s to happy writing 🙂
Yet again, gold.
Thank you for your wisdom, Henneke!
It’s exciting to know that I’ve started doing things right over the past couple months 😉
Glad to hear that, Sara.
Keep writing! 🙂
Henneke,
Seems like we are on the same wavelength when it comes to writing and productivity. Recently, I started tracking my time to see how long it takes me to write. These are good tips and I am sure they will speed up my writing.
Thanks and see you soon 🙂
Yep, I agree – tracking time to find out how long things take, is a great start. I used to track time for client work, but somehow I resisted doing it for my own work.
Interestingly, I found that even the simple act of tracking what I spent my time on made me already more productive 🙂
See you soon in Denver!
As someone who doesn’t find the first draft all that hard, I really appreciate the questions you suggest.
It’s finding the point and skeleton of my writing that I usually struggle with, so I really appreciate these guidelines. I’ll bet that they lead to writing better headlines and subheads too.
Thanks!
Yep, that’s a great point!
Once you know what the point is of your content, the headline becomes more obvious and it becomes easier to entice people to click through. And when your skeleton is clear before you start writing, you know what your subheads need to say and you know what you need to write in each section.
Thank you for stopping by. Happy writing!
Brilliant Henneke! At times I’ve felt like a tortoise when writing, taking ages to reach the finish. It saps your energy. I try to do two things differently now: get a lot of my thinking done before I start writing, and ignore my internal editor when I write my first draft.
I love #2 and #4 here. I’ll be including these in my routine more often.
In the past I sometimes got irritated about being such a slow writer. And that irritation sapped even more energy, and made me even slower. Sometimes we make life quite difficult for ourselves. 😉
Happy writing, Richard!
Writing the first draft IS the hardest part.
Thanks to your recommendation to embrace crappy first drafts, I get it done quickly.
Thanks Henneke!
Yes, we need to silence that inner critic until the first draft is done 😉
I’m glad this helps you to write faster, too.
Thank you for stopping by again!
I agree, Benny. Silencing that inner critic is hard, but it has to be done. Until I made a point of doing it I didn’t appreciate how much time it actually saves in the long run.
This is a pure gem of a post, Henneke! When it comes to solving my worst writing problems, you just helped immensely. Thanks!
That’s great to hear, Greg.
Happy writing!