How to write

I just can’t write fast enough.  I have too many ideas and every time I start to write one article I think of a dozen others.  Of course I don’t want to complain, because the only thing worse then over abundance is under abundance, unless I let the noise deafen me.Here are the strategies I’ve used to cope:

1.  Focus on one main idea at a time - This is critical when writing blogs or an article.  The readers don’t expect, or want a complete dissertation. They want information that is concise and precise, meaning to the point and about the point.  If I’m writing an article on Writer’s Block, you wouldn’t want to read about Success Strategies.  In my mind these two topics may be closely related, because Writer’s Block may be fear based and many are so afraid of failure they miss opportunities to succeed. It’s a transition I can make, but my reader will be disappointed if they don’t get what the came for.  If I find myself wandering, I’ll just make a note to write another article related to writing success.  This is how ideas multiply.

2.  Focus for a specific amount of time - I give myself 30 minutes.  I don’t always finish a piece in that time, but it does instill a sense of urgency.  I find myself putting words on the page as quickly as possible, without over analyzing.  I don’t ponder every word choice or edit myself as I go.  I can hear the clock ticking (even now) and I want to make the most of the 30 minutes. I’ve found 30 minute blocks of time are ideal for a creative burst. More than that I feel drained, less than that I have more to say.  I will come back to a piece later and edit, yes, for 30 minutes.  Sometimes I add content, if I wasn’t able to get the bulk of the idea on paper in my first pass.

3.  Get the basics down and then fill in the details - I write my introduction, setting up the idea I want to expand on and then I list the points I want to make.  As you can see in this example, I begin with one key point 1 - Focus on one idea, without adding any content.  I then go to key points 2, 3, 4, etc. until I have a good idea of what I mean to say. Now the idea that has been bouncing around in my mind “I have too many ideas” takes form.  If I have more than 5 key points listed, I’m probably not focusing on one main idea. 

4.  Keep a list - When ideas occur to me, I write them down.  It may be a line of dialogue or an article title.  I may see a news story that sparks my curiosity. For example, I’ve seen a lot of Britney Spears (too much) lately, so I have “What is Bipolar Disorder?” on my list. When it’s time to write, I pick one and begin.  Since I don’t usually finish a piece in 30 minutes, I keep a folder titled IN WORK.  These need more content because not all ideas develop easily. Some ideas have to be coaxed into maturity and some ideas have a Peter Pan Syndrome; they never grow up.  At least I’ve put Tinkerbell in a glass jar so she quits buzzing around my head.  I also have a folder titled EDIT so I can track ideas through each stage of development.

5.  Have specific Goals - I have goals to check off a certain number of items from my list each day, week and month.   I write and edit one chapter a week, three articles a day and about seven blogs a week.  While that doesn’t sound like a lot, I spend about 30 hours a week writing.  I know this is the maximum amount of work I can produce given my 30 minute rule and the time I have available to write.  If I want to product more I have to A) Write Faster or B) Give up Sleep.  Having aggressive goals increases the level of urgency I have when writing and it gives me a great sense of accomplishment when I’m done.

I hope these strategies can help you too.  If you have more tips to share, please do.  I welcome all feedback because we can learn from each other.  Until then, I will check one more item off the list and reward myself with cappuccino. Maybe then I can write faster.