How to write quickly? That is the question we all ask ourselves as we spend our time writing blog posts, articles, sales pages, optin pages etc. etc. etc.
There is a way in which we can write much more quickly than the old-fashioned ways such as pen & paper, typing and I don’t mean outsourcing.
Before I let you into the secret, you need to do some preparation. Do you know what you want to write about? What is the topic and how well do you know it?
Before you start writing, do your research and find out everything you want to include in your post, article or whatever you are going to write.
You do not need to know every single detail about the subject but you do need a working knowledge of it.
By spending some time visiting forums relating to your topic you will find out what people are looking for, and who knows, you may already know the answers to their questions. If you don’t know the answers already, further research will reveal them. Moreover, you will then be able to write about the solutions to people’s problems.
It is important that you do not just copy what other people have said but rather put it into your own words with your own interpretation as otherwise you will face the consequences of plagiarism.
By using your own words, you will appear as an expert rather than just copying someone else. The language will be more natural to you and will therefore flow more fluidly.
The old saying KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) comes into play as well so don’t over complicate the information. If you do people reading, will lose interest and may not want to get your product as a result. You need to keep their interest right to the end.
By complicating everything, you make it harder for yourself to write. You can also make errors that someone who is more knowledgeable than yourself on the subject, will pick up easily. You may well also get negative feedback to your detriment. By keeping it simple, you will find it easier to write about the topic and will not be as liable to make basic mistakes.
Write as if you were speaking to someone about the topic and your words will show your interest in the subject to your readers.
Now how to speed up the process.
Use speech recognition software so that you just say what you want and your computer automatically types it up for you. I hear you ask where do I get speech recognition software? The answer is simple and you do not have to spend anything.
If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 then it is just a matter of setting up the built in speech recognition system that comes as part of those operating systems.
My Computer operates Windows Vista and to find the speech recognition system I click on Start then click All Programs then click Accessories then click Ease of Access and finally click Windows Speech Recognition. The speech recognition program opens and you then set it up with your microphone or headset and away you go.
In the early stages of using the speech recognition program, until the computer is used to your voice, it may type spurious words and spelling so make sure you read the written document and run a spell and grammar checker over it before publishing.
Don’t forget once published your reputation is on the line and if you publish rubbish your reputation will also be rubbished. Make sure everything is right, that there are no obvious typing mistakes that the grammar is correct and one thing I consider to be important is that the spelling of the word relates to what is being said.
E.g. using their instead of there or they’re all of which sound the same but mean different things. Another example is to, too, or two. So as you see these are important to check to ensure your document uses the right words and reads correctly.
Your comments are always welcome and will be published as long as they are passed by Akismet.
Richard
Hi Richard
I think voice recognition software is a good idea. Not feasible for me when Eddie is sick and I try to keep everything quiet, But I do know people who use it.
Dee
Hi Dee
Yes with Eddie being sick the sound of your voice could be annoying to him and that is something you don’t want.
It works best in a quiet location with no interruptions from telephone, children, partner, door bell etc.
Richard
Hi Richard
I actually enjoy typing, in spite of the problems with my hands, have been doing it all my life and I can type quite quickly. In fact sometimes I can type quicker than the words appear on the screen, very frustrating! LOL!
Dee
Hi Dee
I, although I was never taught to type, can type fairly quickly. The only drawback is that I am looking at the keyboard to see what letters I am hitting instead of at the screen to see what is appearing there. I sometimes hit the wrong key and it is only when I read over what appears on the screen I realise I have made a mistake and then correct it.
Richard
Hi Richard
No one is infallible. Even professional typists make mistakes, that is why we need proof readers.
Dee
Hi Dee
When I worked for the Roads Service over here I saw some “Professional Typists” and their work. We sometimes sent things back to be corrected 3 or 4 times before it was typed correctly. Mind you back then computers and word processors were only just coming into use and with the typewriter if one word was wrong the whole page had to be retyped.
Richard
Hi Richard
In my erly days at work, no tippex and I worked as a PA to a solicitor. No mistakes allowed in the legal profession!
Dee
Hi Dee
Yes just retype the whole letter if you did make any.
Richard
Hi Richard,
Another way to speed up the writing process is to use a template and plugin the information.
Good post!
Louise
Hi Louise
I agree you can use templates to help speed up your writing but I feel that all your articles would then look the same with no variety.
If you just want to churn out articles by the score and have no interest in how they look by all means use a template. I feel this is the way some outsourced people work no matter who they are writing for.
Richard
Hi Richard
Yes some people do not do research and that is where they come unstuck. You cannot portray yourself as an “expert” in any field if you don’t have the knowledge.
To YOUR success
Sue
Hi Sue
As you say if you don’t do some research you could be publishing stuff that is either out of date or totally irrelevant to your topic.
Your reputation then becomes very poor and no one will want to read your information in the future.
Richard
Hi Richard_M
Nice post and good idea to use software to help you write well and quickly. I may give your suggestion a try!
Years ago on one of my past computers I tried ViaVoice software for this & enjoyed it but I kept getting technical issues – so I gave up! I don’t write too much anyway.
When I write/type on the computer I am usually very lazy & slow using just one finger!
Right now though I am doing it properly with both hands..much better discipline.
Final thought though-speed is not always great-remember ‘more haste-less speed’ adage? Still speed & efficiency is…good!
Regards
Hi Richard
Everyone is not a trained typist so if one can speed up in other ways it makes it easier to write more.
I find if I am not in the mood to write I just wait until I am and then tend to write a number of posts, articles etc and schedule their publication.
RIchard
Hey RichardM and Richard_ and Dee and co . . .
This is a most interesting debate about how to write faster. I think templates definitely have their place – as you don’t need to set up fonts and margins etc every time. But of course the tone and structure for each article will be different depending on the subject.
I’ve been given the discs for Dragon by my partner who finally found them – but I didn’t know Vista had voice recognition in-built! For a two fingered typist in a world of words, keeping up with the pros is certainly a challenge.
On the list once I get to NZ is to learn Dvorak; I’ve heard so many stories about how fast it is that I’m even looking forward to the experience.
Hi Anthony
You are talking about Dragon and Dvorak both programs I have no knowledge of at all.
As a 2 fingered typist myself I have got to be pretty fast at typing and so have not actually used the voice recogition software myself as yet but probably will in the future.
Richard