How To Write An Article In 20 Minutes
It takes me only 20 minutes to write a 400-500 word article or blog post.
This article (that I wrote in 20 minutes) explains some of the tricks I use to accomplish this.
I started thinking seriously about this when I started blogging.
Blogging gave me a deadline (almost every day) and I did not want to spend more than 20 minutes each day on blogging.
Many of my blog entries are actually less than 500 words so take me less time.
1 - I start with a list of ideas and concepts I want to cover.
Usually I write this list in point form.
For me, I do this the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper.
2 - I often "incubate" an article for a few days (that does not count in the 20 minutes).
What I do is start roughing out some topic ideas then leave it.
Because I have thought about it, ideas tend to come to me that I frequently add to my points.
Of course I always carry a notebook for ideas.
3 - I often need to reduce the number of ideas that I cover.
Sometimes they do not fit with the angle of the article or do not flow with the other ideas.
Sometimes I have to give up a point to write a good article.
4 - Never save a good idea.
When I know I have many article deadlines to meet(EG blogging), it is tempting to "save" a few good ideas for later.
New ideas will always come so always give your best ideas.
5 - Develop tricks to get past writers block.
One way I do this is "warm up" writing.
I just sit down and write for 5 minutes.
This tends to help subsequent writing to flow.
Another way I do this is to go for a walk, cycle or a run (although sometimes I think I might use this to procrastinate a bit too).
Another trick I use is to make a game out of the deadline - say I will do it by X.
Perhaps I am simple but this motivates me.
6 - Come back to it later.
My best articles are written partly, revisited a few times, then finished.
I spend the same 20 minutes, though only 5-7 minutes per session.
Of course if the ideas are flowing well, I do keep writing.
7 - I often write 3-4 articles at the same time.
Spending 5 minutes on one, 7 on another etc.
When I am really in writing flow, this works well.
8 - One trick is using bullet points or numbered points as in this article.
People seem to like this technique and it helps articles flow for me.
So if I can write so quickly, why don't I write a few articles each day? Apart from the fact that I have a very full time job, writing is the easy part; coming up with the ideas is the tough part.
Ideas anyone?
This article (that I wrote in 20 minutes) explains some of the tricks I use to accomplish this.
I started thinking seriously about this when I started blogging.
Blogging gave me a deadline (almost every day) and I did not want to spend more than 20 minutes each day on blogging.
Many of my blog entries are actually less than 500 words so take me less time.
1 - I start with a list of ideas and concepts I want to cover.
Usually I write this list in point form.
For me, I do this the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper.
2 - I often "incubate" an article for a few days (that does not count in the 20 minutes).
What I do is start roughing out some topic ideas then leave it.
Because I have thought about it, ideas tend to come to me that I frequently add to my points.
Of course I always carry a notebook for ideas.
3 - I often need to reduce the number of ideas that I cover.
Sometimes they do not fit with the angle of the article or do not flow with the other ideas.
Sometimes I have to give up a point to write a good article.
4 - Never save a good idea.
When I know I have many article deadlines to meet(EG blogging), it is tempting to "save" a few good ideas for later.
New ideas will always come so always give your best ideas.
5 - Develop tricks to get past writers block.
One way I do this is "warm up" writing.
I just sit down and write for 5 minutes.
This tends to help subsequent writing to flow.
Another way I do this is to go for a walk, cycle or a run (although sometimes I think I might use this to procrastinate a bit too).
Another trick I use is to make a game out of the deadline - say I will do it by X.
Perhaps I am simple but this motivates me.
6 - Come back to it later.
My best articles are written partly, revisited a few times, then finished.
I spend the same 20 minutes, though only 5-7 minutes per session.
Of course if the ideas are flowing well, I do keep writing.
7 - I often write 3-4 articles at the same time.
Spending 5 minutes on one, 7 on another etc.
When I am really in writing flow, this works well.
8 - One trick is using bullet points or numbered points as in this article.
People seem to like this technique and it helps articles flow for me.
So if I can write so quickly, why don't I write a few articles each day? Apart from the fact that I have a very full time job, writing is the easy part; coming up with the ideas is the tough part.
Ideas anyone?
Source...