by Mel Mcintyre

Created on: November 02, 2010

If you want to write articles faster, you have to have a plan, a formula for success, and you need to stick to your plan with determination and single-mindedness.

The following eight points will help you work your way through the day in a smooth, efficient manner:

1. Make A Plan

Decide how many articles you want to write in a given day. Whether that’s three, five, seven, or more, you need to plan how much you can do in the time available. Start by choosing a number you feel comfortable working with, an amount you know you can get through without knocking yourself out.

2. Get Organized

Put each of your article titles or ideas on separate pages. You’ll be working on them individually, so keep them apart in order to help you concentrate on one article at a time.

3. Use List Power

Make lists or use a mind map to find related concepts to the topic of each article. Lists help you make notes in a hurry and can also be turned into section headings later on. Mind maps can give you enough material for your initial article and provide jumping off points for follow-up articles on the same subject.

4. Time Yourself

Force yourself to work to strict time limits. This technique ensures that you don’t spend too much time working on a single paragraph, or trying to come up with just the right phrase or title. If you want to work fast, you have to limit the time you spend on each aspect of the article so as not to get bogged down or waylaid.

5. Share The Load

Break jobs down into manageable chunks. You can work any way you want to, either on a single article to completion, or on similar sections of different articles. You might choose to work on lists for each article first, then introductions, conclusions, titles, and so on. Whichever way you do it, approach each task as an individual task to be accomplished; which leads nicely on to the next point.

6. Stay Focused

Concentrate on doing one job at a time. Don’t get distracted by all you have to do. Work on one job until it’s done, and then move on.

7. Aim For Speed

Nobody’s perfect, so avoid the temptation to craft the perfect phrase or find exactly the right word. If you want to write faster, you don’t have time for that. Write down the general idea of what you want to say and keep going. You can fix it later.

8. Take A Break

Finish each “job” to the best of your ability, take a quick breather, and then proceed to the next. Allow yourself time the following day for reviewing and editing your work. Remember that it’s easier to edit your writing when you’ve actually got something written down to edit.

These eight tips should help you stay focused and give you the motivation to get your articles written faster and more efficiently.

Learn more about this author, Mel Mcintyre.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.