Write Super-Fast

Writing fast and editing later is a good practice. For many people, writing super-fast is an even better practice. Here’s why:

If you write fast, you don’t have time to criticize your writing. And the more energy you spend criticizing your writing, the less energy you will have for writing. Many amateur writers can work up a writer’s block for themselves with just a few sentences of self-criticism. Don’t get started on that road.
When you write super-fast, your writing can approach the speed of your thought. I’m serious. Even non-geniuses can think much faster than they can type, once they get going. Let yourself fly. Don’t slow down your brain. Letting the words flow will actually spur new thoughts, and it will at least prevent you from losing thoughts because you couldn’t get them down fast enough.
Until you finish writing, you shouldn’t edit. Everything that anybody writes is garbage until it’s edited. Editing is awfully inefficient when you try to edit every word as you type it.

For the first draft, try to write like the wind. Wait to edit until you start the second draft, after the sweat has dried.

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Michael on June 27, 2007 | Filed Under Writing Basics

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9 Responses to “Write Super-Fast”

Daniel on June 28th, 2007 11:56 am

Hmmm… I am guilty here. I stop to edit my stop every 5 seconds. Good tip, I will definitely follow it from now on.
mo on June 28th, 2007 2:49 pm

Good advice. I will give it a shot.
H.L on June 30th, 2007 2:50 pm

I agree that this tip helps a lot in writing, but I think it may not really help in writing module in some exams such as IELTS, ECPE… When I do the writing module, I do not have enough time to check again and correct much in my writing because I only have about thirty minutes. That is why I have to check frequently to make sure that I have used correct grammars and vocabularies as well as the appropriate opinion. Thus, can anyone tell me what I should do to get the best result, especially in IELTS writing module. Thanks a lot.
Dave on June 30th, 2007 3:29 pm

I’ve always been the other way. I tend to think slowly anyway, so everything I’ve ever submitted for school or a writing contest has been my first draft. I thought of this as being “just my style”, and I hadn’t thought of all the advantages you mentioned. Guess I’ll have to try and change, won’t I?
Michael on June 30th, 2007 3:47 pm

Dave, some famous writers have worked like you. I confess I have often written that way myself. Most of us can’t do it, though. Now that I’m trying to write faster, I find that I get less distracted by proofreading.
Michael on June 30th, 2007 3:52 pm

H.L., you have a good point. When you’re being judged on correct grammar, and nobody is allowed to correct what you write, you do need to be more careful. IELTS experts say you should spend 5-7 minutes planning before you start writing, and only 2 minutes editing. But editing might be easier once you’re all finished. You won’t know if your verbs are in agreement until you’ve written them all down.
Santhosh on July 30th, 2007 7:04 am

That is a great tip, and I use it often.
DPeach on August 8th, 2007 4:23 pm

This is something I learned a few years back. It is a wonderful tip.

I have found two things that may be a help too.

Don’t start editing immediately. If you have the luxury of waiting a day (or more) you will be able to edit with less emotion and attachment to the words you previously wrote.

Secondly, please don’t forget to go back and edit. Even if it is just a quick re-read to make sure everything fits. It is humorous to read all the grammatical mistakes that could be avoided if people would re-read their post before hitting submit.