| Writing fast, writing more, and writing well is a skill | | | | out-sourcing some research: it means you can |
| you can develop. It's a skill which pays off in | | | | write more. |
| today's Internet world where so much depends | | | | 3. Create descriptive working titles |
| on your writing skill, whether you're writing as a | | | | Your working title tells you exactly what the |
| freelance writer, or for your career, or for your | | | | focus is for an article, report, or book. It stops |
| business. | | | | you wandering off the point while you're writing. I |
| In this article we'll discuss five tips to write more. | | | | know if I can get the working title right, writing |
| I'm a reasonably fast and prolific writer; it comes | | | | the material will be easy. Equally, while I may |
| naturally. Over a long writing career I've also | | | | know what the topic and slant are, if I don't take |
| found that when I write more the quality of my | | | | the time to think about the title, I know that the |
| writing goes up. My writing students have also | | | | material will take longer to write. |
| found that when they write more, their writing | | | | Batch-write titles, as you batch-research. |
| improves. | | | | 4. Outline each piece |
| Would you like to write a 600 word, | | | | Outlining is essential to help you to write more. My |
| well-researched article in half an hour, including | | | | outlining is usually just a list of items I want to |
| research time? You can with practice. | | | | cover in the piece. If the topic is complex, or |
| Here are the tips: | | | | unfamiliar to me, I create a mind map. |
| 1. Plan your writing a week in advance | | | | Again, outline many pieces of writing before you |
| You'll write more when you plan your writing at | | | | write. I've just checked my In Progress file, and I |
| least a week in advance. Not only does planning | | | | can see that I currently have eight articles |
| your writing in advance help you to discover | | | | outlined. I'll outline several more later today; I like |
| useful research material via serendipity, your | | | | to have somewhere between ten and 20 articles |
| subconscious mind does a lot of the "writing" for | | | | outlined in advance. |
| you. | | | | 5. Relax while you write |
| So on Sunday evening, or Monday morning, take | | | | The more you can relax physically as you write, |
| a few minutes to create your writing schedule for | | | | the more you'll write. Some writers like to listen |
| the week, and enter all the articles, reports, and | | | | to music - check to see whether playing music in |
| other material you know you need to write in the | | | | the background helps you to get into a state of |
| coming week. | | | | "flow" so you can focus just on your writing. |
| 2. Research for a week's writing in one session | | | | Bonus tip: get a speech recognition program. |
| "Research", especially online, can be a huge | | | | Although learning to dictate your writing takes a |
| time-sink. As with writing, I plan my research in | | | | week or two initially, the boosts in your writing |
| advance, and you can too. You can research ten | | | | speed are worth it. |
| articles, or a 30-page report, in less than two | | | | So there you have five tips which will help you to |
| hours at the library. Online, using newspaper | | | | write more and make more money. Remember |
| databases and commercial databases, it should | | | | to practice these new skills until they become a |
| only take you around an hour, maximum. | | | | natural writing process for you. |
| If you're writing on commission, consider | | | | |