How To Write Good Blog Posts More Quickly
How To Write Good Blog Posts More Quickly
I tossed around some strategies with Easton Ellsworth of Business Blogwire about how to write blog posts more quickly, without compromising on quality. Our discussion sparked some further ideas for me, and inspired this post. Thanks Easton.
What’s the Hurry?
Some posts take a while to gel, and you want to take as much time as you need, especially if it is a key article. Interestingly, bloggers often observe that posts they’ve dashed off quickly are the ones which provoke comment and interest. There is room for both, but given time constraints, it can be helpful to have some “faster posting” strategies.
Set Your Own Deadline
As a freelance writer, you are used to working to deadlines. Set an arbitrary deadline of your own for your post. You don’t have to adhere to it, but it gives you an idea of how long you take for your average post.
Dump Your Ideas While They’re Fresh
Easton suggests “dumping your ideas”. Note down any ideas as roughly as you like in a draft post to be published when you’ve had time to flesh it out. It may be just a phrase, a heading or a paragraph. Unless it is a current topic which is time sensitive, give yourself time to mull it over. You may get back to this the next day or months down the track. Add more as you go, or just leave it as a memory jogger.
For new bloggers, in WordPress, just press the “Save and Continue Editing” button in the WordPress text editor. If you can have a few posts “in the works”, it takes the pressure off having to think of something and “deliver” every day…. a recipe for burnout and the onset of the dreaded writer’s block, for many writers.
Of course, there’s also the trusty writer’s notebook or online notepad. I loved the idea of the innovative pen with paper inside, if your muse strikes while you’re out and about. When I do travel writing and am far from home, I like to email myself with my impressions while they are fresh, or cc emails I send friends and family to myself. These make a useful reference along with other notes and photos.
Know Your Topic & Have a Genuine Interest in It
When you can share your experiences and write on a topic you know intimately, you don’t need to spend an inordinate amount of time on research. While you’d still link out to authority sites and quote others, you are up on developments in your field, and so it’s all at your fingertips, or at least readily accessible.
Avoid the Perfectionism Anti Productivity Trap
We all strive for quality, but perfectionism, too much tweaking and too much research can be counter productive. The time draining procrastination monster can cleverly disguise himself as work. As well as productivity and time management, the business of writing is about a good outcome for your reader or client. Will your tweaking make any significant difference? Is your post professional? Is it well written? Is the content sound? Is it useful or interesting? Have you made your point well? Sure it could be improved. Everything can be improved. Remember, blogs are conversations, not academic treatises.
You Don’t Have to Start at the Beginning
If you are ready to write, you don’t have to start at the beginning. Start wherever it suits you. I know someone who read the last page of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” first, and then went on to read the book. Okay, it doesn’t suit everyone. Do what suits you. If you have some ideas for the middle or the end of your post, start there if you prefer. To paraphrase Nike, “Just write it.”
Stream of Consciousness & Outlines
Julia Cameron in “The Artist’s Way” recommends writing “Morning Pages”. This is a stream of consciousness writing on whatever comes into your head, whether it makes sense or not. This is not for everyone, but it is a good way to get some ideas on paper.
When I wrote my 50 000 word Master’s Thesis, and even now in most of my writing, I use a rough outline. I don’t think of it as an outline though, as often it’s just rough notes or an idea in my head. When I start writing, the idea develops, so in a sense that is a more structured form of stream of consciousness writing. As I write, when I come to a part where my thoughts are not fully formed, I just type a few words, phrases or what I’ve thought of so far. I add a row of asterisks to indicate that I need to come back to that section. That way, my flow is not interrupted. That seems to work for me.
Do What Works Best For You
What is the most productive environment for you to work in? Where do you get your best ideas? Is there a time of the day when you write best and think most clearly? Do you prefer noise or quiet? Be true to yourself, and write in a style that is comfortable for you. Be kind to yourself and things will flow.
Let’s Talk
How long does it take you to write a post? Have you noticed you are getting faster with writing posts as you become a more experienced blogger? While these tips are geared to blogging, most apply equally to writing in general. What tips do you have for writing or blogging more quickly without compromising quality?
Great tips!
It’s impossible to say how long a post takes me because they vary so widely. I’ve dashed some posts off in less than fifteen minutes, but I’d say that I average about 45 minutes per post.
Of course, I’ve also had those posts that have taken me a long time to write.
One tip that I have is that I set a time for about 30 minutes when I start writing the post. The timer is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule. When I hear it go off I look at where I am in the writing and see if I can wrap it up.
Hi Laura - Mine vary too, and even though I set an arbitrary deadline, sometimes I see it has been an hour or more, so the timer is a great idea.
Thanks for this post. I’ve been really working on this lately. I am not a natural writer at all, and have found myself with lots to write somehow… how did that happen??
Anyway, while I do have lots of partial posts stored in WP, I have begun keeping an actual paper notebook to see if that will help- just brainstorming ideas and thoughts as they come into my head. It can go wherever I am, and I don’t have to be near a computer. It even works great when my son wants company on the floor with the blocks, but wants to DO IT HIMSELF! Fine, Mommy will color in her book while you play with blocks.
It really depends. It usually does not take all that long to write the post, but to research it can take awhile. I’m working on a follow-up post at the moment, but you could say it has taken me five or more hours. It took me forever to find the original document that was being discussed on other blogs to read the excerpted paragraphs in context and I have yet to translate the important points. Then, given the amount of work I have put into this, I do not exactly want to just post it and be done with it. I will likely talk to a few other bloggers who have been discussing the topic and see if they are interested in providing updates to their readers as well.
That gets time consuming.
But then other posts take all of fifteen minutes to write.
And you never know which ones will be the ones to really get the attention.
Hi Randa - It’s interesting that you say you’re not a natural writer as that does not come across at all in your posts. You do a wonderful job of both writing and providing useful, insightful articles.
I use the combination of the WP drafts and a paper notebook too. As you say, a notebook can go with you anywhere. “Mommy will color in her book while you play with blocks”. LOL.
The time it takes me to write posts varies a lot, depending on the length of the post and the amount of research involved. I keep notes in Google Notebook on posts I want to write, often with links to another blog or article that sparked the idea. I usually write a post in one sitting, though the idea may take several days to gel in my mind before I actually start to write. When I write a series, I often write the entire series at one time while I’m focused on the topic.
As several have said, it’s impossible to tell which posts are going to capture the interest of readers. Some that I spend a lot of time writing and think should generate interest don’t, while others that I whip out in a few minutes get more comments.
Hi Dana - I find if I mull something over for a while and let it “percolate”, often the writing comes quickly, but as you say, if research or contacting others is involved, that can often take longer than the writing.
Wow! Five hours! It’s great if you have an interesting topic to get more mileage out of it, and extend it in the ways you suggest, as no doubt, your readers will be interested too, and you have already done the research.
Hi Lillie - I haven’t used Google Notebook. I’ll check that out. Writing the whole series at once while you’re focused seems like a good idea. I tend to wait to see what sparks come up in the conversation and add those to the mix, although I know where I’m heading.
Even the big name bloggers make the same observation about not being able to predict which posts will spark interest, so at least we’re not alone there. If only we had a blog crystal ball.
Yvonne,
There are times when I spend an exorbitant amount of time writing a blog post. (But, I’m the type who can even do that with an e-mail!) Those generally tend to be the times when I’m working on a very lengthy, involved, and technical post, though. I do, however, tend to be rather perfectionistic when it comes to details, regardless of the degree of complexity (or lack thereof) of a given post. I am forever seeking just the right word or phrase to convey my thoughts, which, though it may make the finished product a bit more of a “masterpiece,” definitely does nothing at all for productivity and/or efficiency.
As Dana says, the amount of research necessary for writing the post is also a contributing factor in determining how long the task will take. I would have to agree with Laura, too, that the amount of time it takes me to write a post can vary widely, depending on the particular post. I think I’ll have to try her idea of setting a timer to bring me back to reality after a reasonable amount of time. Perhaps that will help me not to write as obsessively as I often do.
Randa seems to have a few good ideas herself, though, at age eighteen, my youngest child is definitely well past the building block stage!
Thanks for reminding us that we can be more prolific and productive writers if we work on being more efficient!
Great post!
Jeanne
Hi, again. Apparently, Lillie left her comment while I was still writing mine. (See what I mean about how long I can spend writing even something as simple as a comment?) I really will have to try Google Notebook. I know Lillie has mentioned it before, but I haven’t tried it, yet. Just too busy, I guess. Sounds as if it might be really helpful, though, in which case I guess I’m actually too busy NOT to try it!
Jeanne
Hi Jeanne - Writing comments can be harder than writing posts, as you know they are there forever, and you can’t change them. LOL.
With posts, sometimes you just need to take the time. There’s no way around it. Generally speaking, though, if you can find ways to make it more efficient with the same or similar outcome, there’s a discipline involved in that too.
I find I’m getting faster and more efficient the more I blog, so I guess it’s just about finding what works for each of us, and being open to trying new strategies. I love your turn of phrase with “too busy NOT to try it”. LOL.
Yvonne, thank you for sharing these valuable thoughts. If we don’t make decisions, time often makes them for us!
Hi Easton - Thanks for the inspiration for the post and for stopping by.
very nice write up and well thought out. i often have serious problems with trying to be a perfectionist with my work, and it often causes me to procrastinate. i spend needless hours pouring over simple writings sometimes, which i feel is truly a waste of my time. problem is, i know i do it, but i keep on doing it. hah
anyway, nice write up.
Welcome Feve - Ah… procrastination… I’m sure all of us can identify with that, especially as you say, knowing perfectly well that you are doing it. Why do we do this to ourselves?
Great tips! Overcoming writer’s block, even on blogs, can be very frustrating. Just starting the post (anywhere!) is great advice for overcoming block and just getting started. I referenced your post on my work at home blog: http://www.workshak.com/2007/08/blogging-tips-f.html,
Hi Miranda - Great to see you here. Thanks for referencing this post on your blog. I’m pleased you found it useful.
I have found that writing blogs has defintiely sped up my writing and increased my productivity. However, there’s a downside in that I’ve become accustomed to writing short, sharp posts. When I try to put together a longer, more comprehensive article I find it quite difficult. I feel this great desire to just make one or two points, then move on!
Hi Matt- That’s interesting. I’ve noticed that too, as long as I can refrain from internet surfing and going off on tangents. The other thing (speaking of tangents), that I’ve noticed is that my writing is not a neat as it used to be, because I use the computer so much, and write long hand less.
Being a technology writer (previously writing for Mashable, now my own site–Tech In demand), I try to set a deadline of around 15 - 20 minutes for writing news articles, and an hour for feature articles. This does not include research.
It is not the writing itself that takes long, but the research and editing that consumes the most time.
I suggest to those of you who feel that you take too long writing to separate your time into a research period and writing period. Set a goal to do your research in a certain time period, and then another goal for writing.
I sometimes feel on days this works out better for me, and results in me being more productive.
Sep 6th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
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