Rushed off your feet with tight deadlines? Looking for ways to write faster without sacrificing quality? Writing quickly is a skill that can take years to master, but it’s not impossible. There are a number of tips and tricks you can use to help you learn how to write faster.
Whether you’re a journalist, student, fiction writer, or marketing professional, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be looking at best practices to help you reduce time spent on writing essays, blogs, or your thesis statement. Continue reading for our expert advice.
How To Write Faster: Top 10 Tips To Increase Writing Speed and Maintain Quality
You may be thinking that it is easy to just write fast if you have lots of ideas in mind. However, the trick is not always in the speed at which you write but in ensuring the quality of your writing is also good.
So, here are our top 10 tips for writing faster and improving your writing flow while still producing high-quality work.
1. Streamline the Writing Process
Writing isn’t just about the act of putting words to paper; there’s a whole process involved. That process includes research, ideation, planning, and proofing. It can be lengthy, but allocating the right amount of time to each step is essential. You don’t want to spend most of your time on idea generation or brainstorming sessions.
We recommend combining steps and setting timers for each task. Brainstorm ideas while doing your research, allowing yourself an hour total for both. That way, you can train yourself to stick to stricter writing deadlines. Essentially, be a bit more ruthless with your process to increase efficiency.
2. Use AI To Generate Ideas
If you don’t want AI to write your articles for you, how about using it to generate your next idea? If you’re stuck for content topics or can’t figure out where to start, a prompt is the place to start. It can give you a list of great headlines for you to choose from.
Smodin’s headline generator effortlessly provides ideas based on your instructions. So give it a go to help get your creative juices flowing. This way, you can use your writing time more wisely.
3. Create a Flat Outline
By using a flat outline, you can make the act of writing that much quicker. Instead of adding every tiny detail, simply list the headings you want to cover. This will leave room for creativity as you write.
This means that when you’re in the writing stage, you don’t have to stop to think of your next paragraph. Simply refer to your plan and keep going. Having a good plan in place can remove blockers when you start writing, saving you time.
4. Remove Distractions
It doesn’t matter if you’re answering an essay question, creating a social post, or drafting an article. You need to remain focused in order to guarantee a quick turnaround. Removing any distractions is one of the best ways to achieve this.
Use noise-cancelling headphones to drown out any unwanted sound or to listen to music if that’s what helps you focus. Find a room without a TV so you’re not tempted to switch it on. Leave your cell phone in another room and try to avoid using the internet.
All are easier said than done, but minimising the temptation of each distraction will aid your writing process. One of the best ways to do this is by setting up your own home office. Try and find a quiet and comfortable place to concentrate on the task at hand.
5. Start Writing More Often
It’s true – the more you write, the faster you’ll type. Try to write every day if possible. After all, practice makes perfect. This not only trains your brain to work quicker but your fingers too. Even if you don’t have anything to write about, you can always use online typing tools that test your speed.
Plus, writing more often has the extra benefit of improving your skill, so you win on two fronts.
6. Proofread and Edit With AI
The rise of AI tools has paved the way for improving multiple processes. This includes writing and editing. Instead of wasting time checking spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, AI like Smodin’s Grammar Checker can do it for you.
Simply enter the text that needs checking, click “check grammar” and it will highlight any grammatical issues. It doesn’t matter what language you’re using either, as Smodin’s tool is multi-lingual. This will ultimately save time so you can hit those deadlines. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have an extra pair of eyes on your work.
7. Use a Template
With a template, you don’t have to waste time thinking about formatting. You can write faster and more efficiently while improving readability. Templates are designed to organize your content, keeping it clear and consistent. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.
Once you find a template that works for you, you can reuse it in the future. This lets you focus more on the content. Use online resources such as Grammarly and HubSpot to find blog templates, email templates, essay templates, and more.
8. Set Clear Word Count Goals
One way to improve your writing speed is to be strict with it. Assign yourself an hour for 500 words, then give yourself a little reward when you’ve finished writing. Test yourself by sprint writing on the hour, every hour. Setting yourself clear and timed goals should force you to write in record time. Besides, who doesn’t love a challenge?
9. Use AI Citations
Don’t get hung up on citations. Supporting evidence and careful research might be an important part of your essay, article, or thesis statement. But it can take up a lot of time and ruin your writing flow. By using tools that can do the citations for you, this weight is firmly lifted from your shoulders.
A citation generator does all the hard work for you. Simply tell it the citation style you need to use, and it will automatically add it to your selected project. As one of the most tedious parts of the writing process, a helping hand in this area is a lifesaver.
10. Save the Introduction Until Last
Sometimes, the hardest part of writing is the opening line. Being faced with a blank page can really stump some writers and even create writer’s block. If you’re struggling to come up with that punchy first line, move on.
You may already know what your body paragraphs are going to be, so start there. Come back to the intro once you have a full picture of what your article is about. There are no rules when it comes to your first draft.
What Tools Can I Use to Increase My Writing Speed?
You now know some practical tips to improve how quickly you can write a piece of content. Next, let’s look at some helpful tools you can use too:
- Typing software: Online tools such as Typing.com and RapidTyping help with keyboard training, so you can improve your speed and reduce typos.
- Ergonomic keyboards: These keyboards are designed to reduce strain and improve posture, so you can keep typing for longer.
- AI writing tools: Access to AI copywriting software can help with quick research, formatting, and citations. They help to cover areas that might slow you down.
- Text-to-speech/speech-to-text software: Hear your sentences out loud to quickly see how they flow. Or, maybe you’re better at expressing yourself through spoken word. In that case, text/speech technology listens and transcribes for you – a bonus tip for saving time!
Each tool not only teaches you faster writing, but they also help you improve as a writer. Find what suits you best and use it to take your content to the next level.
Writing Faster vs Writing Better: Finding the Right Balance
Knowing how to write faster is all well and good until your quality suffers. You have to strike the right balance between the two in order to create something worthwhile. So, here are some tips on writing better while writing faster:
Ensure There Is Clarity, Not Complexity
Don’t overcomplicate your sentences with big words or technical terminology. Simple language is always better for readability. Use shorter sentences to keep concepts clear and concise. This will help with conveying your ideas more effectively while also being faster to type.
You’ll also reduce proofing and editing, as you won’t have to re-read any complex sentence.
Read Your Brief or Essay Question Carefully
Fully understanding the brief brings you closer to success. If you rush in without knowing what you’re talking about, chances are you’re going to go wrong somewhere. It’s one of the most important tips anyone could give when it comes to writing.
Always read the question carefully. Whether you’re a fast writer or not, your quality suffers when your purpose isn’t clear.
Know When To Slow Down
Every writer knows that speed is important if you want to hit a tight deadline. But sometimes, a slower approach might be needed. It can help you avoid mistakes, which will ultimately save you time when editing and looking over later drafts.
Certain body paragraphs might need more attention than others. Make sure you give them the time they deserve. This ensures that fine balance between quality and speed.
Use Smodin AI To Write Faster and Better
When it comes to learning how to write faster, simply follow our best practices. You’ll be on your way to speedy content creation. Whether it’s writing more, removing distractions, or using AI to help out. There are many things you can do to take your content to the next level.
And if you do opt for AI integration, Smodin is one of the leading AI tools for writing. You’ll be in good hands. Find out more about Smodin’s pricing plans and wide range of writing tools, and start improving your writing today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I write faster?
There are several things you can do to write faster, such as:
- Try to write something every day, as practice makes perfect.
- Write in a quiet place with no distractions.
- Craft an outline of the topic you will write about.
- Use a stopwatch to time the speed of your writing.
What AI tools can I use to help me increase my writing speed?
There are several AI tools you can use to help you increase your writing speed. For example, you can use Grammarly if you want to edit your writing fast and ensure it is grammatically correct and there is good writing flow.
Moreover, you can use a tool like the Smodin AI Paraphraser to rewrite your sentences and make them sound better. Additionally, you can use ChatGPT to help you kickstart the writing process.
Is there anything I can do to type faster?
If you want to type faster, you can use a special keyboard, also known as an ergonomic keyboard. This type is designed to better suit the user’s needs, such as where their hands are positioned. Moreover, these types of keyboards often have a certain angle to take pressure off your wrists.