One of the fastest ways to propel your writing business to the six-figure level is to become a MUCH more efficient writer. And in this week’s show, you’ll learn 8 simple steps to boosting your writing speed by 30% or more.
My guest is Daphne Gray-Grant — an authority on writing faster. Daphne’s strategies are a big reason why I earn $200++ per hour when I write for clients.
The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe in iTunes or on Stitcher to get this show delivered straight to the Podcasts app on your smart phone, tablet or iPod.
About This Show
The High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It’s designed for business writers and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent).
Daphne grew up in the newspaper business. At 16, she started working in her family owned weekly newspaper, eventually running the business. From there she moved to a daily newspaper and then took time off to raise triplets.
In this episode, Daphne talks to us about something many of us encounter as writers: writing efficiencies and writer’s block.
Why is Writing So Difficult?
If we think back to our school days, no one ever taught us how to write. Sure, we all handed in papers and received comments about the grammar, punctuation or spelling errors. But, no one ever talked about the process of writing (i.e., how to stay focused and get the words on paper!).
Consequently, many people feel so embarrassed by their writing that it stops them from ever doing it.
Since freelancers only get paid for the work they produce, writing faster is necessary to bring in more opportunity and income. The faster and easier you can write, the faster you can make room for another project.
The Writing System
There are specific steps involved in writing. Following a particular order is crucial to staying efficient and helps to eliminate writer’s block and chaos. The three main steps are:
- Preparation
- Writing
- Editing and Rewriting
Daphne’s book, 8-1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better goes into detail about each step.
1) Make a plan
2) Do your research – interviewing, reading – whatever you need to do to get the information
3) Thinking and re-thinking
4) Finding your lead – how to begin
5) Writing
Notice there are four steps before you actually start writing
6) Letting it incubate
7) Revising
8) Copyediting
81/2 Continual reading – read good writing all the time
The biggest mistake people make is writing too soon. Many of us feel we’re procrastinating if we aren’t writing immediately.
Step 1 – Make your Plan
During the planning steps of the writing process, you really need to take time to identify your audience. Who are they? What do they do?
Try to identify a single person and write to that particular person.
For example, Daphne wrote to her mother when she worked in the newspaper business, because the paper had a wide readership and was highly diverse.
What are you trying to accomplish? Instead of focusing on the subject matter, spend your time identifying your objective.
Do this type of work away from your computer. Do something that allows you to think while keeping busy; go for a walk, wash the dishes, make dinner.
Step 2 – Research
This step could entail actual research online, interviews with subject matter experts or even field-level research.
In other words, this is where you’ll do your entire information gathering.
Step 3 – Think and Re-Think
Mindmapping (clustering) – it is the closest thing to a magic bullet in writing!
- Take a blank piece of paper and turn it sideways (landscape). This tricks your brain into thinking you’re doing something different and it appears you have more space than on an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper
- Write your topic in the center of the page
- Draw a circle around it
- Brainstorm – write words and/or phrases and draw lines to the center topic
Some people take to mindmapping immediately and others may have a problem with it. If you struggle with it and feel it isn’t working, go to Daphne’s website (see below) and sign up for her newsletter to get her free e-book on mindmapping.
Mindmapping is different than making an outline. We use the linear/logical part of our brains to make an outline and to edit. It isn’t the part of the brain you want to use when you write. Using this part of your brain can make you feel frustrated and makes you think you have writer’s block.
This is why mindmapping is so successful. It makes you use the creative part of your brain.
Step 4 – Finding Your Lead
A lead can be more than just the first paragraph or sentence. It can be 10 or 12 paragraphs. Although finding your lead is newspaper speak, it is a valuable word, because it doesn’t make any presumption about length.
There are a bunch of different kinds of leads you can use and Daphne’s book goes into much greater detail.
The technique is such a sensational way of beating the blank page problem.
Instead of asking how do I begin, take your list of leads and ask:
- If I were to do an anecdotal lead, what would I do?
- If I were to do a question lead, what would I do?
- If I were to do (fill-in-the-blank) lead, what would I do?
You come up with different options and choose the best one. It is a formula that takes away the sting of the blank page. The checklist that kick-starts the process!
Step 5 – Writing
The biggest mistake most people make is that they edit while they write. Never edit while you write! It makes writing much less painful and faster.
It is a hard habit to break. Especially when you think you wrote something ok and then you look at it the next day and think it is awful. That’s a tough feeling to get over.
How can you resist the urge to edit when writing?
The problem could be that you are actually editing while you write and don’t even realize it!
Here are some suggestions to use to resist the urge to edit when writing:
- Pomodoro is a mental trick. Get a noisy timer, so you hear the click. Set it for 25-30 minutes and write. Force yourself to only focus on writing and nothing else.
- Use an online tool from Dr. Wicket called “Write or Die,” which you can find here: http://writeordie.com/ Stick with the defaults. Note that if you don’t write fast enough, it will start erasing your words!
This tool is a great reminder about how much time we waste while writing.
Step 6 – Let it Incubate
When is it time to edit? Whatever you do, you must walk away for an extended period.
Put your writing away for at least a day. If it’s something long like a book, you should even put it away for weeks.
Go do something to clear your mind and forget about what you wrote.
Step 7 – Revising
There are two types of editing which are separate and distinct:
1) Substantive (Revising)
2) Copyediting (Editing)
- Substantive relates to the content
- Have you covered all the necessary material?
- Have you put it in the right order?
- Are you reaching the right audience?
- Are you accomplishing the objective?
- Does it flow well?
- Does it make sense?
Substantive editing isn’t about correcting punctuation, spelling or grammar. This type of editing is big picture revising.
A great way to do this editing is by reading the piece out loud. It helps give you a better understanding of the rhythm of your writing. Ask yourself questions about the article as you’re reading out loud to be sure you have met the objectives.
Step 8 – Editing
- Copyediting relates to punctuation, spelling, grammar, and style.
Not everyone is that detail oriented. Many times it is worthwhile to hire a copyeditor for bigger projects. If there isn’t a budget for a copyeditor, find someone who has a great eye — the person who finds all the typos in publications and mentions mistakes in printed materials.
In general it is important to follow these steps, but you can make it your own with two exceptions::
- Step 1, Make Your Plan – you must have a plan to write well
- Step 5, Writing – do not edit while you’re writing, because it really
slows you down
Step 8-1/2 – Continual Reading
The corporate world is full of dreck! All writers should devote time every day to reading the work of good writers. This alone will make you a better writer.
Another great exercise is to copy the words of other writers. This gives you a feel for the structure, word choice, and rhythm of good writing; you will start to pick it up in your own writing.
Items mentioned in this Podcast include:
- Daphne’s eBook: 8-1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better
www.publicationcoach.com/my-book/ - Power Writing weekly newsletter on Tuesdays at www.publicationcoach.com, which includes the free e-book of Mindmapping.
- “Write or Die” http://writeordie.com/
Want More of This Stuff?
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Finally, if you have a question you’d potentially like answered on a future show — or if you have any feedback in general — please let me know: ed at b2blauncher dot com.
Thanks again for your support!
Till next time,
-Ed
