Four
Ways to Reduce Writing Time
by
Kelle Campbell
With our hectic schedules, tactics for trimming
time off or even getting started on a writing project can be invaluable.
Everyone has their own preferred techniques, but here are a few I've learned:
1. Let Your First Drafts Be Stinkers
Don't listen to your internal editor when you first begin writing. Just
focus on getting words on the page or screen. If you do find yourself editing,
try speedwriting or cutting and pasting text from your notes or source
materials (with attribution as needed) directly into your document.
This rough draft will definitely need revision, but you won't have wasted time
agonizing over every word or flipping back and forth between your copy and
reference material. Once you have the words down, you can edit the "ugly
text" and shape it into an acceptable form.
Of course, some people spend loads of time on their first paragraph because
that's their way of planning the rest of the copy. If that's you, move on to
the other tactics below.
2. Organize Your Key Points
You can either start your project by making a list of points or you use
this as your second step and arrange the text of your rough draft into a more
logical sequence. I find that I rearrange my paragraphs on the second or third
round of review.
If you've already written a query letter or proposal, use it as a ready-made
outline to keep you from going off topic.
3. Reuse Previous Material
In his book Write More, Sell More copywriter Robert W. Bly suggests
that for annual report projects, reusing chunks of previous annual reports or
source documents is a great time-saver.
This tactic came in particularly handy on one very hectic day. I'd been working
for nine hours straight when a client asked for a rush job on an ad blurb. I
was so tired that trying to figure out what to write would have taken forever.
Instead, I looked at three previous ads that the client had used, put together
the points that were consistent for all three, edited for length and style and
had an ad blurb in less than an hour.
Of course, if you're submitting articles on the same topic to different
editors, I'd recommend that those articles be 95 percent or more different.
4. Use Templates
Cut down on formatting time by using templates for as many materials as you
can, e.g., ads, email promotions, proposals, articles, etc. The bonus is that
promotional materials will have a consistent look that'll be useful in branding
efforts.
Once you finish drafting the piece
to your satisfaction, you'll have to slow down and take some time as you
begin to edit and proofread your work. However, these four techniques can help
you reach that stage in a fraction of your usual time.
Bio
Kelle Campbell specializes in freelance
public relations writing for PR companies, businesses and nonprofit
organizations. She has contributed several articles on PR, writing, small
business and technology topics to print and online publications. For more
information, visit http://www.kcwriter.com.
This article may be freely reprinted as
long as the bio is included.