How To Write More Efficiently By Writing In Stages
Sure, it’s possible to plop down in front of a computer and write the best 3,000 words of your life in one fell swoop. However, producing consistently good text is often best accomplished by writing in stages. By this, we mean taking all the individual activities involved in the writing process and giving yourself ample time to work through each one.
- Even before you begin writing a single word, it pays to let the idea roll around in your head for a bit. Let it simmer, giving your subconscious mind free rain to work with the material.
- If you can give that a day, then you’ll have a more concrete grasp of what you want to do when you do begin outlining the piece. A good outline is possibly the single, most effective way to smoothen the process of writing your first draft.
- With an outline ready, you can then begin actually writing the piece. During the first draft, quit worrying about style and mechanics, choosing to focus on expressing your ideas, instead. You’ll have plenty of time to do all of the former when you begin revising for subsequent versions of the draft.
- If you really want to do the best job you can during editing and revision, shelve the first draft for a couple of days before returning to it. If you don’t have that kind of luxury, then give it an hour or two. It helps you clear up any preconceived ideas about what you’ve written and return to the piece with an objective mind.
- Leave the correction and word count issues for the last part. Your all-in-one grammar software can do a lot to help you out around this time, so make sure to put it to good use.