Top 10 Speedwriting Techniques Every Writer Should Know
Learning speedwriting is a crucial skill to have for every writer, regardless of whether they are working on articles, novels, essays, or marketing content. In the present world of various businesses, a person’s talent in producing top emotional worth efficiently is very useful. Speedwriting is not a matter of choosing the speed of the process over quality but of the optimization of your process to be more productive without lessening your creativity or coherence.
The birth of speedwriting took place back in the 19th century, when a dozen shorthand systems were created. These systems were specifically made to facilitate fast note-taking. Two of the most known methods were the Pitman Shorthand and Gregg Shorthand, used by journalists, stenographers, and writers to whom it was necessary to transcribe speeches and ideas quickly. Although these methods are still relevant, their modern equivalents, i.e., technology and digital tools, have drastically changed the way writers use speedwriting.
With the help of this considerable guide, we will highlight the top 10 speedwriting techniques that all writers should have. The application of these strategies to your writing process enables you to up your game, keep your eye on the ball, and beat the most urgent deadlines with stunning works.
Getting Familiar with Your Writing Environment
The very first step in making speedwriting a powerful writing tool is to create the right writing environment. The environment you are in can make or break your productivity and focus. Getting rid of the clutter in your workspace and making it a comfort zone for writing speed will be the first step to take. Whether the source of your peace is in a room, a café where the hustle and bustle of people provide you with motivation, or somewhere in the open, the most important thing would be to create a space that is conducive to staying focused.
One very cost-effective method is the ergonomic arrangement of the workplace. Make sure that the chair, desk, and computer are placed in such a way as to enable maximum comfort. The right lighting is as valuable as everything else, as wrong lighting can harm your eyes and also decrease the productivity of your work. Moreover, considering the use of noise-canceling headphones or instrumental music will aid in excluding disruptions and creating an environment that would help with your writing.
Utilizing Writing Prompts for Inspiration
If you don’t know where to start, just take a writing prompt and let your imagination flow again. It is highly suggested to prepare some writing prompts if you want to generate healthy ideas and be more productive in no time when facing an empty page.
A very good way to improve your creativity and get the ball rolling is the use of writing prompts. They can be mere random words and phrases or more structured scenarios. Trying out different types of prompts can lead you to the ones that you feel most comfortable and productive with. Furthermore, setting a timer and forcing yourself to write nonstop in a particular timeframe will help speed up your writing skills.
Outlining Before Writing
Creating an outline is one of the methods that can bring about a radical change in your speed of writing. By organizing your thoughts and the structure of the content before writing, you can cut back strongly on the time-consuming process of revising and reorganizing later.
A useful scaffold not only makes writing easier but also speeds up the journey of finishing your piece. It lets you decompose the intricate concepts into easily digestible sections and, hence, guarantees that your writing progresses in a smooth and orderly manner. In addition, the outlining process will ensure that your thoughts are organized and the resulting piece is free from wandering from the main topic.
Shifting from traditional outlines with dot points or numbering lists to mind maps or visual diagrams is the writer’s choice to structure the ideas. No matter the shape of this structure, the definite feature is that it must provide for an orderly and smooth writing process.
Applying the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a method of time management that is made use of in writing. It comprises breaking writing sessions into periods, typically 25 minutes long, in which you work, followed by a short break. This plan of work is an assured fire way of staying afloat and being work-related stress-free, and also it guarantees a quick pace while writing without losing the quality factor.
You are to make the best of every Pomodoro session by writing continuously and not stopping to edit or revise. The completion of a session calls for a short break to rest and then a new beginning can be made. This particular way of working can make one become more productive and enjoy the writing process concurrently.
Typing Speed and Accuracy
Improvement of one’s typing speed and accuracy is a basic requirement for successful speedwriting. The quicker you can type, the more efficiently your thoughts will be transferred to writing. Thankfully, countless online tools and programs focus on speed typing.
Touch typing practice is crucial for increasing your typing speed as you use muscle memory rather than looking at the keyboard. On top of this, having a keyboard that is both comfortable and improves your speed can make a world of difference. Take ergonomic keyboards, for example. Or, if unconventional keyboard layouts are preferable to you, the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard can be a better choice than the regular QWERTY layout.
One other important ability in speedwriting is understanding how the font history and the characteristics of different typefaces influence the availability of your speedwriting process. Utilizing fonts that are read easily, for example, Arial or Times New Roman, can bring about the lightening of your eyes and the consequent rise in productivity.
Setting Time Limits for Writing Tasks
Imposing specific time constraints on your writing tasks has been rated as one of the best methods for boosting your speedwriting skills. You can keep the same pace throughout your writing and avoid perfecting by establishing deadlines for each part of your content.
The process of writing against time is to make you get down your ideas fast instead of focusing on every single sentence. When you are done with the first draft, rather than over-analyzing, you can revise your work and make it better.
Editing After Writing
The simultaneous editing and writing process can create a big obstacle in your writing progress. In this case, you should only concentrate on putting your ideas on paper while respecting your mistakes as the fastest way of achieving an initial draft, but not a perfect one.
After completing your first draft of the text, take a break before the editing process. By doing so, you are in a position to examine your writing in a new light that makes recognizing the places where you need most of the improvement very easy.
Utilizing Speech-to-Text Software
The development of speech-to-text software has made speedwriting a more popular method of working among writers. You can create text way more quickly by speaking rather than typing your content. This is very useful if you need to brainstorm, compose, or make rough outlines of your work.
Several new automated transcription systems are very accurate and can in fact transcribe spoken words with few mistakes. Testing diverse software options will lead you to the one which is most suitable for your needs and writing style.
Regular Exercise
Just like with any other skill, becoming a proficient typist through speedwriting necessitates your consistent effort. Rehearsing writing sessions that are done regularly will facilitate muscle memory, increase typing speed, and at the same time make it easier for you to organize your thoughts quickly.
It sounds good when you devote some time to hone your speedwriting abilities every day, be it only for a few minutes. As time goes by, the improvement in your productivity and writing efficiency will be evident.
Merging the Methods for a More Effective Outcome
Each of the explored strategies in this article is capable of strengthening your speedwriting skills, but their full force is in the application of their combined use. By employing different strategies and some adjustments to the strategies to suit your writing style, you can come up with a highly effective writing process that not only solves your peculiar needs but is also very efficient.
Have a look at ProlificFocus, and you can see why it is the greatest source of productivity and creativity along with the latest trends. The team at ProlificFocus is there for you every step of the way, right from the management of ADHD to the realization of top writing performance and gaining flow. Our goal is to not only help you eliminate thoughtful doubts about yourself but also help you to fulfill your potential. Prolific Focus is your writing ally. Additionally, it will ensure that you are done with your creative block, and thus, you can handle adverse situations without using impossible measures. It is efficiently understandable that one is not only focused clearly but also is more productive due to the aforementioned benefits of the software. ProlificFocus is set to guide you to a purpose-driven, meaningful, and successful life. ProlificFocus is the tool of awakening the creativity in you where it can work hand in hand with productivity. Connect with ProlificFocus and birth the new, productive, and creative you.
