Speed Writer: slow pace to fast pace writing

To those in the U.S: Happy 4^th of July! Who’s spending the day with BBQ, burgers, friends, and fireworks? I know I am!

Today’s article on Daily Writing Tips consists of June’s most popular articles. I found the June 19 article (“Five Ways to Write Faster”) and its comments interesting and fairly informative; I’ve heard some of the tips before when I had to overcome my slow-speed obstacle in essay writing. But it does help reinforce what I’ve learned.

I’m still a slow writer. However, I’m not as slow as before: I would never have as much on paper as my classmates. (My essay, incomplete, covered three-fourths of a page in a 45-minute time limit at best.) When timed writings became imperative during my junior and senior years because of AP exams, I sat down with my teachers many times to discuss my problems and ways to improve.

Here’s a few things we addressed:

• My Perception

I frequently approached a timed essay “knowing” I would not finish on time. Of course, the result affirmed that thought. One of the first things I had to do was get out of this mindset. I shouldn’t stress myself before I begin! Such a negative outlook can only hinder me.

• Audience

Grades shape the future—or so I thought. So focused I was on achieving great grades, I would answer specific prompts with what I thought the teacher wanted. The supposed expectations, and restrictions, of others spurred my writing. After (repeatedly) being told I should write, and analyze, things I liked and found interesting, I began writing for myself again and with a more general audience in mind.

• Perfection (my biggest obstacle)

I am a perfectionist, and am so tough on myself. I work hard until I achieve the very best result. My goal: perfection or close to it. I would edit as I go; after a paragraph or even a sentence, I would check it. I would read over what I already wrote many times, making sure it flowed and sounded well. I needed the right word, the best word, before I could go on. Not having it froze me. But while I took the time to make one (and usually the beginning) part perfect, I lost the direction and momentum and energy to continue with the essay. “It’s only a first draft,” my teachers assured me repeatedly. Those who read timed writing, especially the readers on the AP exam, knows it’s a first draft so it’s okay to let go, even a little bit.

During senior year, I’m proud to say I improved my speed. I’m still fairly slow, and I’m still an annoying perfectionist—just not as much. I’m able to write more in a given time and I approach a timed assignment with optimism (or indifference, haha) and I write what I want to write. I can even ride the writer’s flow for a longer time before my inner critic cringes and gets to work! It makes the work fun!

But there’s still room for improvement.

Are you a fast or slow writer? What do you do that makes the process seem fast or slow? Any tips for us slow writer? =) Check out the article, it might help.

(Listening to: Madonna)