How To Write Faster Blog Posts

For me, writing blog posts has always been a pain. As even though I love writing, expressing my thoughts and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), it takes too long!

Like many people, I go on uncontrollable rants that seem to last for hours. What seems to last for hours usually ends up being 1000-3000 words of useless content… And even if it’s great stuff – I know my readers still won’t read it since let’s face it; who has time to read 3000 words of unstructured blog content?

…Not many people!

Over the years I’ve got a lot better at writing and if I go through the steps I’m about to outline – I can usually crank out 1 high quality 750 word article in around 15 minutes. So here are 6 steps to help you improve the speed and quality of your writing:

1. Keep A List

If you ask any of the top inventors, writers, bloggers, or producers when they thought of their amazing idea; I bet 90% of them would tell you it was totally unexpected. Or that it just came to them while taking a stroll in the park. It’s quite hard to come up with more than 10 great ideas on the spot.

Instead try subconsciously thinking about blog post ideas in the back of your head while you’re out. All of my great ideas come to me OUT of the office. Whether I’m in bed, taking a walk, or having a drink at a bar; they don’t come when I expect them to. So remember to jot down any ideas AS YOU COME ACROSS them.

2. Checkout Related Articles/Blog Posts (5-10 minutes)

Unless you’re an expert on the subject, you absolutely must read a few similar articles/blog posts. If you wanted to write a post on social media, but don’t know much about it… You CANNOT bullshit your way through an entire blog post. Many people make the mistake of talking through their asses and they always get caught.

Instead spend 5-10 minutes reading or scanning through a few related articles/posts.

3. Plan Before You Start Writing

Always plan out your whole post before you start writing. Generally my plans look like this and I do them inside my WordPress admin:

• Title
• Intro
• Point 1 (brief description of the point)
• Point 2
• Point 3 etc
• Conclusion

For example, the plan I used for writing this post was:

Title: How To Write Faster Blog Posts

Intro: Talk about how difficult writing blog posts are and how I never used to write them because they consumed too much of my time.

• Keep A List
• Checkout Other Articles
• Plan
• Close Distractions
• Write
• Edit
• Publish

That’s about it for a blog post plan. If you don’t know much about the subject, you should expand on the bullet points, introduction, and conclusion.

4. Get Rid Of Distractions

This was the hardest one for me to do. Living in a house where there’s usually lots going on – it’s hard for me to get rid of distractions altogether. But seriously, just do it and you’ll feel great once you’ve written a high-quality post in less than 25 minutes. This means closing all tabs like email, Skype, Facebook, and any other websites that have nothing to do with the post. Not just online though – turn off the TV and any offline distractions with the exception of some music.

5. Write

Now that you’ve got an idea, done your research, got a plan, and got rid of all distractions, you can begin writing. All you have to do is expand on your plan – that’s it. If you read enough information from other websites and blogs, you should know exactly what to write. This is the part where you get really creative so be fun, cool, interesting, and well – creative. Don’t be afraid to try new things and most importantly – don’t read back any sentences you write unless you completely forgot what they were. No editing!

6. Edit + Final Touches

This is actually the step I despise. I hate editing, especially my own writing. I gain no satisfaction from pointing out errors in my own writing. BUT – you absolutely must read your post from top to bottom correcting every error along the way. By the time you get to the bottom, you can make the final touches like adding a few images and/or videos.

7. Hit Publish

That’s it, my simple 7-step process for pumping out high-quality blog posts in under 30 minutes. I usually do them in about 25 minutes – but that’s just me. Hit publish and start promoting your new post!

In Prosperity,

David Wood

P.S. Leave me your thoughts in the comments section below!

Comments

Amelia Turner, December 22, 2011, 09:10
David, these steps are exactly what I needed! I’ve been spending way too much time on each blog post, and your process seems so much more efficient. I especially like the idea of planning before writing. Can’t wait to try this out for my next post. Thanks, David!

Oliver Hayes, December 22, 2011, 11:30
I appreciate the practical advice, David. I tend to get distracted easily, and your tips on getting rid of distractions really hit home for me. I’m going to start implementing your suggestions and see if I can speed up my writing process. Great post!

Sophia Barrett, December 22, 2011, 13:05
The point about keeping a list of ideas is brilliant! I’ve always struggled with writer’s block, and this seems like a great way to keep the ideas flowing. Thanks for sharing these tips, I’m excited to see how they improve my blogging.

Henry Lucas, December 22, 2011, 14:20
David, this post is a game-changer for anyone who struggles with writing blog posts quickly. Your 7-step process is so straightforward and actionable. I’m definitely going to put these tips into practice to improve my writing speed. Thanks for the insights!

Grace Mitchell, December 22, 2011, 16:45
Thank you for breaking down the writing process so clearly, David. I’ve always found it hard to stay focused, but your advice on minimizing distractions and planning ahead is exactly what I needed. I’m looking forward to applying this to my next blog post. Keep up the great work!