As a full-time blogger, I publish over 250 articles, guides and listicles each year. The faster I‘m able to research, plan and write quality content, the more traction, engagement and revenue my sites can generate.
But accelerating output doesn‘t mean sacrificing substance. When executed strategically, writing at speed concentrates your creativity into more focused content.
Through copious trial and error combined with proven behavioral science, I‘ve honed my ability to craft posts faster without burnout. Below I‘ll share the best-of-the-best tactics to significantly reduce the time you spend blogging while maintaining quality.
Why Writing Faster Matters
Before diving into the how-to, let‘s examine why writing efficiently offers game-changing advantages:
Produce More Content
Faster writing directly enables more publishing volume. And thanks to the compounding returns of consistency, increased output translates into exponential traffic and engagement growth over time.
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Consider Copyblogger‘s content strategy shift – by 4X their posting frequency they grew an audience of 5,000 email subscribers within 5 months.
Save Dozens of Precious Hours
Equivalent output with even 25% improved writing efficiency quickly adds up to dozens of saved hours. At my average 500 words per hour, that‘s potential time to produce 10-15 additional in-depth posts annually!
Accelerate further with the tactics below and you open up huge blocks of time for higher-impact projects.
Capitalize on Trends Faster
The faster you can research and publish around emerging topics and viral news within your niche, the more traffic you stand to gain.
With Google accounting for current events and trends more heavily in rankings, writing velocity grants advantage.
Increase Revenue Potential
Producing more content at a faster clip not only compounds traffic as covered above but directly raises your earnings ceiling through:
- More pages for Google Adsense placements
- A larger funnel of posts leading to sales and opt-ins
- Added value and authority to justify higher affiliate commissions, sponsored posts and expert consulting rates
Let‘s now unlock your potential for speed with actionable tactics.
Streamline Your Writing Workflow
Too many bloggers waste precious energy and momentum with inefficient systems. Construct an accelerated workflow by optimizing every step:
#1 Plan Thorough Outlines Before Drafting
Resist the urge to simply start typing sentences for a new post. First map out section headers with 2-3 key points that will go under each one:
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Knowing the logical flow and scope before drafting helps writing progress smoothly and decisively verse getting sidetracked.
#2 Separate Research from Writing
It‘s tempting to skip back and forth between investigating facts and crafting paragraphs. But context switching hampers productivity.
Instead, consume and compile all materials for a piece upfront, then write using those reference notes. This study found 89% faster completion by dedicating distinct research blocks separate from writing.
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#3 Automate Formatting with Tools
Manually styling headlines, applying bold text etc may only take seconds but aggregate across posts.
Install plugins like Easy Anchor Links for WordPress or TextExpander snippets to insert reoccurring code and styles in 1 click. I have shortcut triggers set up so typing "/h2" places my pre-formatted H2 style subheader automatically, saving endless highlighting and menu clicks.
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Additional utilities like grammar checkers, readability scoring and plagiarism detectors further speed up editing and polish.
Change Unproductive Writing Habits
Beyond environment, your habits and mental patterns also determine velocity. Here are 3 ways to reprogram faster progress:
#4 Time Writing in Intervals
Humans consistently overestimate effort put into shorter burst tasks. Setting a visible timer for focus intervals tricks your brain into concentrating more wholly.
I use an online writing timer set for 25-minute sprints, followed by 5-minute breaks. This structure heightens urgency to maximize each period.
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Shoot to finish an outline section, introduction or complete shorter post in each stretch. Celebrate small session goals reached to further motivate.
#5 Stagger Related Topics
Grouping similar content together when planning your editorial calendar conserves mental energy.
For example, stacking 3 how-to smartphone posts together on Mondays to draft back-to-back makes it easier to retain technical knowledge versus switching between vastly different subjects like cooking, then personal finance, then gadgets.
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#6 Eliminate Distracting Notifications
Every vibrating alert from your phone to flashing browser tab hampers concentration critical for efficient writing.
Use website blockers while working and put devices into Do Not Disturb mode so you can fully enter a flow writing state without disruptions.
Studies by California University confirm workers average just 3 minutes between interruptions when phones and alerts are present.
Responsibly Leverage AI
AI-powered writing tools still require caution against overusing generated text directly. But several emerging technologies can responsibly accelerate your early drafting workflows.
#7 Let AI Generate Title and Topic Alternatives
Instead of staring blankly as you rack your brain for ideas, use AI tools to offer dozens of suggested headlines and hooks around a core topic:
User Prompt: Provide 10 blog headline ideas about remote work productivity
AI Response:
- "12 Must-Have Productivity Tools for Remote Teams"
- "How Remote Workers Can Stay Motivated: 7 Proven Tactics"
- "Ditch Distractions and Dominate Remote Work: My Top 10 Tips"
You still validate and choose the best alignments, but now havepages of inspiration to build upon vs trying to magic up concepts from thin air!
#8 Construct an Outline Scaffold with AI
When mapping early draft structures, I prompt tools to provide a basic framework draft around parameters like:
- Target keyword/main topic
- Desired section topics, # of tips etc
- Word count or time estimate goals
The AI then suggests an initial hierarchy of headers and supporting points which becomes a template to overwrite and refine rather than starting with a blank page.
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Just be certain to heavily revise suggested copy to add your original analysis and avoid duplicated text risks.
#9 Rephrase Tricky Sentences with Paraphrasing Tools
At times you conceptually know what you wish to convey but can‘t quite find the right phrasing. Rephrasing software helps rearrange stuck sentences with new vocabulary and structures.
For example, Quillbot let‘s you paste in text and select a paraphrasing percentage to output several ways of rewriting the passage. I review the new versions against my intended tone and meaning – often finding the variation that clicks.
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This aids efficiency without compromising authorship.
Perfect Your Physical Writing Environment
Everything from your chair to availability of snacks impacts velocity over the long run. Optimize the physical factors with proven impact:
#10 Invest in Ergonomic Equipment
Quality keyboards, mouse options, monitor heights and chair adjustment range all combine to enable hours of fluid motion versus strain. This may mean customizing workstations beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
I suggest trying before buying when possible – test different keyboard switch types based on your pressure preferences and typing style for example.
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#11 Construct an Inspiring yet Distraction-Free Zone
My home office colors of soft blue and leafy green were deliberately chosen for promoting calm, creative energy. I fill the space with bright natural light and plants but zero television in sight!
Determine what type of environment helps you enter a flow state quickest then carve out such a zone.
#12 Boost Focus With Ambient Sounds
I curated a blogging soundtrack filled with gentle rainfall, soothing music without lyrics and alpha wave tones. This enveloping audio filters out household noises so I can fully immerse in writing.
White noise generators, online ambient mixes or nature playlists help enter flow just avoid anything potentially distracting like a favorite show playing in the background.
Master States of Mind and Body
Writing velocity over the long haul depends hugely on cultivating peak mental and physical conditions conducive to working deeply.
#13 Adopt a Deadline Mindset Ritual
Even without imposed due dates, treat every working session as if finishing that piece or section is your sole priority.
I begin writing days by announcing aloud what must be completed that work block and what excites me about the post to ignite intrinsic motivation and a sense of positive pressure.
#14 End Each Session Mid-Flow
Preserve momentum for next time by stopping work mid-paragraph or sentence whenever energy wanes.
Having that half-finished passage lingering makes it far simpler to recapture a focused, energetic state when resuming writing versus facing a blank screen.
#15 Refuel With Nutrient-Dense Foods
Complex carbs like whole grains, fiber-filled greens and healthy fats replenish mental stamina far longer than sugar highs which lead to crashes. Stock go-to snacks like nuts, fruits and granola you enjoy eating.
Stay hydrated, breathe deeply before returning to writing and alternate work chunks with movement to lubricate creativity too.
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Write Smarter, Not Just Harder or Longer
Once you‘ve built productivity powerhouses by setting the stage around your work environment, tools and headspace, it’s time to elevate the actual writing process with tactics for converting thoughts into words rapidly.
#16 Talk Through Initial Drafts
Imagine you‘re verbally explaining ideas to a room of engaged listeners vs trying to type eloquently right away. Prioritize getting thoughts translated roughly first, precision comes later.
I literally talk passages aloud, dictate full sections even, because speaking translates concepts faster than writing initially.
#17 Utilize the Inverted Writing Method
Can’t find the right opening line but have a clear closing in mind? Skip ahead to flesh out the core content first then weave the introduction around what conclusions formed.
Non-sequential writing can help overcome blank canvas paralysis and writer’s block. Scribble sections loosely as they come rather than forcing some perfect chronological order.
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#18 Create Snippets Libraries
Phrases like “on the other hand” or “click here” plus formatting bits like H2 styles get reused constantly when drafting posts.
Rather than retyping these or fiddling with manual formatting each instance, store these reusable elements in tools like TextExpander and instantly insert them while working via custom shortcode.
This may only save a few seconds each time but that adds up substantially over months of writing. Try creating boilerplate templates for different post formats like “Blog Post Template” + your desired opening and closing hooks that apply across pieces.
#19 Enlist Human Expertise Through Services
No writer can proofread their own content as effectively as a fresh set of eyes. Seeking a skilled editor early once initial drafts take shape can accelerate the refinement process.
I leverage dedicated editing services that review posts to flag vague wording, Grammar inconsistencies, repetitive points etc. This validation helps me strengthen arguments and structure faster versus endless solo tweaking.
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Feedback apps like Revue also help you hone writing based on patterns in subscriber open and click rates if sending a newsletter.
#20 Set a Fast First Draft Goal
Rather than edit prematurely, set a deliberate time target for completing an initial end-to-end draft to enforce putting ideas out quickly without fixating on perfection.
My minimum rule of thumb is 40 minutes for a 1,000 word post. Tailor your targets based on average output rates as measured through your writing timer intervals.
Celebrate hitting send on sloppy yet complete drafts! Now you have the raw material out to refine iteratively verses losing motivation staring at a blank screen.
Level Up Publishing Polish
To help writing translate into well-formatted, shareable posts readers love, build these publishing habits:
#21 Construct Scannable Layouts
Balance paragraphs with eye-catching headers, big pull quotes, numbered lists and other visual elements that make pieces easy to quickly digest.
Treat posts like a storyboarded comic book versus dense blocks of text by varying visual flow. Reader response metrics confirm far higher engagement on posts designed for skimming.
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#22 Choose Images That Compliment Concepts
Relevant photos and graphics that symbolize written points help hammer core ideas home through multiple mediums of learning.
Is your post about reaching Zen? Sprinkle in icons like yoga poses, nature scenes, Buddha statues. Show don’t just tell.
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#23 Systematize Promotion Channels
Create one-click workflows for sharing freshly published posts to your email subscribers, social channels, link roundup resources etc using Zapier automation recipes.
This reduces the chance your amazing content gets siloed. Turn sharing new articles into a habitual process requiring minimal thought.
Finally, Sustain Motivation With Balance
Avoid treating writing speed as some urgent panacea for growth at expense of everything else and risk burning out. Weave these practices to support longevity verse short bursts:
#24 Commit to a Reasonable Daily Volume
Rather than an arbitrary word count demand, focus on consistency meeting a sustainable post per week pace for your niche and resources.
For part-timers, maybe that means publishing 1 in-depth guides or 5 mini reviews per month. Master attainable creation habits before accelerating.
#25 Track Multi-Week Averages
Natural dips in output or speed will happen – don‘t fixate on daily fluctuations. Pay attention to whether your rolling 4 week average improves over time.
My velocity varies day to day but as long as each month‘s typical pace increases, I stay encouraged.
#26 Celebrate Small Wins Publicly
Every little victory deserves acknowledgment to reinforce behaviors that contributed, like finishing an outline 30 minutes faster than usual.
I share progress milestones on Twitter both for accountability and receiving community kudos which buoys motivation.
The above tactics demonstrate how to write blog posts faster through every stage of planning, drafting, rewriting and publishing. I hope putting into practice even a handful unlocks huge productivity wins so you keep readers happy with a steady influx of amazing content!
Now dive in and start testing methods for accelerated writing unique to your niche and style. Soon you’ll find a flow capable of seeming impossible volumes before!
