(This article was originally written for the Romance Divas newsletter.)

Writing Fast

Everyone wants to write fast. I often hear writers comparing word counts and then starting to worry because they're not writing as fast as someone else. When I began this article, I was simply going to give you some tips about how to write fast. But then I realized that maybe, faster isn't better for everyone.

Don't worry, I'm still going to give you the tips, but first, I want to talk about the latter, about the point at which speed and writing styles intersect.

Let's start with the simple, undeniable fact that every writer is different. If we were all cookie cutter copies of each other, we'd all write exactly the same kind of book, with exactly the same kind of characters, in exactly the same timeframe. But we're not, and we don't.

It takes time to get to know your own style. It took me almost four years after The Call to understand my rhythms as a writer. I wrote my first published book, Desert Warrior, around full time work. DW was written at night and during lunch-times and as a result, took a long time to come together.

Then I switched jobs, moved to the tea fields of rural Japan and found myself with a lot more non-work time on my hands. Because I hadn't had that time before, I wanted to utilize every minute of it and write, write, write! And I did. I wrote hundreds of thousands of words. I wrote fast . Really fast.

But a strange thing happened this past year. I realized that though I can write extremely fast should the situation call for it, I don't particularly like being exhausted and sleep-deprived. With that realization, I began to understand my need for balance. For example, I adore reading, but when you commit to writing an obscene amount of words per day, you lose the time to read. And every writer needs to read. As every writer needs to get out there and see the sunshine occasionally.

Balance realization notwithstanding, I still write very fast because I get fidgety if I don't write--I've been known to jot down a couple of pages in any situation I see as a waste of time (doctor's waiting rooms, bus rides etc). But because of my personality type, that works for me. If I tried to forcibly slow myself, I wouldn't be happy. So my balance might not be your balance, but that's just the point - find what works for you.

However, for those of you who really do want to write faster, and more importantly, for those whom writing faster is a natural extension of your style, here are some pointers.

1. Write on paper and on the computer until you find out where you write faster. A lot of writers, me included, find that they write extremely fast on paper, while others are attached to their computers. Each to their own, but give both options a try.
2. If you work on a word-processor/computer etc, then you have to make sure you set aside a certain time of day/certain hours to be in front of that computer. `Cause here's the thing - fast writers find the time to write, no matter what. They aren't magically fast. They're fast because they're dedicated.
3. Don't edit. Write your pages, then come back and write more pages the next day. Don't fiddle with what you wrote before. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not. All that matters is getting the words out until you reach the end. You can fix plot gaps, typos etc, later. AFTER you type The End.
4. Don't worry if you can't do a scene sequentially. Leave a note like [insert scene here about A & B having a fight over C] and keep going. Then when you've got enough stuff worked out to write that scene, go back and do it. (But remember, Do Not Edit.)
5. Set yourself a target each day and stick to it. Work out the other demands on your time and make it realistic. Because a writer who pounds out 500 words per day, every day, will write faster than one who tries to do 5000 words per day and then gives up because it's too hard and he/she has fallen behind. It's vitally important that you adhere to the plan. Writing fast is a pseudonym for writing consistently.
6. And it might be a Type A personality thing, but learn to utilize what time you have. Writing on the bus an hour a day can get a chapter written within a week. That's a chapter that wouldn't have gotten written otherwise. The same with any situation that has you twiddling your thumbs. This is when a notebook comes in handy. I love mine, battered and scarred as it becomes over the months. Carry one with you. Always.
7. Have a break. Or. You. Will. Go. Insane . Write fast, write like a maniac, but then give yourself time off to relax and recharge your batteries. Fast writers who keep writing fast are the ones who reward themselves for their effort. Don't be too hard on yourself. Writing, like everything else, comes easier if you love it.

Happy writing!