Countless writers have made great suggestions for faster, better writing - but for us the most important thing is - don’t edit as you write! Just get your ideas down on paper (or computer) and edit later.
But even experienced writers get bogged down editing as they go. For some, it works, but for most, it makes for slow writing. It often creates the writer’s block issue because they get stuck thinking it must be perfect out the gate. If you are one for whom perfection and editing slows you down, here’s our advice.
Spend 5 to 10 minutes in free-flow handwriting, writing whatever comes to mind. This writing will have no quality standards. Even if you run out of things to say, just write ‘blah-blah-blah’ or any kind of nonsense, just keep the pen moving because, after a short time, you’ll find yourself in a state of flow. It becomes automatic writing. Then begin your serious writing. You’ll notice the same free-flow will carry over, all blockages having been removed and you will write more fluidly.
When you do this before any serious writing, you will find yourself in the flow and great output will result. The time for editing will come when your manuscript is written and at that point it is much easier to edit with purpose.
The technique of automatic writing solves writer’s block. You will find if you start with free-flow handwriting, you will never again encounter that age-old problem.