It's coming up on the end of the semester, and I have several papers I have to finish before the break. I have them all outlined, and I've started working on my introductions, but I'm finding that it's taking me quite a bit of time to get my ideas onto paper.
Are there any tips or tricks that can help me write faster?
The writer in me wants to tell you to slow down and just dedicate more time to writing. But that's just not practical advice for most college students. As much as you'd love to spend weeks or months penning each paper, you have deadlines to meet and a life to live.
One thing that may be holding you back is a desire for perfection. You know a deadline is near, you don't have a whole lot of time to spare, and you want to spend as little time as possible (without sacrificing quality) on your paper. Your goal may be to "get it right the first time."
Don't let your perfectionist attitude get in the way. The first draft is never the best draft. Just get your ideas down on paper (or the screen). You can always edit it later.
If you're facing a looming deadline, you may be panicking over whether or not you'll finish in time. The quickest way to get writer's block is to panic. It's difficult to get your thoughts on paper when you're busy making up doomsday scenarios in your head.
Relax. You will finish the paper. Don't overthink it. Just write. Edit later.
If you're having trouble calming down and staying focused, your environment may be to blame. Find yourself a quiet, designated place to work. Close the door. Turn off your phone. Eliminate all distractions.
Some writers find that soft music helps them write. A strong cup of coffee may help you stay focused and alert.
Once you're in the "zone," make sure that you stay here. One of the best ways to do that is to give yourself a time limit for writing. Knowing that you only have an hour or so to write will help you stay focused forget distractions. Tools like MyTomato can help you set time limits and stay on track.
Speaking of tools, you may want to use some to speed up your writing. If you're having trouble rewording some of your thoughts, you can try using a paraphrasing tool to get some new ideas. To literally speed up your writing, you could use dictation software to jot down your thoughts at lightning speed.
With dictation program, you speak into a microphone, and the program types the words for you. You speak much faster than you write or type. These programs can cut your writing time in half.
Ultimately, the best way to speed up your writing is to make it a priority. Don't try to get a few paragraphs in here and there throughout the day. Spend an hour or two at a time working on your piece. You'll find that it's much easier and faster to write when you're focused on the task and have the time to continue putting your thoughts onto
