In a Rush to Publish? Better Ways to Shave Off Time

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

There has been a good deal written about the need for self-publishing authors not to be in a rush to publish.  And yet, there has been a good deal written about the need for self-publishing authors to        quickly produce for financial success.

These bits of advice aren’t really as contradictory as they seem.  The time to move things along, I believe, is when we’re writing.  The time to be thoughtful and unhurried is during the packaging process…the editing and cover design.  The finishing touches need time.

What can we do to make our writing go faster?  Here are some things that have helped me:

On a daily basis:

Know what you’re going to write that day (at least the plot points).

Think about where you left off and what you’re going to say next before you open the laptop (I mull things over in the mornings as I let the dog out and as I’m making myself coffee.

Eliminate distractions.  For some, this means just closing windows on their computers until the manuscript is the only thing up. For others, it means disconnecting from wifi.

Set timers.  Write for your target amount of time, then check social media/do other things you’ve been dying to do while writing.  Then set a timer again.  Repeat until you can reach your target.

Diagnose problems and roadblocks. This is the single most-important thing I do each week to write faster.  Because, for me, slowing down happens about once a week. I don’t have time to sit around and stare at the screen.  I don’t have time to edit too much bad writing—and I know when I’m producing the written version of “uhhh.”  This is what I ask myself, because frequently I don’t know what the problem is before I think it through. Is there a better time of day to write?  Is home too distracting and the library might be better? Am I procrastinating writing a scene because I know it’s not right for the characters?  That it’s boring?  That it’s unrealistic?

It’s so much better to take a day off from drafting and brainstorm new story directions.  Ultimately, that day of brainstorming and planning saves me the most time of any of my time-saving tricks.

Per project:

When writing multiple series, I’ve found the next book goes much quicker when I outline the following book immediately after finishing a book in that series.

Secure editing and cover design before finishing the project. Same with beta readers.  There have been several times when I’ve assumed my cover designer or editor was available as soon as I finished a project—and then I learned they were booked months out.

I’ve found the best way to hurry a project along is on my end of things, with the writing. If I can streamline my process, eliminate distractions, and dedicate the time I need, then I hit my goals every time.

How do you keep projects on track?

Tips for making a writing project go faster:
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Image: Death to the Stock Photo

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