7 Tips to Writing a Quick Article
There will be days when you don’t have an excessive amount of time to write a blog post. There will be occasions when you don’t want to spend that kind of time.
When duty calls you elsewhere, and you are unable to spend hours polishing up a single, elegant post, or to create a lengthy 2,000-word document, these tips will help you serve up a meaty post for your readers to chew on.
Compromising quality is not on the menu, however. Writing quickly doesn’t mean you do not write well. So roll up those shirt sleeves and let’s dig in.
1. Keep a list of ideas.
Don’t let that bit of inspiration die: jot your idea down in a small notebook or electronic file (my son uses his iTouch). Finding something interesting and relevant takes up much of a blog creator’s time. With an idea list, your new post awaits your writing in your back pocket.
2. Let your ideas sit.
Don’t try to force the creative process. That supporting information for your brilliant idea needs time to ruminate. When you let the topic sit and stew for a few days, its inherent brilliance will develop and the supporting information will gradually occur to you.
3. Edit before you start.
Your ideas will tend to accumulate like bunnies, so be prepared to cut and slash them. That includes eliminating any supporting ideas that don’t fit in with your main topics. Remember, you are writing a blog post, not a short novel. Some of those ideas you can always use for later posts, so don’t despair. We know how difficult it is to let go of them.
4. Use bullet points.
Organize your blog with text-simplifying bullet points or numbered points, like with 6 Uses for Effective Tweeting. Not only do you not have to worry about creating transitions from one idea to the next, your readers actually like lists. Lists are easier for the eye to follow.
5. Keep it short.
Try to keep your article under 500 words. This will help you to complete the assignment in under an hour, and it will keep your reader’s attention. Short blogs are not short on quality content; they simply deliver the critical information quickly. Save the longer articles for those that require more depth and information.
6. Come back later.
When an idea isn’t working, put it aside and work on something else for a short while. When inspiration hits, you can return to the original post. There’s nothing wrong with switching back and forth between writing articles. Employ this time-saving strategy to suit your thought processes.
7. Never save a good idea.
By this I mean don’t save time later, save time now. Write the posts that you know will come easiest. As Stephen King would say, the boys in the basement are talking to you (i.e., your muse, as in “the hard-working guys with Camels rolled up in the sleeves of their shirts.” ABC Good Morning America, 23 Sept. 1998).
Important note: Don’t forget to proofread your document before publishing. Otherwise, your piece might end up looking like something out of a pirate memo.
These seven simple steps will have you on your way to writing quick and dirty blog posts in a fraction of the time. Share your favorite blog writing tips in the comments!