I am an advocate for fast writing.
Or rather, more accurately, I am an advocate of fast drafting. Fast drafting is a valuable approach for a lot of writers, letting the ideas and story get out onto the page before the inner critic catches up.
I wrote about this in my short and sharp guide, Write Your Novel in A Month.
That said, I am not a fan of forcing fast writing, especially when you’re not a naturally speedy writer.
It can be tempting to rush writing projects. Publishing is exciting after all.
The indie publishing world, in particular, puts a lot of pressure on writers to write and publish fast. Many authors do well in this model. Pumping out a book a month or more is a proven way to appease the Lords of the Algorithms, being rewarded with increased visibility and sales for a high-speed publishing model.
And then again, many authors burn out into misery, debt, and ill health in this model.
It’s OK to write slow.
Slow writing might not be as alluring as rapid release in the self-publishing world, but it certainly has its benefits.
Taking your time with your writing gives your ideas time to marinate. Your ideas get time and space to emerge and develop depth.
Slow writing can be more gentle on your cognitive load, taking less energy, and is for many authors, a more sustainable practice.
Like every other writing practice, you do what suits you best.
If your work comes fast, fine. If you’re slow, fine.
It’s also possible to treat this as a spectrum of speed, writing a fast first draft and then a slower, more detailed revision process to slowly shape that book.
It takes as long as it takes.
It’s not a dazzling or exciting concept. It’s not going to easily attach itself to some fix that can be sold to writers who are scared that fast writing is the only way to succeed. But, it’s true. It takes as long as it takes.
Write fast. Write slow. Let it take as long as it takes.
