Speed Writing

A technique that was taught to me by an English teacher, although I only recently dabbled in it again after a four year lapse. So I'll try to explain to the best of my ability. "Speed writing" is a simple concept. Basically all the writer does is, well write that anything that comes to their mind. The idea is to write without thinking what you're writing. It also helps to time yourself. I suggest one to three minutes of nonstop writing.

Only thing is, you make hate to look at your scrawled handwriting after wards!

Like I mentioned above, as I was speed writing, I formed names of character's that popped into my head and ironically I developed a plot, lol. Go figure. I will mention, this technique does take practice and as you get the hang of it, you may start to see patterns or repetition, while your writing quickly in which case you can correct it in the future. Also, you may find that you're able to figure out plots or that ONE speciel character's name isn't as hard to find as you thought.

The last piece of advice I can offer is, for the serious writer's, recording all "speed" work is definitely a wise idea. Reading over past work should strengthening your ability when you really want to sit and serious ally write. It also may help give ideas later on for a story.

Hope this helps; it did wonders for me recently. I may have to do this activity more often.

I've used this. In fact, I used it just today. It's alot of fun (for me at least) and it really does help you figure things out and brainstorm and such. It's a great technique once you learn how to use it.

Yep. I do this from time to time, and it's especially great for pulling myself out of writer's block.

Yeh, your mind lets in more ideas when you're not thinking about them than it does when you are struggling to think!

RR*

I call 'em 'Word Wars' (a la NaNoWriMo) so I feel productive, but usually something weird and cool results. It's quite fun, especially when you don't really care about anything but the word count on the bottom of the screen.

My sister does that, she just sits there writing, writing down what ever name, place, plot that comes into her head, i tried it today, interesting really, i basically used my friends names and plaes that i love, and things that have happened to me in th epast! lol!!!!!! its really fun!!!

I don't get it. Why make more work for yourself? Okay, maybe as a little boredom cure, but to write a story? Surely it's better to go at a pace you're comfortable with.

- Andy

Unrecompensed wrote:I don't get it. Why make more work for yourself? Okay, maybe as a little boredom cure, but to write a story? Surely it's better to go at a pace you're comfortable with.

- Andy

But this is just practice! If you stop writing, you'll find it harder to get back in. Thus, practice is always good. Especially if you're working on calculus and stuff...

I see my little article, if anyone wants to call it that, has been reborn and attracted interest.

That's esencially what I do. All the time. With my work, like. I mean, this novel I'm writing. I just sat down, and thought about one phrase, and then everything came like vomit. The first chapter is a speech about why a guy shouldn't kill somebody. And when I was done with that, I said, hell, that's actually pretty good. And then I wrote the title of another chapter, using a girl's name. And then it was easy. As I wrote, I said, who's the girl? What's she doing here? And I kept going. But I didn't stop, you understand. There was no pause.

And when I was done, I read over it, and cleaned it up. And now, I'm basically doing that every day, for each "chapter". I do have a plot now, though. And somewhere to go.

I need to try some speed writing. Maybe no more writer's block then!

I did this on Christmas Eve. I ended up creating an entire outline for my novel that I had been stumped on.

Hahaha... I did this and came up with my best draft for a beginning of Unicorn Killers yet! Mind you, it still sucks and needs to be edited to death, but still!

...it being a word war also helped, LMAO.

Hmmm... This method actually has a name?
I usually end up doing that. In fact, if I think about what I write, I don't write anything at all. Horrible.
I mean, if I stop to think what I want to write about, I think of nothing at all. If I am writing... eh, I'm not thinking much, but at least there's something on the screen. AND its 60 % sensible and clear. Decipherable.

i do this sometimes usally when i'm bored, i just watch tv or something and scribble down notes and ideas in a notebook, granted most of the time its garbage but i do get a few good ideas or bits and peices i use in my story, but its not a method that garentees success alot of the time i just end up with a couple pages of complete dribble:p