Writing: Fast or Slow

When the question of whether to write fast or slow arises, it often becomes a matter of the kind of content one is writing. There are two options for writers: 1) get it down while it’s fresh in your mind; 2) Develop the idea in a slow and methodical way.

Both are correct, depending on how one feels about any given topic. Fiction writing is such an imagination-dependent process that sometimes, in order to capture the thought stream, one must write quickly, recording the most critical thoughts in a brief and focused manner.

For non-fiction writing, the first option, most often, will not work. Research and material sourcing inherently take time, and require the writer to consider each supporting statement as to it fitness for the project. This requires methodical planning, which takes time and naturally slows down the writing process.

Of course, for a non-fiction work, one could jot down the primary topics hurriedly, leaving the major body of writing for later. Research and development are time consuming endeavors, but can be accelerated by plotting talking/writing points quickly, disregarding order temporarily.

No matter which option you choose for your own project, whether to write fast or slow should be the first thing you decide on the way to a successful first step on the path to publication.