Hi! My name is Jenna Hartley, and I’m a contemporary romance author. I’ve been writing for many years, and my debut novel, Unexpected, is releasing this month! Thanks to Mina for inviting me to post about my writing and my process. Today, I’m going to share some of my tips for writing faster.
Just imagine me singing “let it flow” to the tune of Disney’s most famous Frozen song, clutching a pen as I twirl in my writing cave. In all seriousness though, today’s post is about getting the words out, letting them flow onto the paper. Really, it’s about upping your daily word count. So, let’s get cracking.
Disclaimer: I am by no means the fastest writer on the planet, so take what I say with a grain of salt. That said, over the past year, I’ve significantly increased my daily word count through a variety of tactics. Where I was once writing 2000-3500 words per week, I’m now averaging that daily.
What’s the secret to my success? No secret, but here are a few tricks I’ve used to get more words onto the page.
1. Silence your inner editor.
Don’t judge what you’re writing as if it’s the final draft. Get the words on the page and keep the momentum going. That’s the beauty of writing – up to the point it’s published (and even sometimes after) you can always go back and change it.
2. Track your word count and watch it grow.
Create a spreadsheet, write in a journal, whatever, find a way of tracking how many words per day you’re writing. Trust me, just seeing the number helps give you an idea of how fast or slow you write. And over time, you’ll be more motivated to try to beat your previous daily/weekly/monthly records.
3. Find a system that works for you.
Whether it’s an AlphaSmart, writing by hand, typing at a keyboard, using dictation, or even a combination of these, find what works for you. You may be surprised to discover what yields the best results isn’t necessarily what you expected! So, shake it up: try something new!
4. Sprint or Pace.
There are many great tools out there to help you stay motivated. Whether it’s Word Sprints with fellow author friends, or using a tool like Pacemaker, everyone can find something that works for them. Personally, I have yet to use either (I have my own Pacemaker-like spreadsheet), but I know authors who swear by them. I have tried word sprints on my own, but usually only when I’m really stuck. I set a timer for twenty minutes and write as much and as fast as I can in that time.
5. The more you write, the more you write.
Sounds simple, and perhaps a little silly, really, but the more you write, the easier it becomes. Words flow more quickly, you’re able to express yourself more easily. Consistency is key, and even if you’re not writing a lot of words during each sitting, writing regularly is just as important.
So, there you have it: my five tips for letting it flow! What tricks have you found to be useful for getting more words onto the page?
Thanks again to Mina for inviting me to share my process. Before I go, I have a FREE novella exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. Fall in love with this art professor/student, age-gap romance:
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Bio
Contemporary romance author, Jenna Hartley writes about strong, independent women and the men who dare to love them. Her characters aren’t perfect; they’re authentic. Her passion is to make their stories feel as real for readers as they do to her, infusing each one with sexy, sweet, and laughable moments that reflect real love.
When she’s not writing, Jenna spends her days chasing after a hilarious and imaginative toddler, as well as hunting down new allergy-friendly recipes for them to cook together. She lives in Texas with her family and loves nothing more than a good book, good chocolate, and Topo Chico.
I’d love to be friends! Come find me on social media.
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