Whether you’re a blogger, content writer, freelancer, or novelist, there are easy ways how to write faster and increase your productivity.

Most people want to write faster, and for a good reason. Doing so can often be the difference between finishing your project and giving up on it.

So how do you go about making this minor (yet significant) life change?

Writing fast may seem like a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be.

The good news is that you don’t have to write 100 words per minute to learn how to write quicker.

By making some tweaks to how you write, you’ll be able to improve how fast you are able to write and smash through writer’s block.

Implementing any of these tips will help you write faster. But combining multiple methods is what will give you the best results and significantly speed up your writing process.

25 Tips For Becoming a Faster Writer

Here are the best tips for becoming a faster writer.

1. Write Every Day

The number one way to become a faster writer is to write every day. It may seem like common sense, but you won’t get better if you don’t put it into practice.

Try setting a daily word count goal and then sticking to it. Then increase it over time. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your writing speed will improve just by making this one small change.

2. Write At The Same Time

a man writing in a journal at a desk

By having the same writing time every day, your brain will get into a routine, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Schedules are essential for anyone who wants to be productive, including writers. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, you’re more likely to get your work done and reach your words target by setting aside specific times for writing.

It’s important to find a schedule that works for you and allocate writing time.

You will quickly go from thinking, “I don’t really feel like writing right now,” to “It’s already 7 pm, time to write!”

Carving out some time in your daily routine to write, even if you don’t have a deadline, is how you can make real progress.

Either set yourself a certain amount of time to write, such as an hour or a specific word count. It can be as little as 500 words. However, even 100 words per day will help you reach your long-term goals.

Over time it will become second nature, and you won’t even need to force yourself to do it or find yourself staring at a blank page.

3. Create A Writing Routine

Create a writing routine that becomes a ritual that you always follow.

It could be sitting at the same desk, making a cup of coffee beforehand, or lighting a candle.

It doesn’t matter how small the ritual is. It’s about making it something you look forward to doing each day, and it helps you mentally prepare and set the scene for a creative writing flow.

4. Get Into The Right Mindset

Here is a vitally essential step writers often overlook when preparing to write faster.

Before you sit down to write, take a few deep breaths to relax and feel calm.

Tell yourself that you’re going to have a productive writing session.

Also, remind yourself that it’s not about how good your writing is. It’s just about getting into the writing flow and getting words on the page.

So don’t start writing with any negative thoughts, and don’t pressure yourself to reach a specific goal.

It may sound silly, but the more positive and confident you are, the faster you’ll write.

5. Get Rid Of All Distractions

a woman writing on her laptop in bed

This tip is a no-brainer, but it is easier said than done, of course!

How many times have you been in the middle of writing something when you get a notification? Then, suddenly you find yourself sucked down rabbit holes, wasting away hours on social media?

It’s hard to stay focused when so many distractions are all around.

Try disconnecting your laptop from the WiFi and putting your phone in Airplane mode. Also, turn off the TV or radio.

At the very least, you should silence your notifications.

Otherwise, before you know it, you’ve binge-watched an entire season on Netflix or scrolled through TikTok for hours instead of even writing a single word.

Or is that just me?

6. Do Your Research

If you spend time doing research about a topic before you start writing, then the actual writing process will be much quicker.

You’ll have an idea of precisely what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Plus, you’ll be able to get your sources in order so that you can back up your points with evidence or make your story more realistic. Doing research also helps you to create an outline easier.

7. Create An Outline Before Writing

Creating an outline allows you to get the words flowing and won’t have you wasting all your time by figuring out how to start.

A simple outline will boost your productivity and eliminate unnecessary time researching or brainstorming your topic. An outline will also give you a plan of action.

Another benefit of an outline is that if you are stuck on a particular topic, you can always skip it and move on to the next section. Then revisit it once you are in the flow.

8. Use A Template

Templates can be a great way to increase your writing speed.

You’ll know exactly how to format your work and what information to include by creating a template for yourself. A template makes a good starting point for an outline, which you can tweak to fit your project.

It can save you time from thinking about how to structure your work each time you sit down to write.

You can find templates online or create your own.

Just be sure to save it in a document to access it when you need it quickly.

9. Organize Your Notes

If you think keeping track of how many words you’ve written so far is hard, then try keeping track of how many documents you’ve created- yikes!

Keeping all your notes in one place will help you go from being disorganized to super productive.

Try using a note-taking app such as Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, or Notion. They all have a free option.

These apps allow you to organize all your notes in pretty much whatever way your heart desires. It is also a great way to write down any new idea you have quickly.

Say goodbye to searching all over your home for that sticky note or scribbling on a napkin, only to find out you accidentally threw it in the trash.

10. Create A Workspace That Inspires You

how to write faster - use an inspiring home office desk

It might sound crazy, but there are certain places where some people feel more creative than others.

While some writers swear they can’t stand their desk with all the clutter, others love how cozy everything feels when they sit down at their messy writing nook.

If you’re unsure what works best for you, then try picking different spots around your home and testing how productive you are at each location.

Be mindful of how different places make you feel. Also, pay attention to how easy it is for you to focus or how inspired you are after a specific time in that spot.

11. Plan What You Will Write In Advance

This is a great way to ensure you’re not wasting any time when you should be writing instead.

Planning will help you stay focused and organized, ultimately leading to a faster writing process.

It can be as simple as writing down the topics you want to cover or creating an outline for your work.

Then, when you sit down to write, you can hit the ground running.

Another tip is to finish the previous day’s writing mid-sentence so that it is easy to get started the next day, instead of looking at a blank page.

12. Don’t Edit As You Write

Don’t feel the need to edit as you’re writing. If you do this, it will only slow you down. Revising as you go can also lead to more mistakes and breaking up your flow.

It’s better to get the bulk of the writing done and then edit it later.

Doing so will allow you to take a step back and look at your writing with fresh eyes.

Plus, who knows how your thoughts or feelings about a piece will change once you’ve let it sit for a while?

Try using editing and grammar checking software for faster editing, such as Grammarly. A free version is available that has most of the features you need to make significant improvements to your editing process.

You can also use a text to speech program that will read your text aloud and help you to find errors you may otherwise have missed.

13. Improve Your Writing Speed

someone writing so fast their hands are blurry

You might not think that how fast you write has any bearing on how good your writing is. But the truth is, your writing speed can significantly impact the quality of your work.

If you’re able to get your thoughts down quickly, then you’re more likely to capture the ideas in your head before they disappear.

Plus, the faster you write, the more practice you’ll get and the better you’ll become at it.

You can do many exercises to boost your typing speed. Learning touch typing will make learning how to write fast easy.

It will also increase your muscle memory, words per minute and significantly improve your accuracy and typing speed.

Best of all, there are many free options available.

14. Write In Short Bursts

Rather than having marathon writing sessions, try to write in short bursts instead.

This is a great way to avoid burnout and keep your attention focused.

Breaking your writing into smaller, more manageable chunks will help you focus and set an achievable goal for each day.

I like to write in 25 or 30-minute increments and take a short 5-minute break in between. Other times it may be for an hour if I am in the flow.

15. Use An AI Writing Tool

AI writing robot deep in thought about how to write faster

This is my favorite way to improve writing productivity and a tip that I only recently discovered.

An AI writing tool can help you save time and finish your writing project faster than ever before.

After being a content writer for over four years, I was a huge skeptic at first. But then I tried Jasper and was blown away.

Tell Jasper what kind of document you want to create – whether it’s website content, a blog post, or an article, and provide some prompts and instructions. It even works with fiction.

You also need to provide further details, such as how long each paragraph should be and what tone of voice you want to use.

The more information you provide Jasper with, the better your final result.

Then, sit back and relax. Jasper will do all the rest for you.

It is the single biggest writing productivity hack I have ever found, and I have sped up my workflow by at least 2 to 3 times.

AI writing software can’t fully replace human writers. Still, it acts as a writing assistant, which helps you beat writer’s block, create a great outline, and assist you with writing the first draft.

Want to try AI writing with Jasper? Get a free 10,000-word trial today!

16. Set A Timer

Setting a timer is a great way to push yourself to accomplish more.

Start with a goal of how many words you want to write in a set amount of time.

For example, “I will write 500 words in 30 minutes.”

Then, once you start writing, don’t stop until the timer goes off. It can let you get your thoughts down quickly and help you write more than usual in less time.

17.  Go For A Walk

Writing for extended periods is surprisingly exhausting. It is almost as tiring as reading what you just wrote.

By taking a short walk, even if it’s just around the block, you’ll be able to clear your head and rest your eyes.

Then when you come back to writing, your thoughts will flow much more easily than before. You’ll also notice any mistakes you made which you may have overlooked.

18. Go To A Cafe or Co-Working Space

woman at a cafe on her laptop with a coffee

If you find that you’re not writing as fast as you hoped at home, consider eliminating distractions and changing your scenery.

If I struggle to write at home, I often go to a cafe for a few hours. A change of scenery is usually enough to make me focused, productive, and get back on track.

You could also try writing at a Co-Working Space. Many offer a free trial the first time you visit, as well as day passes if you want to only work from them occasionally.

19. Use Dictation Software

If you are someone who can’t type fast, then this might be a game-changer for you.

Dictation software is constantly getting better and more accurate. It allows you to speak your article, blog post, or prose out loud, and it will then literally type everything out for you.

This can be a great way to get your thoughts down quickly without having to worry about how you’re going to type them all out.

Then you can go back through and edit any dictation mistakes later.

20. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated

While it may be common sense, the more hydrated you are, the better your concentration and focus.

If you’re feeling thirsty, then the chances are that your mind is already wandering.

Be sure to keep a bottle of water nearby. When the words are flowing, it can be easy to forget to drink water regularly.

21. Have Good Posture

You might not think that how you sit has any bearing on how well you write.

But the truth is, good posture can improve your focus and concentration.

Plus, it’ll help prevent any neck or back pain that can come from sitting in the same position for too long.

So be sure to sit up straight with your feet flat on the ground and your shoulders relaxed. Also, take regular breaks to stretch, and give your eyes a break from the screen.

22. Listen To Music

Music can make you more productive by blocking out outside noise and improving how your brain works.

Not only does music help me to focus, but it also enables me to set a certain mood and feeling for my writing.

Choose an upbeat genre or something which has energy. Music without many lyrics like EDM works well for me. Or perhaps try something dark and gloomy for those challenging scenes.

23. Challenge Yourself

man seeing his shadow as motivating and inspiring

If you find it hard to motivate yourself, give yourself a challenge.

It could be anything from setting a goal of how many words you will try to write in a day to how many articles you want to publish in a month.

Setting challenges also make writing more exciting and fun, as you try and beat your previous best word goals.

Also, by giving yourself something to aim for, you’ll be more likely to stick to your writing goals.

24. Reward Yourself

After you’ve had a productive writing session and met your target, reward yourself.

Try something like binge-watching your favorite show, enjoying your favorite snack, or catching up with friends or family.

By rewarding yourself for completing tasks, you are more productive and starting to form new habits through positive reinforcement.

25. Know When To Stop Writing

Finally, it’s essential to know when to stop writing.

If you’re pushing yourself too hard, then you’ll start to produce lower-quality work.

So instead, take a break and come back to your work later with fresh eyes. It is ok, even if you didn’t meet your writing goal for the day.

This will help to keep you on track and avoid burnout.

Also, starting the next session mid-sentence is a much easier way to get started.

Further Reading

man on a chair learning how to write faster

How To Write Faster – FAQs

How do you write 10 times faster?

There is no one size fits all answer to this question. Different techniques work for different people, so it’s important to experiment and find what works best for you. Some things you can try are to writing at the same time every day, using a timer, setting goals, listening to music, and breaking up your writing into chunks. Using AI writing software can also significantly help you to write faster.

Why Can’t I Write Fast?

There can be many reasons why someone is struggling to write faster. However, some of the most common reasons include lack of motivation, poor writing habits, and distractions such as social media.

It’s important to identify what’s holding you back and address it head-on.

If you’re struggling to focus, try using a noise-canceling headset or working in a quiet space.

If you’re struggling to find the time to write, try setting aside specific times to dedicate to writing.

And if you’re struggling with writer’s block, try using a prompt or an AI writing tool.

How To Write Faster – Final Thoughts

Writing faster doesn’t have to be a pipe dream.

There are many different ways how to write faster and improve your productivity.

The some of the above tips and hacks, and see which ones work best for you.

Learning how to write faster requires an open mind to change your writing process slightly and eliminate unproductive habits. Once you do, you’ll be sure to see instant results.

Skyler Benson
Skyler Benson

Skyler Benson is a full-time blogger. Join Skyler on SkylerBenson.com and learn how to start an online business and create a life of freedom. Before starting this blog, Skyler worked online as a freelance content writer. He worked with digital marketing agencies and B2B companies for four years. Skyler reviews the best software for your online business and teaches you how to write better and start your freelancing career.