The more you hang around writers and read about writing the more you will run into the concept of speed writing.
Some people love it.
Others hate it.
But whichever camp you're in, you need to know about it.
But when do you need to use it? In this article, I'm going to give you a few hints as to when you want to use speed writing.
Depending on who you listen to, speed writing is either a tool or a practice technique which grew out of the world of journalism.
It focuses on writing in short, intense bursts using a seed phrase.
The idea is to get you into the "ZONE" (big caps, bold intended).
You know the zone, that mental place where a writer actually gets stuff done.
And it's a place, as any technical writer can tell you, which is locked away until you actually sit down quietly and start working! Speed writing is designed to get you writing.
It works very well for that purpose.
And it doesn't take long.
Certainly, much less time than staring at a blank piece of paper.
Okay so no one uses paper any more.
I hear you.
A blank computer word processing window then.
So if you are frequently bothered by writer's block, keep a handy list of three random words on your computer.
Try one verb, one noun and one adverb or adjective; "Blue", "Dogs", and "Fly", for example.
If you just can't get started, grab a group of three and start writing from that new phrase.
"Blue dogs fly", could be the start of a fantasy story for example.
Or a tale of a hunting dog.
It doesn't matter.
This is pure stream of consciousness stuff.
When you finish, you'll be in the zone and ready to write.
Which leads into the next good use for speed writing.
Unless you're a technical writer, like me, or so busy you can't take the time; you'll want to occasionally write for the joy of it.
Yes, practice pieces.
Those tiny little expressions of joy or hate that clear the mind and remind you of why you started writing in the first place.
Those pieces that seem to clutter up your work space and your hard drive.
But were destined for the round filing cabinet from their very birth.
Speed writing is great for that.
Finally, speed writing is great for unstructured stream of consciousness stuff.
In other words short throwaway pieces.
Things like blog entries or articles for online literary magazines.
You know the stuff where you aren't really trying to say anything but you need to fill up 400 words? All tools have a use.
Otherwise they wouldn't exist.
There would have been no reason to create them in the first place.
Speed writing is no different.
It just needs to be used for writing that exploits its strengths.