Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

The importance of doing this last
Quicken and polish
Tweak

Here’s a quick story as you start applying your Speed Plan.

As you know, when I wrote this book, I created a deadline for myself. And as my way of forcing myself to get off my lazy butt and get it written, I advertised the deadline.

But as my deadline raced towards me, I started feeling the pressure to do it right “the first time.” I felt like I needed to craft beautiful sentences that rolled trippingly off the eyes.

And I got stuck. Big time.

I was so overwhelmed with trying to create perfection, that I couldn’t write anything.

Eventually, my deadline was coming at me so fast, I had to let go. And I did. And whatever garbage first came to mind, that’s what I’d put on the page.

Later, I discovered that a) not everything I wrote was garbage after all, and (more importantly) b) even if what I wrote was garbage (and there was a lot of it), just reading it back in “fixing mode” sparked ideas on how to change it.

And the later ideas were always sharper and clearer. Know why? Because the first time through, you’re filling pages. But when you’re Tweaking, you’re improving what’s already there.

So relax. Trust yourself. Embrace it. Jump in!

Even as you Tweak, remember: You can always fix it later.