Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Some phases will take longer
Squeeze the most out of FAST
The payoff

We’re all different.

Depending on your ideas, your temperament, and your own personal style, some parts of FAST will affect you differently than they affect somebody else reading this book.

And where I’ve given you examples, I run the risk of making it seem like that’s the “right” way to do it.

My way is not the “right” way. Yours is.

Don’t be surprised if the FAST System works differently to how you imagine it.

Maybe you’ll spend more time than you thought you would on the Focus section. Or on the Strengthen phase. Or while you’re Tweaking.

If your typing skills aren’t up to speed, the Apply phase might take longer than you like.

It’s okay. We’re all individuals, and each of us needs to find his own way of writing. His own way of getting the words out.

One of the problems with writing this kind of book, is that I need to make it clear — without giving you a “standard.”

There’s no right or wrong. There’s only effective.

If I say it would take four months to write a novel, don’t hold that up as your standard. You have to try out the FAST System and see for yourself. How long will it take you? It could take twice as long. Or three times as long. Or more.

On the other hand, you might double that speed!

It’s easy to get frustrated if you’re not moving as quickly as you think you “should.” (Or to think something’s wrong if you’re going twice as fast.)

Especially when you’re first starting out, always assume it will take longer than you expect.

My estimate? Whatever you’re estimating (the whole project, or just the Focus section, or just the Strengthen phase, etc.), determine how long you expect it to take. Not a bloated figure.

Estimate how long you really expect it to take.

If you finish in that time, fantastic.

But allow for at least twice as long.

And when you’re first starting out, allow for four times as long. If all goes well, you’ll finish when you first expected.

But if not, you won’t lose your self-confidence because of it.