Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

What is “speed writing”?
Talktation: The new art of speed writing
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Speed writing is the act of writing quickly. There’s no need to complicate it. It’s just that simple.

When I decided to write this book, I searched the internet for information about speed writing. I didn’t want to write a book that had already been written. But what I found was incredibly disappointing. It was all the same old stuff.

Traditionally, speed writing has centered around one exercise. Typically, you take three random words that have nothing to do with each other. You set the timer. And then you write as fast as you can for five minutes. You must include each of the three words within your work.

Pretty simple, right?

I’ve been doing a similar exercise in my screenwriting workshops ever since I started. Instead of three random words, I’d ask you to pick an inanimate object somewhere in the room. (And you’re not allowed to pick me, even if I am having a bad day.)

And then you write as fast as possible until I say stop.

It’s great fun. Participants write furiously for about a minute or two. Then they start thinking. And then they slow down. And then they re-read what they’ve written.

Before you know it, they’ve stopped altogether.

Well, in a workshop, I can hover over you and make you continue. I even joke about it. I whisper (loudly) “No thinking” and “Keep going” and “No re-reading.”

In a book, however, I can only tell you what to do and trust you to do it. Unfortunately, if you try doing this without someone hovering over you, it’s so incredibly easy to let your brain get in the way. You’ll stop for any old reason.

And that’s why I’ve come up with a solution to try and chip away at your resistance.

But before we get to it, I need you to understand why this is so crucial.