Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Find the optimal flow
Ride your wave to the end
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Now, I’ve got to warn you of a potential hazard: Comparing speeds. Don’t do it. Ever.

I’ve given you examples of how long it took me to write segments or chapters from this book. I’ve done it to motivate you. To inspire you. To show you it can be done!

But your own speed will vary.

In fact, you might write a hell of a lot faster than I do. Or you might also write considerably slower. That’s okay!

Each of us is unique. We have something unique to say, and a unique journey we’ve taken through life.

Well, guess what? We also have a unique “optimal flow” — a writing speed that seems to suit us best.

Just because I wrote a chapter in two hours doesn’t mean you can. Or even that you should! Trying for that speed is ridiculous. Don’t even bother. That’s my speed (and I’ve discovered it’s not even my optimal speed!).

I bring this up because I don’t want you to get discouraged.

I got very disappointed when I started on this book. I thought I’d be powering through ten pages every two hours. But when I kept falling behind, I’d sink into frustration.

I felt like a failure.

And the weight of the world on my shoulders began to crush me again. I wasn’t writing “fast enough.” And it made me judge my writing even more. And it slowed me down even further.

It’s a never-ending downward spiral.

It’s counter-productive. And such a waste of time!

Push yourself. Move as fast as you can. But if that’s only a half-page a day, so be it! You’ll write faster by consistently writing a half-page a day, than unnaturally trying to do ten pages a day, and getting stuck because you’re beating yourself up.

When you tap into your optimal flow, you’ll ride the wave. If you try for a speed that doesn’t fit, you’ll miss it every time.

Take the pressure off yourself. When you do find your optimal speed and plug into it, it just fits.

And you’ll notice your speed gradually increase over time.