Rapid Network

Several weeks ago I started a new book. As usually, I got up at 5:15 a.m., went to our lower level office, checked email, and started writing. In no time, I had pages of copy and was well on the way to finishing a chapter. My book has nine chapters and I only have two more to go. This has me worried.

Will the executive director of the publishing company think I've done a hasty job? If I send her the manuscript too soon, she may think I haven't given the book my best efforts. But I need to submit the manuscript soon or the book won't be ready in time for the fall market. Why is this book progressing so quickly?

I've spent hours on this question and think it boils down to three things. First, I've been living the book for four years. Second, I've written articles about many of the chapter topics and these articles served as writing warm-ups. Third, I've been studying loss, grief and recovery for a long time. Though I get the grocery shopping and laundry done, my days focus on this book.

I'm obsessed with it. Worrying about the book is something I also do. Famous writers like James Michener spent years writing a book. Could I produce quality work in a few months?

For more information about writing speed I turned to the Internet and found hundreds of articles about a new trend -- speed writing. Apparently this writing approach started as a way to help students and authors cope with writer's block. Glen Ford explains the approach in his article, "Write a How-To Book -- What is Speed Writing?"

Speed writers work from a specific template or pattern, Ford explains. "They need to write quickly and produce a great deal of writing in a very short time." He thinks this writing approach is done without thought or structure. The goal is to get words on paper as fast as possible, read it the next day, and edit for spelling, grammar and rough edges.

Before I started my book I thought about its structure. Since I made a general outline with sub-points, I am not speed writing in the true sense of the term. What I am doing is writing quickly after thousands of hours of thought, self-examination, and life experience.

Dean Rieck writes about speed writing on his blog. His article, "S.P.E.E.D. Writing: 5 Tips to Double Your Productivity, is based on an acronym. The letter S stands for the topic. The letter P stands for preparing facts. The letter E stands for establishing structure and the second E stands for eliminating distractions. Finally, the letter D stands for dashing to the finish line.

After writing for more than 30 years, I follow this acronym automatically. I also practice what Reick preaches and make writing and editing separate tasks. So far, I'm pleased with the manuscript. It tells my story, the death of four family members, including my daughter, in 2007 and how I managed to find happiness again.

Are you speed writing or just in a hurry? Understanding speed writing will help you answer this question. I'm not speed writing, I'm writing rapidly and from the heart. With two chapters to go, I think it's going to be a good book. Writing it is helping me discover my new self.

Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson