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Home > Writing > Freelancing > Saving Time When You Write Articles
Saving Time When You Write Articles
Submitted by: Lynda Forman
If you're a freelance writer, you want to know how to maximize your time in order to maximize your earnings. But there can be a steep learning curve to handle when you're first starting out. Instead of having to work your way up to speedy delivery, you can learn from others who have already traveled from times of slow typing to times when they could complete entire projects in just hours. While you might not be fast as lightning at first, you can certainly boost your productivity with these tips.
Quick Research Tips
Since you may not know everything there is to know about a topic before you get started, you will need to do some research. And this is where many people have troubles with speed. You want to start your research by using your favorite search engine bar. Here, type in the words most associated with the topic you're writing about – and as many as possible. This can help you narrow down the results you get, while also helping you get the information you can actually use. Next, print out the pages that seem to interest you and fit well with your needs. Though this might seem a little less than earth friendly, having typed information is far easier than flipping back and forth between your website and your word processing document. It can also help if you keep a filing system of the articles you've already used as reference materials for your articles. This way, you can look through your files instead of spending hours searching on the Internet. Just make sure to file these articles in a meaningful way so that you can easily access them later.
Fast Writing Tips
As you can see on this article, there are subheadings that help to direct the reader to information which is pertinent to them. These headings can also help you as you write. By providing a simply outline for your article, these help you stay on track and stay focused in your assembly of the article. Try to use around 2 to 3 subheadings for each 500 word article. And even if your client doesn't want them included, you can always remove them before submitting your work. Practice makes perfect when it comes to typing. The more you type, the easier it will get and the less you will have to look at the keyboard. You can also invest in typing lessons software to help you learn how to speed up your keystrokes. If you're just starting out in the writing business, you might not have a lot to do, so learning how to type as quickly as possible will be a positive use of your time. In the end, the more you write, the better and the faster you will get at writing. After all, the less you have to think about what you're doing and how to do it well, the faster your mind and your fingers can move.
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Lynda Forman is a freelance writer living in California. She writes for national and international clients. Her website, Lynda Forman, is up and running, though constantly evolving.
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