3 Ridiculously Fast Writing Shortcuts (That Let Me Finish Articles in 30 Minutes Flat)
3 cheat code ideas for those who want faster content
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Sometimes you need a shortcut.
You can’t always spend hours researching and thinking about a topic. Sometimes you need a writing idea that’s quick to execute. And brings in a ton of readers.
Even when I worked 9–5 I still managed to publish 4 articles/week. I have 3 templates I use whenever I need a quick article. They are like a cheat code.
When you are out of ideas and need to produce something fast, use one of these 3 ideas.
1. Showcase your process
Readers love to hear how you do something.
So take them behind the scenes and walk them through a process you use. You might think you don’t have any but you do. Describe how exactly you do something:
read so many books
save 15% each month
your morning routine
eat healthy meals all week
Anything related to your niche works. It’ll be quick to write because no research or thinking is needed.
Why this works
We’re drowning in platitudes and being told what to do. The winning writers show readers how to do it.
It will hook your reader. Because describing your system fulfills writing best practice. It’s simple and easy to understand. Your language will be specific. And it’s a story.
Taking readers behind the curtain will deepen your relationship. It humanises you and makes you relatable.
It boosts your credibility — how I is more powerful than how to.
Some of my examples:
How To Write A Long Post (In 5 Easy Steps)
3 Quiet Habits That Created 435 Articles in 22 Months (With a 9–5)
Tips to make this work:
It’s not about you — Remember it’s for your reader. Don’t bore them with needless details. Only share what’s useful to them.
Show your credibility — we are intrigued by those who find success. So drop that in. What does this process help you achieve? Use numbers.
Explain the reasons — Raise the quality by sharing the thinking behind your decisions.
Reveal what hasn’t worked — include ideas you’ve tried that didn’t work.
2. Very long listicle
I stole this idea from Alex Mathers.
Listicles are uncool amongst writers but readers love them. Make it long for speed writing. 17 ways is easier to write than 3 ways. Write everything you know on the topic. Write 3/4 sentences on each. Then you’re done.
Super easy.
Why this works
Numbers make writing sound more authoritative and believable. They create an itch people have to scratch. And imply the article is packed with value.
Read these two titles and notice your reaction:
How to save money each week
7 ways to reduce your spending by $100 every week
The second one causes a stronger reaction in our brain. The specifics make the title powerful and persuasive.
Some of my examples:
13 Ways To Gain An Unfair Advantage As A Writer (No One Tells You About)
13 Brutally Honest Lessons I Learned After Writing 550,000 Words Online
Tips to make this work:
Start with a title. Then brain dump all the ideas you have. Make the title provocative and bold. ‘Unfair advantage’ worked well in my first example.
When writing make your language strong and direct. The article needs to feel fast and energetic.
Here’s an example from one of my points:
3. Celebrate a success and share the lessons
People follow those who are where they want to be.
This is why celebrating successes wins you fans. People see your results and are drawn to you. You can celebrate almost everything.
Some of my examples:
Making money:
The Secret Strategy I Used To Build A $60k Writing Business In 2 Hours/Day
Follower milestones:
I Gained 21,000 Followers With These 3 Dead Simple Steps
Creating a product:
I Felt Like a Fraud. Then I Made $4,644
Tips to make this work
Celebrating can turn readers off if done poorly. The key is to frame your article as helpful and inspiring to others. It’s never about you.
Keep a humble attitude.
Share your delight but include your astonishment too. Inspire the reader to believe they can achieve the same results. Make the steps small.
Ironically smaller achievements can be more effective than huge ones. How I made my first $100 online is more attractive than I’m making $10/month. People are drawn to what is attainable.
Use these 3 ideas to publish more. And achieve great results.
Derek
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These are great tips!!!