Hares and Tortoises

No, not Chinese astrology (though I did learn something new about that today--and by the way, the post office has some lovely new chinese zodiac stamps - no tortoise, but there is a hare). The hares and tortoises I'm thinking of are writers. Sprinters and methodical, slow-and-steady plodders, if you will. I fall into the latter category, which is comfortable for me and allows me, as long as I'm consistent, to make steady progress. I've been writing most every day for the last year, and writing 2+ pages every single day for the past 121 days. It seems to work. My output is higher than it's ever been, and I like what I'm producing.

Then the sprinters blast by, and I get spun around.

Lately some folks I know are talking about having a retreat in the summer, spending a week together during which they'll each try to draft a 50,000 word novel. That's a shortish novel, but it's still more than I can do in a week. I could probably do it if I had to, but I might hurt myself, and I know I'd need at least another week to recover. Why go through the pain?

Some writers prefer to sprint. They spend time just cogitating (or vegitating), then they pour out a book in a frenzy of red-eyed, caffeine-induced energy. I used to do that kind of thing when I was younger. Now I know I'd have to pay for it.

Relying on a fit of creativity to strike hasn't served me nearly as well as a humble daily goal of x many pages (currently 6). The fits of creativity still come, and it's nice and very satisfying when they do. So much more satisfying, though, when they add to a steadily growing total.

Every writer has to find what works for him or her. Dr. Judith M. Newman, who presents herself as a resource for technical writers, offers an interesting list of advice on writing fast, much of which seems contradictory (e.g., "Writing fast is about uninhibited invention and good organization" and "Allow yourself to be messy—spread paper all over your desk and floor") but most of which will work for one writer if not for another. I've used many of the techniques she suggests myself, and even "invented" some of them on my own (always a drag to find out you're not the only one who's had that terrific idea). I find most of these suggestions have more to do with writing well than with writing fast, but maybe that's just my spin (or me spinning around).

For those who are so anxious to write faster that they want to enlist help, there's even a CD called "Writing Fast" (no link because I'm not endorsing it--if you're that desperate you'll find it) that promises to help you write any project with lightning speed. The website has lots of Catchy Buzz-Words.

I also found a forum on writing fast. Looks like journalists. I only skimmed a few messages. Some of their suggestions start to look very familiar (see Dr. Newman's list, above).

My point is that how fast one writes is a pretty individual thing. For me, six pages a day is pretty fast, just now. Maybe a year from now I'll consider that slow. For some other folks I know, anything less than twenty pages a day is slacking. And I know at least one writer who can spend an entire block of alloted work time revising one sentence in the quest for perfection (like Oscar Wilde).

Writing fast can be an advantage, particularly if one writes the sort of stuff that has short deadlines. But speed is not the only important factor in writing. To me it's not the most important factor. Writing well is more important, and I think that's demonstrated by the advice on "writing fast" that really doesn't have to do with speed. Some kind of organization is generally a part of writing well. So is allowing oneself freedom in appropriate directions, such as going off on tangents, not worrying about editing until a draft is done, etc. In my experience, the one freedom that's disastrous is allowing oneself the freedom to wait for inspiration to strike.

Six pages and a couple of near-misses with the substitute teapot lid. Maybe I'll have to spring for a new pot. (Yes, I have two others, but they're bigger than I need for my daily pot of tea while I'm writing.) Hm. Birthday's coming up. Maybe my prezzie will be a new teapot.