As a freelance blogger one of your big income factors is your speed. If you charge $20 for a blog post and it takes you an hour to complete it you’ll only make $20 an hour. If you can complete two or more blog posts in an hour you’ll easily be able to make $40 an hour or more.
In my experience $20 is actually a pretty cheap price to charge for a blog post. So, as a freelance blogger or writer you do have the ability to make a good amount of money as long as you’re quick.
If you’re struggling to come up with blog post ideas or are writing at a snail like pace here is how to write a blog post in twenty minutes.
Prepare
Before you can sit down and write a blog post you first have to have ideas. The best way to get ideas is from your life experiences. This means you can’t be glued to the computer 24/7. (Sometimes a problem for me.) The best ideas for a blog post often stem from something you do in your daily life. Just go about your business like normal and when an idea hits you, and it will, write it down.
You should also read on at least a weekly basis. This could be books or blogs. The more you read the better you’ll be able to write. It’s especially good to read material from someone who has a writing style you like.
Whenever a blog post idea comes to you write it down. Even if you think it’s not the best of ideas, write it down anyway. Keep a running list of ideas you can turn to.
Create a Writing Schedule
For me I have to be in a certain mood to write quickly. And, since I have a pretty routine schedule this usually isn’t a problem. On the days I don’t have to work I normally write the best from about 10 am to 1 pm. Every other day I write when my kids go to bed at around 8 until I go to bed at around 11.
Don’t force yourself to write at a time that’s not good for you. There are several studies that show people who work early in the morning are most successful. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work for me so I don’t do it. I know when I write best and that’s when I try to hammer out the bulk of my writing work.
The point is to get on a schedule. A writing routine will be a tremendous help to you.
Resort to Your Ideas & Write
When you sit down to write, resort to your list of ideas and pick the one that you feel the best about that day. You need to write about topics that you know. If you are taking writing assignments on topics you know nothing about there is just no possible way you can write a blog post in twenty minutes.
(Ever take work from a content mill and get paid $3.00 for a post on printers it took you 45 minutes to complete? Stick to what you know.)
Once you’ve picked your idea just write. Don’t stop and edit. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling mistakes. Simply write until you have finished saying what you have to say.
Make sure that you are writing in your scheduled, interruption free time. You don’t want something bothering you when you’re in “the zone.”
Edit the Crap Out of It
Personally, I hate spelling and grammar mistakes, which is why I always edit my blog posts at least 3-5 times. (This doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes, because I do.) Read through your blog post and make any changes you see necessary. Fix all of your grammar mistakes and misspelled words.
Read through your blog post like this twice and change any word repetitions and wording that doesn’t sound quite right. Now leave it alone.
Return to the blog post in a couple of hours or a couple of days. Read it again. You’d be amazed at how much better you can edit a post when it’s been off your mind for a little while.
If you need to, add links and a picture. Voila’ you’re done.
What if You Still Can’t Come Up with Good Ideas?
When I first started blogging my ideas ran dry pretty quickly. Now I am full of them! Writing quickly is all about having good ideas. Practicing is the best thing you can do. No, practice won’t make you perfect but it will make you a hell of a lot better.
Even though I am full of ideas there are still some days when I have a deadline and nothing seems right. This is when I refer to my top secret weapon. Wanna know what it is? Subscribe to my email updates and I’ll let you in on it Monday. This method has helped 100% to be a faster and I like to think, better writer.
I also want to disclose that I don’t think you should always be fast. There are some projects that require and deserve a lot more time than twenty minutes.
Note: It took me seventeen minutes to write this post.
If you are interested in learning more about how to find freelance writing jobs Sophie Lizard is reopening her Freelance Blogger’s Client Hunting Masterclass. I took this course the last time it was open and learned a ton of valuable information. In fact, I can pretty much credit my ability to find clients to the blogs of Sophie Lizard and Carol Tice.
What are your best tips for writing a blog post quickly?
What I do is keep a notebook close (or even a scrap piece of paper) and when I think of a post idea I write it down. I think of them at the most random times, so I try to write them down immediately if possible. I also sometimes draft posts over time so that I have an outline. Once I have a topic and outline, the actual writing goes quickly.
I have a notebook full of post ideas and I also use the Evernote iPhone app whenever I get a post idea when I’m not at home. Scheduling is tough for me since I still have the day job but I try to set some time aside every day for writing.
These are great strategies! I don’t think I could have written that in 17 minutes, which is why I’ll probably never freelance. 🙂 I keep a running list of ideas which has proven to be very helpful. And I’m also a stickler on spelling and grammar – hate when I mess something up. I usually re-read and edit my posts for clarity a day after I write them.
Great advice, Alexa! I’m working too on streamlining the writing process to make it more profitable. Can’t wait to see what your top secret weapon is. 🙂
I just have to be “in the zone.” When I’m in the zone, I can write all day long. When I’m distracted, it can take me FOREVER!
I am with you there Holly. When I am in the zone, I can crank out some text. If I have other things on my mind, it can take me hours.
Nicely done Alexa 🙂
Great points and all right on the money. I actually signed up to see what your secret weapon is 🙂
Like Holly, I too find that when I’m in the zone I can write for hours…but when I am distracted or just not being creative, I tend to just walk away from the computer. The time away allows me to reflect a bit more and I can usually come to the keyboard refreshed and ready to go!
Take care and have a great weekend. All the best.
Lyle
Thanks for signing up Lyle! 😀
Great post! I have a list on my phone full of ideas so that I never run out. Makes it so much easier!
Hey,Alexa. So 20 minutes is for the first draft and then you spend additional time with the edit ? I like the idea of an edit the next day. I just don’t see mistakes if I stare at them too long!
~ Christiee
Yeah give or take. I usually have the first draft and first edit in twenty minutes and then will come back to the post a little later to edit it again. I am just like you. I don’t see the mistakes right after I write it.
Seventeen minutes!!!! Wow. It takes me so long to write a post. This is why I only post once a week. You’re awesome.
Thanks Taynia 😀
I definitely need to get better about writing posts with less dead time. Thanks for the tips!
Really good ideas. My tricks are as follows (and most are the same with what you advised): READ a lot. It helps you find ideas and different approaches. WRITE down the ideas. Have drafts, keep titles and bookmarks. Have a SCHEDULE. This will help you focusing.It’s easier to have something like “today I need to write a travel article about my US trips” than “today I need to write”. Be consistent in your work, the more you write, the better you are.
I won’t tell you how long it takes me to write a post and it’s not because I’m slow it’s because I always have lots to say and I’m picky. I make errors all the time, thus life, I’m not an editor although I do my best and correct what I find or if a fan lets me know. I don’t go barking up trees if a word is spelled wrong because there are bigger things to worry about in this world. I think it’s great if you can knock off a quality blog post in 20 minutes.. you go girl!
Your blog posts usually are very long and detailed so I can see it taking quite a bit longer. All of my posts don’t take twenty minutes. I think there are some posts that require a lot more time and deserve it too!
Its certainly impressive you cranked this excellent post on such a small amount of time! Could pick up lots of writing wisdom from this post. For one, I guess practicing on my craft more would help…I started keeping an idea pad sometime back and it has come in handy…now I don’t have to rack my brain for hours looking for something to write on.
Looking forward to reading about your writing secret weapon!
I’ve never written a post in under 2 hours. I feel like my quality would go down the toilet, but then again, I’m not doing this as a job
The more you write the faster you will get. It used to take me awhile to write my blog posts. And, the more you write the more ideas you come up with.
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog thgrouh Digg. I don’t usually leave comments on weblogs but I thought I’d just say hello. It’s apparent that you are putting a lot of effort into your website. So continue with the good work! Look forward to your other posts. Best wishes!
Writing a blog post usually happens pretty fast, but editing is another story. I do the same thing you do which is read it about 3 times then walk away till later. But I still feel like I spend too much time proofreading. If I were to hire anything out, that might be it!
It sounds like we have the same problem!
I needed to see this! I want my posts to be perfect or I run out of ideas and I definitely think this will help me. Can’t wait to get the newsletter tomorrow too!
Thanks, Jaclyn!!
I need to know your secret!! Sometimes my blog posts take forever and I would love to know how you do it.
Wow, it definitely takes me longer than 20 minutes, though there is the occasional post I can crank out in just about no time at all. I do think having a set “writing time” is hugely important though. That’s helped me a lot.
Wow 17 minutes is pretty awesome. I need to be quicker because otherwise I end up not posting consistently because it takes me so long. I also have a good list of ideas for now…but I’m still a new blogger so we’ll see. I might have to use the secret weapon!
I can write super fast, especially if it’s something I’m interested in, but like you and some of the other comments, it takes forever to proof and edit and find an image. If I miss something, it’s usually big, like in the title, which makes me really mad, but what can you do? Now if I’m editing someone else’s stuff, I’m super quick and kind find any flaws right away.
Thanks for these tips. My husband and I recently started our blog and while we have a truckload of post ideas, it takes us a (VERY) long time to write a post. We’re going to implement “create a writing schedule” idea and set off a block of time to write like there’s no tomorrow instead of write a little here and a little there. Thank you, thank you!
I stumbled across your blog today and must say, “I like!” I feel like I am ‘you’ 12 months ago…Just starting out, lots of ideas, can’t get them poured onto paper (or my blog), want to do this for a living, etc. The only large difference I notice is that you are a single mom, and I am not. I actually have four kiddos and am trying to pursue this writing/blog passion of mine in the cracks of life, when time allows. I ‘liked’ you on FB and look forward to sitting down and reading/learning more from/about you. Best wishes. ~ Heather
You can get more details about what you need after a long flight, do consider hiring a limousine.
We hope one will come car breakdown cover through
and out of Southampton from beautiful cities like
Geneva, Paris and Amsterdam. Gatwick’s option, a second 3km runway operating independently to the south east
of London should decline. A no-fly order saw Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Awesome blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little
lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There
are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Any recommendations? Thank you!