http://artisticwhim.com/blog/2008/01/i-am-a-writing-machine/ Going after inspiration with a stick Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:04:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://artisticwhim.com/blog/2008/01/i-am-a-writing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Rob Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:26:35 +0000 http://artisticwhim.com/blog/?p=206#comment-113 In this case, it was technical: I was brain dumping documentation describing the work I did at my last startup (www.lilipip.com). The fact that it was a brain dump was the advantage here. I wrote the outline and then just needed to fill in the blanks. I've found that with technical writing, if I'm not able to write fast, it's because either 1) I don't know the material well enough yet, so go back and learn, or 2) I don't have a solid outline. Creatively, I've written at about 500 words/h when it's really good and it feels like I'm just taking dictation for the story that's whispering itself in my ear. I've also spent three hours on one sentence (I've yet to learn when to give up). In this case, it was technical: I was brain dumping documentation describing the work I did at my last startup (www.lilipip.com). The fact that it was a brain dump was the advantage here. I wrote the outline and then just needed to fill in the blanks. I’ve found that with technical writing, if I’m not able to write fast, it’s because either 1) I don’t know the material well enough yet, so go back and learn, or 2) I don’t have a solid outline.
Creatively, I’ve written at about 500 words/h when it’s really good and it feels like I’m just taking dictation for the story that’s whispering itself in my ear. I’ve also spent three hours on one sentence (I’ve yet to learn when to give up).

]]> http://artisticwhim.com/blog/2008/01/i-am-a-writing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Dave Schappell Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:03:36 +0000 http://artisticwhim.com/blog/?p=206#comment-112 Was that technical documentation, or creative? You say that it's procedural, but it makes me wonder what the gig entailed (broadly). In any case, that's a lot of hourly writing! Was that technical documentation, or creative? You say that it’s procedural, but it makes me wonder what the gig entailed (broadly). In any case, that’s a lot of hourly writing!

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