How to Write a 500 Word Blog Post in Less Than an Hour

---

Sharing is Caring!

---

How to Write a 500 Word Blog Post in Less Than an Hour

Written by William Ballard, Freelance Writer and Author

Blogging is an important part of my life. It is the primary way I have built and communicate with my readers and clients. However, it is not the only thing I do. I will bet it is not for you, either.

If you are like most bloggers, you are trying to squeeze it in between your job, your family, and a thousand of other activities. I understand how tough it can be to be consistent.

After writing more than 1,000 posts, I have gotten better and faster with practice. Now, on average, it takes me 60-70 minutes to write and format a single post. I thought I would share eleven of the tricks I use to write more efficiently and productively.

1. Let imagination wonder for the post the night before. I try to determine what I am going to write about tomorrow before I go to bed. This allows my mind to begin engaging with the topic or subject in advance. It is like putting a roast in a crockpot and letting it simmer overnight.
2. Use the time that you are not writing to think. I relax and stretch for about 60 minutes every morning. During this time, I listen to an audio book (or seminars on CD) for 30 minutes. This often provides organic material for future posts. Then I turn it off and just think. I primarily focus on what I am going to blog about that day. I usually create my main premise and outline in my head before I put pen to paper, or fingers to keys. 
3. Do away with online distractions. When it is time to write, I go offline. Sort of. I cannot be completely offline, because I need to be able to use the web for research. However, I do not need to be checking email, Twitter, or Facebook. Enter AntiSocial. This little program enables most to turn off email and all social networks for better concentration. When using this program you will not be able to get back to your social media platforms without rebooting your computer. If you are a PC user, Cold Turkey is similar.
4. Turn on some music or nature sounds. Years ago, I discovered that certain kinds of music put me in my “writing zone.” Design or create a playlist of music on your iPod or whatever MP3 player you may have and call it “Background Music for Writing.” Make sure it consists mostly of soundtracks that entice and seduce your creative side.
5. Set a timer for deadline speed. Writing is not difficult for me. The challenge is getting started. I can find an endless array of distractions. Starting a timer for 70 minutes creates a sense of urgency for me. I am very competitive with myself, and I find myself engaging immediately and racing the clock to finish. I simply use the timer on my BlackBerry.
6. Create an outline. In case you have not noticed, I like writing lists post. This makes my posts highly scannable, which also makes them easier for my readers to digest. It also makes it very easy for me to write. I know the overview before I begin. It then almost becomes a fill-in-the-blank process.
7. Write without editing. Do not try to write and edit. If you do, you will drive yourself mad, trust me! Worse, you will not make much progress. Writing is primarily a right-brain function. Editing is a left-brain function. Switching back and forth between these two hemispheres slows you down. You do not really get into the groove as you should. Instead, I just write continuously without stopping.
8. Now edit and format. Once I have a first draft, I begin the editing process. I read my post a few times, cleaning up the spelling, grammar, and syntax. I also try to shorten everything I can. I want to use simple words, short sentences, and short paragraphs. This is one of the most important things you can do to make your posts read faster.
9. Add graphics, links, and metadata. Once I am happy with my post, I copy and paste everything from a Word Doc. (This is my offline blogging software.) to my web-hosting portal. There I add graphics. Moreover, I add internal and external links and the all-important metadata (e.g., category, post description, key words, etc.).
10. Publish a draft. Once I am done, I set the publication date and time in my web-hosting portal and “draft” the post. Technically, this creates a scheduled post. It will not be live on my site until the appointed date and time I want to make it live. Now, at this point I may update the post, but as soon that process is complete, I am done!

Sometimes it takes a little longer than 70 minutes. Sometimes it takes less. For the record, this post took 69 minutes and 20 seconds. Nevertheless, I find that I get more written when I focus on these short deadlines than when I don’t. This sense of progress encourages me to write more.

Questions: How long does it take you to write your typical blog post? Any ideas here that could help you be more efficient? You can leave a comment below.

---

---

Sharing is Caring!

---

About the Author
William Ballard is the author of, "8 Tips to Freelance Writing Success (Article Writing Series)" and "3 Steps to Blogging Success: Discovering Your Passion, Finding Your Audience, and Developing an Income Stream (Article Series)".

He has been writing professionally for over 10+ years and has much experience within the industry, both in publishing and in freelance writing. He has successfully self-published over 10 books and eBooks. Visit his Amazon Author Page to see list of his most recent projects.

---