Rush job

You want writing in a hurry? Great! I love to work fast.

This could work out well. It could also be a disaster.

Here’s what I need to complete a rush job (and you’ll find this applies to most good, fast writers).

• A clear description of the audience and destination for the writing. Unless I know where it’s going and who’s reading it, I can’t write it quickly.
• A word count. I need a target for that, too. A 2,000-word piece is very different from a 500-word piece or a 4,000-word piece.
• Notice. I’ll block off time for you. But I need to know about that in advance. If you don’t provide notice, I might not be available, because you’re not my only client.
• Pay. I’m not writing in a rush on spec. It’s going to cost you. Fast, good writers aren’t cheap writers.
• Source material. What is this content based on? Point me to that. Or I can interview you, but we need to allow time for that.
• A quick review cycle. If you want me to finish on Thursday, I need your feedback by Friday morning. If you’re not free to provide feedback, let me know when you will be free and I’ll adjust my schedule around that timeframe.
• Limited reviewers. If it’s just you, we can probably succeed. If it’s you and four other people, good luck getting consensus. Lack of consensus slows things down.
• One revisions, tops. If you provide feedback, I’ll address it. If you provide feedback, then read the revision, then provide more feedback that you should have provided in the first go-round, then provide more feedback in a third round . . . well, not only will the text not be done quickly, but I’ll think twice about ever working with you again.
• No AI. There’s no time to deal with that in a rushed process.

I actually prefer speedy writing

If all the right pieces are in place, fast writing can be better than slow writing. It’s easier to get into a flow if you’re in a hurry. Add to that having all the information ready ahead of time and a clear, quick review cycle and you’ve got the ingredients for a great piece of writing.

And deadlines, so long as they are realistic, are actually fun.

Just don’t screw it up by violating any of those needs I just outlined, okay?