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Using article writing software in conjunction with original writing

by JD Jens
15 replies
I'm trying to improve my article writing time. I can write an original, researched article, that reads well in about 15 minutes. I'd like to cut that time in half. Since I write and type pretty fast, I think the best way to do that is to cut down my research time.

Has anyone found any good article writers that are good at delivering lots of quality information?

Or does anyone have any ideas on how to use article writing software to cut down my article writing time?

Thanks in advance
#article #conjunction #original #software #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by Free Time View Post

    I'm trying to improve my article writing time.
    So am I, to be honest ... but my idea of "improving" means taking longer over them, and putting extra care and editing time in, not trying to produce them more quickly. Long experience has taught me that spending the extra hour on an article, even if that makes it 4 hours instead of 3 (as it may), is really well paid work, and can produce a lot more future income from the article. For all the reasons given in this post.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      So am I, to be honest ... but my idea of "improving" means taking longer over them, and putting extra care and editing time in, not trying to produce them more quickly. Long experience has taught me that spending the extra hour on an article, even if that makes it 4 hours instead of 3 (as it may), is really well paid work, and can produce a lot more future income from the article. For all the reasons given in this post.
      I simply can't agree more.

      Why ruin quality over quantity.

      I assure you the advice you have above is very much worth taking.

      In fact I can't stress that any more.

      I'd also recommend reading the post recommended. Enormously.

      EDIT. You have 2 of the best article marketers I know talking to you now. Please listen.
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    • Profile picture of the author JD Jens
      I used to be a professional journlalist and my standards are quite high. My articles are very informative with a unique and interesting voice.

      Just looking for a way to research faster so I can be more time efficient.
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Free Time View Post

        I used to be a professional journlalist and my standards are quite high. My articles are very informative with a unique and interesting voice.

        Just looking for a way to research faster so I can be more time efficient.

        Research is definitely a different nut to crack.

        Depending on your topic, sometimes I use Amazon.

        Some book listings have a pdf of the Table of Contents. It sure helps you get a quick overview of the topic you want to write about.
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    • Profile picture of the author Enfusia
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      So am I, to be honest ... but my idea of "improving" means taking longer over them, and putting extra care and editing time in, not trying to produce them more quickly. Long experience has taught me that spending the extra hour on an article, even if that makes it 4 hours instead of 3 (as it may), is really well paid work, and can produce a lot more future income from the article. For all the reasons given in this post.
      Loved your other post! fabtastic points well made.

      -----
      if you're outputting a 500 word article in 15 min and you want to cut that in half I.E. 7.5 min wow. But I don't see how it could possibly be top shelf at at that pace?

      A really well written article will bring you traffic for years. I have article bringing me daily traffic 4 years later. And many got pretty good upfront hits when picked up by a decent sized ezine and run in their publication.

      I have to stick with the group that's saying stick with quality!
      Patrick
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Dragon Naturally Speaking will help you speed the process, but I am with Alexa.

    You are asking to speed the process, rather than to improve the output.


    p.s. A friend used to run a restaurant. He had software to help him do scheduling for 50 people.

    He would always use the software for a few weeks, then start writing little notes on notepads, to help him better organize the schedule.

    As he continued using the software, he would eventually realize that he spent more time with paper notes than he did using the software intended to speed his work.

    He told me one day that he wished I could create better scheduling software for him, because all of the software he used created a situation where he spent more time using the "time-saving device" than he would have if he never used the "time-saving device".

    Maybe there is a lesson in that for you.
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    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Wikipedia is good, but not the content. That's generated by the public, and not always spot on. Scroll down and look at the notes - there are often references cited that would have more relevance.
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    • Profile picture of the author angela99
      For whom are you writing your articles?

      If you're writing for customers who pay $1 an article, just stop doing that. They can hire people who use thesaurus-like article software to produce a storm of words.

      If you're writing for upwards of $10 per article, 15 minutes is about as low as you could go, and still produce worth-while content.

      Why not consider going against the flow, and aiming for quality articles?

      You can write quality articles reasonably quickly, if you:

      * Batch research

      * Write in batches

      Re "Has anyone found any good article writers that are good at delivering lots of quality information?"

      This is the primary aim of anyone who calls himself/ herself a writer.

      To create quality content, you must:

      * Understand the topic about which you're writing;

      * Understand the audience/ market;

      * THINK about what's useful to that market;

      * Be enthusiastic.

      Enthusiasm is vital. If you're bored, it will come across in your tone.

      My advice, FWIW, is to focus on reading widely. Then become a specialist writer in an area, and you can name your own price.

      It's much easier to get paid $500 for an article, than $5, believe it or not...
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    • Profile picture of the author Enfusia
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      Wikipedia is good, but not the content. That's generated by the public, and not always spot on. Scroll down and look at the notes - there are often references cited that would have more relevance.

      Great idea, I'm bummed I didn't think of that!
      Patrick
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  • Profile picture of the author JD Jens
    So no one has used article software for research?
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    • Profile picture of the author aandersen
      Originally Posted by Free Time View Post

      So no one has used article software for research?
      Sure, I'll answer you.

      My research process usually involves 3 peices of software: Google chrome, acrobat reader, and ms notepad. Although, there are times when other apps (e.g., openoffice calc/impress) are needed to open other document types.

      My other research tools involve things like dictionaries, encyclopedias, libraries, journals, books, and a large notepad/pen for scribbling and drawing mind maps.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Free Time View Post

      So no one has used article software for research?
      The problem with using "article writing" software for research is that (pardon my French) the software can't tell **** from shinola.

      The ones I've played with are mostly based on keywords. You feed in the keywords, and the software scans article directories looking for paragraphs containing the keywords, then scrapes the paragraph. Usually without noting the source, by the way.

      This might work, but way too many of the articles posted to directories are written by people trying to research and write articles in 15 minutes or less. As a result, many of them are based on flawed research, yielding articles that may read reasonably well and contain the requisite keywords but "factually challenged".

      I won't put my name (or one of my pen names) on that kind of sloppy research...
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      • Profile picture of the author aandersen
        You know what? I was going to leave this thread alone, but I couldn’t. You speed writers always intrigue me with your talents.

        Maybe, if im lucky, I can learn something new today.

        When you initially said you could write quality in 15 minuets, I assumed you were talking about writing on subjects you were already intimately familiar with.

        But I was wrong...

        After looking more closely, I see you're asking about tools for research. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that means you can write on completely new subjects in just 15 minutes.

        I can't help but thinking...

        WOW!

        Journalist quality articles in 15 minutes?

        That's really amazing--perhaps super human. My only question is, How? I just don't understand. I'm not calling you a liar or anything, just really curious.

        Look at it this way...

        Let's say, for demonstration purposes, you average typing 70 wpm, and a 500-word article will take you about 7 1/4 minutes (if you type without stopping). That leaves just over 7 minutes to do quality research, gather your thoughts, choose a title, an angle, and proofread.

        That's pretty impressive, and I must say It makes me feel quite inferior.

        As I reflect on my own work, I realize how truley unproductive I am. I mean, I often spend 7 minutes (sometimes a whole lot more) just coming up with my article's title!!

        On top of that, I rarely get through an entire article without pausing, at least for a minute, to stop and think.

        By my figures, that 15 minutes was all burned up long before I considered research time, let alone proofreading.

        Looking back, I can't believe how much effort I've put into planning, digging for golden information, and trying to get inside the head of my audience. I though that stuff was important, but now I see I was just wasting time. Who'da thunk it??

        I guess what I'm saying is...

        If you can actually write quality in 15 minutes, you should be damn proud of yourself. You must be a lightning-fast speed reader with a super-quick, keen, eye for proofing (not to mention a fast computer/internet connection).

        Instead of trying to cut my time in half, I would be focusing on being consistent and keeping up the good work.

        My hat is off to writers like you, and I hope I can be just as cool someday.

        Regards,
        -An aspiring, but obviously misinformed, writer
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      Originally Posted by Free Time View Post

      So no one has used article software for research?
      No, most people who really write articles that are high quality, do not use article software.

      15 mintues is pretty good already, you might be able to cut that down by a minute or two, but the only way that will help you is if you write articles all day everyday to get those single minute time savings to add up.

      Otherwise, if you are looking for a way to just speed things up, your quality will probably go down, not a lock on that, of course, but your quality will probably suffer.
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