How Long Does It Take You To Write A GOOD 1000 Word Article

106 replies
I'm starting to follow "The Alexa Method" where she writes long, high quality articles and gets them syndicated for traffic, pointing that traffic back to her site / squeeze page and making affiliate sales.

I remember the 7 minute article WSO and a lot of 30 minute article guides, and I always thought that when I write, it should be done fast.

I'm finding though, that these quickly done articles (I've had hundreds of them written for me), although accurate and correctly written, don't make me much money. Some money, yeah, but not as much as I expect from the amount I spent. Obviously this could be due to keyword research errors, bad calls to action, etc. But I'm also willing to consider since it's been brought up so many times, that they're not enough to gain the trust of my readers.

I want to focus on longer, really informative articles like the ones I suspect Alexa writes. They're taking significantly longer than 1/2 hour though, and I think I might end up spending maybe 3-4 hours on a good article of that length. I've heard about internet marketers writing short reports in that amount of time and I feel unproductive in comparison.

And FYI, I'm only writing about subjects I'm already familiar with. I'm still finding that to write a good article I need to do a lot of research before and during the article writing.

Do you warriors write as slow as me and is it worth it (time investment wise) or should I be working faster?
#article #good #long #word #write
  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    It depends on how fast you can type.

    I could probably write one in like 20 minutes.. But that doesnt mean everyone can.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kal Sallam
      Originally Posted by Whos That Guru View Post

      It depends on how fast you can type.

      I could probably write one in like 20 minutes.. But that doesnt mean everyone can.
      That probably also doesnt mean that it is a good quality one.
      or mistake free.
      sure 20 mins would do it, but is it a solid one ?
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I can do a long article on one my own pet subjects in 20-30 minutes because I know the subject matter.

        For writing clients a 1000 word article can take one hour or 3 hours depending on research and adding in time to make any edits needed.

        I lose track of time when writing and it takes as long as long as it takes to get the article the way I want it.

        kay
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      • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
        Originally Posted by Kal Sallam View Post

        That probably also doesnt mean that it is a good quality one.
        or mistake free.
        sure 20 mins would do it, but is it a solid one ?
        As I said before, I can type about 80-90 WPM with 100% accuracy.

        But I was also speaking about a topic that would interest me, something I know about and have experience with. If it was just a freelance article that I was writing for someone else, obviously there is no way I could produce a GOOD article that fast.

        But if you know the subject, its possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
    Damn, I'm jealous.

    I'm a decent typer, but I have a hard time thinking of what to say, figuring out how to structure it, doing research to back up what I'm saying in the article, and then trying to write it in a way that sounds interesting.

    Perhaps I'll be better off outsourcing the writing, but need to be sure I hire someone that can crank out the kind of quality that gets syndicated, builds trust and effectively presells. Sounds like a complicated process and a lot to expect of an article writer. Seems they would need to be an excellent researcher, writer and copywriter...

    Recommendations, anyone?
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    if you are writing 1000 - 1200 word articles then i dont think its too bad to be looking at a few hours or so from start to finish. maybe even longer if you are writing really good quality article that require some research.

    i mean if you type 75 words a minute (mistake free) it would take you 15 minutes or so of just straight typing, not to mention errors, thinking, or re-writing anything.

    if you want to speed up some, try just not thinking so much on your first run through. then spend more time re-working the article once you have a bunch of thoughts down on the paper (or word processor). most people find it easier to collect and organize their thoughts better once they have it all "on the paper"
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    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
      It takes me hours to write a GOOD 1000 word article and then add on more time to proof read it. Tried quick methods but they just don't work for me.

      For high quality it would probably take longer, but that's what we should be aiming for if we want quality results from our articles.
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        There are a lot of assets invested for writing each article. It often takes my writers 2-3 days to research and produce an 800-1200 word article per niche. These articles of course are highly specialized and are in some of the most hotly competitive arenas. Speed nor quantity is as essential as results - ultimately measured in sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author Raindance
        Originally Posted by PatriciaJ View Post

        It takes me hours to write a GOOD 1000 word article and then add on more time to proof read it. Tried quick methods but they just don't work for me.

        For high quality it would probably take longer, but that's what we should be aiming for if we want quality results from our articles.
        Same for me. I can fill the page with over 1000 words in 15-20 minutes if I know well about the subject. But it is the editing and proofreading that takes time. I keep making changes till I'm convinced and that sometimes does take hours.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    lol David. I can type about 80-90 WPM with 100% accuracy.

    @Gary, you might want to check out Dragon Naturally Speaking.

    You talk, it converts it to text for you. Then you can just go back and proofread.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
      lol - tried that. My brain can't keep up with mouth so it wasn't working for me

      Originally Posted by Whos That Guru View Post

      lol David. I can type about 80-90 WPM with 100% accuracy.

      @Gary, you might want to check out Dragon Naturally Speaking.

      You talk, it converts it to text for you. Then you can just go back and proofread.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Keith
      Originally Posted by Whos That Guru View Post

      lol David. I can type about 80-90 WPM with 100% accuracy.

      @Gary, you might want to check out Dragon Naturally Speaking.

      You talk, it converts it to text for you. Then you can just go back and proofread.
      my real point was not typing speed, but more that 20 minutes for a solid well thought out 1k word article is probably not even close to the norm.

      i was pointing out that if you were simple transcribing something it would take you about half that time and thats without even thinking about what you are writing. much less creating the kind of content that typically get syndicated.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
    Thanks for your replies everyone. I'm going to try both writing my own and outsourcing with various writers. Then I'll do a little non-scientific test about which results in the most traffic, sales and sign ups.

    PatriciaJ, I'm guessing that you find it worth it? Spending hours writing an article is profitable for you? Do you outsource or plan to at all?
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    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
      Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

      Thanks for your replies everyone. I'm going to try both writing my own and outsourcing with various writers. Then I'll do a little non-scientific test about which results in the most traffic, sales and sign ups.

      PatriciaJ, I'm guessing that you find it worth it? Spending hours writing an article is profitable for you? Do you outsource or plan to at all?
      I outsource a lot of articles, but the articles that I have written myself and taken a lot of time and care over usually get syndicated more than the outsourced or quicker articles so yes it is more profitable in the long run. Just don't have time or the inclination to write as much as I should myself.
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      • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        There are a lot of assets invested for writing each article. It often takes my writers 2-3 days to research and produce an 800-1200 word article per niche. These articles of course are highly specialized and are in some of the most hotly competitive arenas. Speed nor quantity is as essential as results - ultimately measured in sales.
        Awesome, that's encouraging because I know you're having great results from reading that syndication thread based on you and Alexa.

        Originally Posted by Shannon Tani View Post

        It can take me anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It depends on the topic and how much I know about it and whether or not I really know what I want to say.
        Where are you getting tripped up? If it's in finding qualified research to back up what you want to say, have you tried using the search modifier "site:.edu" or "site:.gov"?
        I've written in a lot of topics, and if you want to PM me with your niche, I might be able to point you to some good sites for research.

        Love,
        Shannon
        Thanks Shannon. It's not really a lack of places to find research, it's more of a problem with my brain, to be honest. I'm just slow (IMO) to put that research into an article that's accurate and interesting.

        Originally Posted by PatriciaJ View Post

        I outsource a lot of articles, but the articles that I have written myself and taken a lot of time and care over usually get syndicated more than the outsourced or quicker articles so yes it is more profitable in the long run. Just don't have time or the inclination to write as much as I should myself.
        That sucks - the part about you not being able to find writers that get your work syndicated as much as you're able to do yourself. I personally don't like writing so I was hoping you'd say otherwise.

        Maybe we should do like myob and hire writers that could take days to finish an article. I bet a lot of time and care was put in there. I wonder how much that would cost
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          It's kind of like an American football game. The actual action takes up a fairly small chunk of the game's duration. The rest of the time is spent getting ready to run a play, lining up, getting everyone in position, etc. Then comes 6-7 seconds of intense action. Followed by more time spent assessing the outcome, getting back to the huddle, calling another play, etc.

          In an area I know well, and with my outline firmly in mind, I can draft the article in around an hour. Reaching that point might take me a few hours, while proofing and editing adds time.

          I usually aim to create 1-2 articles per day when in production mode.

          For that effort, I expect those articles to generate traffic, sales, opt-ins, etc. for years. I believe it's a favorable trade...
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          About 3 - 4 hours, I suppose (actually I do vary quite a bit from niche to niche. I have a couple of niches out of my total of 8 in which I can write more quickly just because I know the subject so well. But mostly nearly 4 hours - and those are "my own niches": if I were "writing them for a customer on his niche", it would typically be much longer).

          I never do that "all in one go". It's easier for me to do some and come back later, and then come back again and edit much later still.

          I don't try to do more than one in a day - so one per niche every 8/9 days.

          But (as Paul and others will also tell you), you need only small numbers of articles, widely syndicated, to attract floods of highly targeted traffic.

          It's all about quality and how you use them, not so much about "how many articles" at all.
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        • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
          Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post


          That sucks - the part about you not being able to find writers that get your work syndicated as much as you're able to do yourself. I personally don't like writing so I was hoping you'd say otherwise.

          Maybe we should do like myob and hire writers that could take days to finish an article. I bet a lot of time and care was put in there. I wonder how much that would cost
          I did once find a writer that got the articles syndicated but she disappeared on me. I try different writers out and in varying price brackets - not just cheapos! I get results but obviously I'd like more. I do like writing sometimes but it's finding real time to concentrate. Yes I am planning to try one of the higher end services soon, I suspect it will be worth it. I've always thought that one really good article can do more for my business than 5 good articles.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben Gordon
    It depends on how fast you type, how fast you're able to receive thoughts and ideas, and lastly, whether you're interested in the topic you're writing about.

    I personally write at 70 WPM and think of ideas quite quickly. If I'm interested in the niche I'm writing the article about, and don't have to conduct further research, then it would take me about 20-35 minutes to accomplish that article. It drastically varies on the situation and person.
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  • Profile picture of the author solado
    Im dyslexic so anywhere between 30-60 minutes have been known to go up to 2 hours but the article quality does come out well and it flows so thats all that counts.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shannon Tani
    It can take me anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It depends on the topic and how much I know about it and whether or not I really know what I want to say.
    Where are you getting tripped up? If it's in finding qualified research to back up what you want to say, have you tried using the search modifier "site:.edu" or "site:.gov"?
    I've written in a lot of topics, and if you want to PM me with your niche, I might be able to point you to some good sites for research.

    Love,
    Shannon
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    It takes me about an hour to write 1000 words on a topic I know. There are several topics I know well enough to cut that time to 45 minutes and still not sacrifice quality.

    Today I wrote an 850 word article on a spiritual - metaphysical concept that I was only somewhat familiar with. I had to stop twice for research. One research item took more than a half hour to find.

    I had about two and a half hours into this thing before finishing. It's going to be a blog post. But this is a blog I really want to fly so the material has to be excellent every time.

    You say you know your topics so you should focus on getting to the point where you spend an hour, hour and a half to get quality stuff. Otherwise, it might be a better use of your time to outsource your writing. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Worner
    From research to final output? three to four hours.

    -Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Miguelito203
    Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

    I'm starting to follow "The Alexa Method" where she writes long, high quality articles and gets them syndicated for traffic, pointing that traffic back to her site / squeeze page and making affiliate sales.

    I remember the 7 minute article WSO and a lot of 30 minute article guides, and I always thought that when I write, it should be done fast.

    I'm finding though, that these quickly done articles (I've had hundreds of them written for me), although accurate and correctly written, don't make me much money. Some money, yeah, but not as much as I expect from the amount I spent. Obviously this could be due to keyword research errors, bad calls to action, etc. But I'm also willing to consider since it's been brought up so many times, that they're not enough to gain the trust of my readers.

    I want to focus on longer, really informative articles like the ones I suspect Alexa writes. They're taking significantly longer than 1/2 hour though, and I think I might end up spending maybe 3-4 hours on a good article of that length. I've heard about internet marketers writing short reports in that amount of time and I feel unproductive in comparison.

    And FYI, I'm only writing about subjects I'm already familiar with. I'm still finding that to write a good article I need to do a lot of research before and during the article writing.

    Do you warriors write as slow as me and is it worth it (time investment wise) or should I be working faster?
    I say just do you. It's not just about how fast you type. It also depends on if you are one of those people who can type directly from your head. Not everyone can do that. Just because two people have two diff. techniques for accomplishing the same goal, it doesn't mean they can't both succeed.

    Joey
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    • Profile picture of the author celente
      you should not be asking that question.

      We have had articles that have made us many sales and much profit from this sized article.

      Your focus should be on quality. A better researched article, and the better its content the better results you will get.

      We have tested this and it works time and time again.
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      • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
        Thanks for sharing your experinces, celente. The reason I asked is because if I found out from warriors replies that I was taking much longer than the norm, I would have drawn the conclusion that it's better for me to hire a professional writer (one that provides good quality) and focus my energies elsewhere.

        I see that I'm not alone here though, so I will continue to take my time and write for myself and hire writers as well.

        Honestly, I'm hoping that I can find the type of writers that I can outsource just about all my writing to in the future, because I want to pass this business along to my children. And I don't like spending hours writing :p
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        • Profile picture of the author bretski
          For me, it depends upon a lot of factors. If I'm in the zone, know what I want to say, am motivated, have zero distractions and a hot latte in my belly, I can write a decent article of 1000 words in 20 or 30 minutes. The stars rarely align though and I have had periods of writers block that lasted weeks where I couldn't write my way out of a paper bag... a couple of paragraphs that read like I had downed a bottle of cough syrup and some mushrooms and tried to articulate free form prose... much weeping and gnashing of teeth etc.. so it all sort of depends.
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      • Profile picture of the author Brian Boyd
        Banned
        A GOOD article will require a lot of research...for example, if I was writing 1,000 words on auto insurance in the state of California I would research all the applicable laws, etc...I would then narrow my research down and write the article on the most important ones.

        This can take an hour or so just for the research. I can generally produce the actual article in about 25-30 minutes.

        This is how long it takes me for a GOOD article...If I just need to throw something together with minimal research I can usually get it done in about 30-35 minutes....
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  • Profile picture of the author Zabrina
    The answer to this really depends on several factors. First of all, I have a few advantages: I'm usually constantly structuring the article in my head as I write, somewhat subconsciously, and find it very easy to transfer my thoughts to the page. I'm very familiar with grammar and spelling, so I don't have to stop often to proofread on the go, and save it for a one- or two-pass edit at the end. I'm also a very fast typist, and if I have a clear mind and lots of energy, that typing speed just keeps going up and up.

    So... if it's in one of my main niches, I can knock out a great 1000-word article in somewhere between half an hour and an hour.

    If it's in an obscure niche or I want to absolutely blow it out of the water, it could be as long as four hours.

    Usually, it falls somewhere between those two extremes.

    Time spent doesn't necessarily increase the finished article's quality, as there's a "point of diminishing returns" with any article where editing it will sap the liveliness and personality out, or make it seem too carefully structured, or just isn't worth the time. (95% perfect as opposed to 98% perfect doesn't matter when you've spent four extra hours getting there.)

    Some people type very slowly, or can't touch-type and have to constantly check, or simply can't structure their thoughts easily. They might take three times as long as me to write an article and still not do it as well. On the other hand, someone might take twice as long to write an article, but due to their own talent and finely-honed skills, create an article way better than mine.

    It's more about the steps taken during the process and the finished product than the time spent on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author mattjang
    Yea I think it really depends.. Sometimes I'm able to to pump out an article in 30 minutes other times it can take an hour to write a post, I dont think you should be worried how long it takes you to post as long as your creating quality content
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    It usually takes me a couple of hours to do a good 1000 word article. Sometimes I use dragon, but sometimes I'd rather type for some reason.

    I have a strange way of writing where I write a couple of paragraphs and then I have to do something else for a while. I'm actually writing an article now and this is my "something else". I guess my brain needs to be distracted to let what I have written "settle" and let my subconscious work on the next couple of paragraphs.

    If I need to do a lot of research it can take 3 or 4 hours but usually when I do those longer articles it is on the topics that I know very well.

    OK, well I guess I have to go back to writing mine now… thanks for the distraction!

    Lee
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    • Profile picture of the author Gary M.
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      It's kind of like an American football game. The actual action takes up a fairly small chunk of the game's duration. The rest of the time is spent getting ready to run a play, lining up, getting everyone in position, etc. Then comes 6-7 seconds of intense action. Followed by more time spent assessing the outcome, getting back to the huddle, calling another play, etc.

      In an area I know well, and with my outline firmly in mind, I can draft the article in around an hour. Reaching that point might take me a few hours, while proofing and editing adds time.

      I usually aim to create 1-2 articles per day when in production mode.

      For that effort, I expect those articles to generate traffic, sales, opt-ins, etc. for years. I believe it's a favorable trade...
      Well said, I'm glad to hear that 1-2 articles a day is your production mode. 1 is probably all I can manage and if it's enough to bring results (assuming it's a really good article), I'm happy

      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      About 3 - 4 hours, I suppose (actually I do vary quite a bit from niche to niche. I have a couple of niches out of my total of 8 in which I can write more quickly just because I know the subject so well. But mostly nearly 4 hours - and those are "my own niches": if I were "writing them for a customer on his niche", it would typically be much longer).

      I never do that "all in one go". It's easier for me to do some and come back later, and then come back again and edit much later still.

      I don't try to do more than one in a day - so one per niche every 8/9 days.

      But (as Paul and others will also tell you), you need only small numbers of articles, widely syndicated, to attract floods of highly targeted traffic.

      It's all about quality and how you use them, not so much about "how many articles" at all.
      Also very encouraging to see that the 1 article a day has brought you the success you have acheived!

      Originally Posted by cashcow View Post

      It usually takes me a couple of hours to do a good 1000 word article. Sometimes I use dragon, but sometimes I'd rather type for some reason.

      I have a strange way of writing where I write a couple of paragraphs and then I have to do something else for a while. I'm actually writing an article now and this is my "something else". I guess my brain needs to be distracted to let what I have written "settle" and let my subconscious work on the next couple of paragraphs.

      If I need to do a lot of research it can take 3 or 4 hours but usually when I do those longer articles it is on the topics that I know very well.

      OK, well I guess I have to go back to writing mine now... thanks for the distraction!

      Lee
      I'm doing exactly the same thing. Writing an article while posting on this forum. I feel like I should focus all the way until it's done and edited to my satisfaction, but maybe this isn't so bad if it makes work more enjoyable.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

        Well said, I'm glad to hear that 1-2 articles a day is your production mode. 1 is probably all I can manage and if it's enough to bring results (assuming it's a really good article), I'm happy
        Gary, like others have said, that production seldom happens in one sitting. When I'm in production mode, I average finishing 1-2 articles per day. I may have another dozen in varying stages of completion...
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Ward
    About an hour when I'm on a roll, but possibly 2+ hours.

    I write all of my own stuff because I don't really trust anyone else to do it exactly the way I prefer it.
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  • Profile picture of the author EugeneA
    I found that I can get more done when I begin on an article and come back to it later.

    I hate the idea of forcing words to come out, when I find that I'm all out of juice, I simply stop, save it for later and begin work on another article. The articles that are usually left to simmer are those that come out best as I'm passively looking for more info on the subject.

    So I guess it takes days at times.
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  • Profile picture of the author jgant
    It all depends. Sometimes 60 minutes. Sometimes weeks if it's research-intensive.

    On average, 2 to 4 hours including formatting.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
    A good 1000 word article with proper reserach, proofreading, etc, usually takes me about an hour, maybe a little more. I usually spend about 15-20 minutes researching, 20-30 minutes writing, and 15-20 minutes to proofread the grammar and tweak a few sentences, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    If it's a topic I'm already familiar with, it takes me about an hour. If I have to do any significant amount of research, it can take two or more hours. I could probably do it faster if I really focused, but I tend to fall into ADD mode online, checking email and half a dozen other things every few minutes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Doug Wakefield
      It depends on the topic for me.

      With my PLR I tend to front load all of my research to make the act of writing much easier. I take things a little further than most in that I will buy a book or two on the subject and take extensive notes while reading that will serve as my taking points for later articles. I can then take this list of talking points and write something good in probably 30minutes to an hour for the act of writing the article.

      The act of research, however, is the part that eats a lot of time. I figure I can read 200 or so pages a day easily (more if I had to.) Books serve me better than web research as it is MUCH easier to avoid distraction. Amazon makes this cost pretty nominal as I buy 3-4 books at once to get free shipping.

      So the first article really takes me about 9 hours. The remaining make this number go down.
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      • Profile picture of the author ProScribe
        Originally Posted by Doug Wakefield View Post

        It depends on the topic for me.

        With my PLR I tend to front load all of my research to make the act of writing much easier. I take things a little further than most in that I will buy a book or two on the subject and take extensive notes while reading that will serve as my taking points for later articles. I can then take this list of talking points and write something good in probably 30minutes to an hour for the act of writing the article.

        The act of research, however, is the part that eats a lot of time. I figure I can read 200 or so pages a day easily (more if I had to.) Books serve me better than web research as it is MUCH easier to avoid distraction. Amazon makes this cost pretty nominal as I buy 3-4 books at once to get free shipping.

        So the first article really takes me about 9 hours. The remaining make this number go down.
        I agree with Doug that it depends on how many articles or content I have already written on the topic. The first articles can be very slow but by the time I'm up to number ten I know the material well enough that I can produce a good quality article in under 20mins.

        It really is the research part that slows things down as my typing speed, as for most writers, is very fast.
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      • Profile picture of the author theebookcavern
        Originally Posted by Doug Wakefield View Post

        It depends on the topic for me.

        With my PLR I tend to front load all of my research to make the act of writing much easier. I take things a little further than most in that I will buy a book or two on the subject and take extensive notes while reading that will serve as my taking points for later articles. I can then take this list of talking points and write something good in probably 30minutes to an hour for the act of writing the article.

        The act of research, however, is the part that eats a lot of time. I figure I can read 200 or so pages a day easily (more if I had to.) Books serve me better than web research as it is MUCH easier to avoid distraction. Amazon makes this cost pretty nominal as I buy 3-4 books at once to get free shipping.

        So the first article really takes me about 9 hours. The remaining make this number go down.
        Same thing with me. Research is the biggie. The actual writing is only a very small part of the whole article creation process. I can physically write 1,000 words in under an hour but the other activities (keyword research, topic research, sourcing images, quotes, videos etc) adds a lot of extra time on.

        If it's a brand new topic that I've never covered before and I'm going to be giving it the full works (multiple images, videos, quotes etc) then we are talking the best part of a day. The one below took me around 9 or 10 hours to research, write and publish and this is the first post in that style I have done for the blog. It's actually 2,892 words but I would say to write a similar 1,000 word article would probably still take me 8 or 9 hours. I wouldn't have had to do any less research and information gathering - just write less words:

        10 Top Fitness Films You Can Watch This Christmas | Free Fitness Tips

        However, if it's something I've covered previously and know quite well I can probably get the whole article created and published within 2 hours. This one is 875 words and took around 2 hours:

        7 Benefits Of Jogging During The Festive Period | Free Fitness Tips

        Interest in the topic and time of day also have an effect. I am interested in the overall topic of health and fitness but reading up on the side effects of overdosing on lutein is not my idea of fun . Additionally, if it's my last article of the day I'm not quite as efficient as I was at the start of the day.

        I would struggle to get an article created and published in anything less than 2 hours from start to finish though. I post an image with all my articles so finding, downloading and compressing a relevant image takes around 10 minutes. Keyword research then takes another 10 minutes minimum. Even if it's a topic I'm familiar with, brushing up on it and referring back to other articles as I write is probably another 20 minutes. Writing 1,000 words probably takes me 40 minutes on a good day. Then formatting for Wordpress, adding keywords to the post, scheduling etc is probably another 20 minutes.

        Tom
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  • Profile picture of the author nm5419
    It takes me all day to write a 1000 word article because when it's done, it's flawless -- complete with illustrations, charts, and references. What the hell can 20 minutes or even an hour accomplish?! Give me a break!
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    • Profile picture of the author bretski
      Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

      It takes me all day to write a 1000 word article because when it's done, it's flawless -- complete with illustrations, charts, and references. What the hell can 20 minutes or even an hour accomplish?! Give me a break!
      Nothing in this world is flawless, not even you or your articles, senor. We are talking articles, not thesis papers here.
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      • Profile picture of the author nm5419
        Originally Posted by bretski View Post

        Nothing in this world is flawless, not even you or your articles, senor. We are talking articles, not thesis papers here.
        Articles, like the sorts available from {pick your favorite authority site}, are typically filled with visual goodies and references. And I guarantee you most of the 5-paragraph 'essays' you see floating around the internet are what established writers call, "notes." But I'm not immune - I have plenty of "notes" on my site which, consequently, weren't written in 20 minutes either!

        In fact, the day I publish something in 20 minutes -- and call it an article -- is the day I start submitting to article directories.
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        • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
          If one "knows" a topic very well, why is it so hard to believe that they could write a GOOD 1,000+ word article in 15-20 minutes? It's entirely possible to produce volume that intersects with quality.

          Now, I'll give you this...I can't sustain over a 24 hour day of non-stop production. It just isn't going to happen, and I admit that. I still don't think doing a GOOD 1,000+ word article, in that time, is that far fetched.

          Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

          Articles, like the sorts available from {pick your favorite authority site}, are typically filled with visual goodies and references. And I guarantee you most of the 5-paragraph 'essays' you see floating around the internet are what established writers call, "notes." But I'm not immune - I have plenty of "notes" on my site which, consequently, weren't written in 20 minutes either!

          In fact, the day I publish something in 20 minutes -- and call it an article -- is the day I start submitting to article directories.
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          • Profile picture of the author nm5419
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            If one "knows" a topic very well, why is it so hard to believe that they could write a GOOD 1,000+ word article in 15-20 minutes? It's entirely possible to produce volume that intersects with quality.

            Now, I'll give you this...I can't sustain over a 24 hour day of non-stop production. It just isn't going to happen, and I admit that. I still don't think doing a GOOD 1,000+ word article, in that time, is that far fetched.
            Well I'm from the Midwest, and that means I gotta see it to believe it. If you can upload a YouTube video of yourself writing a GOOD 1,000+ word article in 15-20 minutes, demonstrating that it can, indeed, be done, I'll give you a soldier's salute!
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            • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
              Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

              Well I'm from the Midwest, and that means I gotta see it to believe it. If you can upload a YouTube video of yourself writing a GOOD 1,000+ word article in 15-20 minutes, demonstrating that it can, indeed, be done, I'll give you a soldier's salute!
              First, we'd have to define what "good" is.

              Does "good" require having 10-15 sources referenced? Can an article that is factual, and solid, based on one's own experience with no sources, count as "good"?

              I've written many articles that I would consider "good" that deal with military topics that I'm extremely familiar with. I know the information because my military service has been an ongoing source of "research" for years.

              Does the 15-20 minutes required to "write" INCLUDE that research?

              When the title of the thread said "write", I was of the understanding that that was strictly what it meant. Like you who appears to relate high quality content to a variety of additional elements like pictures and video (I do the same thing...), I'd consider that more "crafting content", rather than just "writing an article".
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              • Profile picture of the author nm5419
                Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

                Like you who appears to relate high quality content to a variety of additional elements like pictures and video (I do the same thing...), I'd consider that more "crafting content", rather than just "writing an article".
                And now, we have perhaps.. arrived at a crux that's worth investigating.
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        • Profile picture of the author bretski
          Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

          Articles, like the sorts available from {pick your favorite authority site}, are typically filled with visual goodies and references. And I guarantee you most of the 5-paragraph 'essays' you see floating around the internet are what established writers call, "notes." But I'm not immune - I have plenty of "notes" on my site which, consequently, weren't written in 20 minutes either!

          In fact, the day I publish something in 20 minutes -- and call it an article -- is the day I start submitting to article directories.
          Knock yourself out and I do hope that your self rightousness keeps you nice and warm this winter.
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

          And I guarantee you most of the 5-paragraph 'essays' you see floating around the internet are what established writers call, "notes."
          No, that's what professional writers call the "deliverable."

          If I sit down and make a chart, that is not writing.

          If I place that chart within my article to provide visual aid, that is also not writing.

          If I flow the text around it in a pleasing fashion, guess what? Still not writing.

          When you syndicate my article, you'll put it on your own site and fit it into the visual design you'd like to have there. You'll put your own charts, photos, and whatever the hell else on it. I'm a writer, not a designer, so it's not my damn job to do that.

          It is not my job, as a writer, to do anything except write. Fonts and colours and margins and pull-quotes and diagrams and stock photography and whatever other crap you want to do for your readers?

          Not my problem.

          Now, you might want to get all sanctimonious about this, and huff around about how you're just a higher quality writer... but if I delivered what you're talking about to a real publication that hired professional writers? I would probably not get hired again.

          All that stuff you're talking about isn't my job for a reason: they've got someone else to do it. Someone who is, funnily enough, a visual design professional - and probably a whole hell of a lot better at their job than I am, because I am not a designer. I am a writer. They didn't ask their designer to write the article, and they're not asking me to design it.

          Professionals do not just deliver professional quality. They also stay the hell out of other people's jobs.
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          "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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          • Profile picture of the author nm5419
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            No, that's what professional writers call the "deliverable."

            If I sit down and make a chart, that is not writing.

            If I place that chart within my article to provide visual aid, that is also not writing.

            If I flow the text around it in a pleasing fashion, guess what? Still not writing.

            When you syndicate my article, you'll put it on your own site and fit it into the visual design you'd like to have there. You'll put your own charts, photos, and whatever the hell else on it. I'm a writer, not a designer, so it's not my damn job to do that.

            It is not my job, as a writer, to do anything except write. Fonts and colours and margins and pull-quotes and diagrams and stock photography and whatever other crap you want to do for your readers?

            Not my problem.

            Now, you might want to get all sanctimonious about this, and huff around about how you're just a higher quality writer... but if I delivered what you're talking about to a real publication that hired professional writers? I would probably not get hired again.

            All that stuff you're talking about isn't my job for a reason: they've got someone else to do it. Someone who is, funnily enough, a visual design professional - and probably a whole hell of a lot better at their job than I am, because I am not a designer. I am a writer. They didn't ask their designer to write the article, and they're not asking me to design it.

            Professionals do not just deliver professional quality. They also stay the hell out of other people's jobs.
            Um, I was talking about articles I write for my own use - not articles that are whored out for advertising clicks.
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            • Profile picture of the author bretski
              Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

              Um, I was talking about articles I write for my own use - not articles that are whored out for advertising clicks.
              Polishing the dolphin and self-flagellation will make you go blind and grow hair on your palms.
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              • Profile picture of the author drmani
                Originally Posted by bretski View Post

                Polishing the dolphin and self-flagellation will make you go blind and grow hair on your palms.
                Not to mention tremors that'll make it harder to write/type any more articles :p

                All success
                Dr.Mani
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                • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

                  $100 For a 1,000 words?!? (Did I read that right?!?)

                  That's peanuts! I've been paid far more than that... for less. And I'm certainly not the only one! :confused: :confused:


                  Originally Posted by drmani View Post

                  Not to mention tremors that'll make it harder to write/type any more articles :p

                  All success
                  Dr.Mani
                  ...I thought it strengthened your wrists...
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

              Um, I was talking about articles I write for my own use - not articles that are whored out for advertising clicks.
              And I was talking about articles written by professional writers for clients who pay them.

              Acting all superior because you make articles YOU think are awesome to put on YOUR site is just masturbatory. Talk to me when you get paid upwards of $100 for a 1,000 word article that goes on someone else's site.
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              • Profile picture of the author fin
                Darklock,

                Since your on a thread about writing, and without trying to lick your bum, lol, your writing style stood out to me since I joined WF. In fact, your posts were the ONLY ones I thought stood out.

                Not because of the great content (which I'm not saying they didn't have), but I really like your "flow." It just seems quality.

                I've been reading your blog and your flow seems to stand out.

                Personally, I hate reading stuff that seems so "over edited", with so much commas and ****, but your stuff seems to just bypass that stuff and still make sense.

                Well done, and I hope others can learn.

                Not from all the vulgar swearing, though :p.
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                • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                  Originally Posted by Billiams30 View Post

                  A GOOD article will require a lot of research...for example, if I was writing 1,000 words on auto insurance in the state of California I would research all the applicable laws, etc...I would then narrow my research down and write the article on the most important ones.

                  This can take an hour or so just for the research. I can generally produce the actual article in about 25-30 minutes.

                  This is how long it takes me for a GOOD article...If I just need to throw something together with minimal research I can usually get it done in about 30-35 minutes....
                  Geez, and all those lawyer guys on TV wasted all those years on stuff like law school and bar exams and continuing education... :rolleyes:

                  [No offense intended, buddy, just trying to lighten things up a bit. ]
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              • Profile picture of the author nm5419
                Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                And I was talking about articles written by professional writers for clients who pay them.

                Acting all superior because you make articles YOU think are awesome to put on YOUR site is just masturbatory. Talk to me when you get paid upwards of $100 for a 1,000 word article that goes on someone else's site.
                $100 For a 1,000 words?!? (Did I read that right?!?)

                That's peanuts! I've been paid far more than that... for less. And I'm certainly not the only one! :confused: :confused:
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                • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                  Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

                  That's peanuts!
                  For what you do? Yeah. But what you do isn't writing. It's design.

                  Take just the words, nothing else, and go sell them. No fonts. No formatting. No pictures. No layout. Just the words.

                  Then come back here and tell me what you got for them.
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                  "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author nellterry
      Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

      It takes me all day to write a 1000 word article because when it's done, it's flawless -- complete with illustrations, charts, and references. What the hell can 20 minutes or even an hour accomplish?! Give me a break!
      That's how I felt too, until recently when I got so much work. It literally FORCED me to write faster. I'm a perfectionist though, so I write a section (3-4 paragraphs) and re-read it over and over checking for errors. I research as I write. In the past, to write one well composed, 1000-word piece, it took me about five hours. Lately I'm cranking out quality pieces in one hour.

      I think it depends on how much pressure you're under. Quality doesn't have to suffer either if you're focused and motivated.
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      • Profile picture of the author Keith Goodrum
        A quality 1000+ word article takes me a couple of hours to complete. I like to follow the Pomodoro Technique with my writing. You write for 25 minutes, and then take a 5-minute break. After three rounds it calls for you to take a half an hour break. I find this method works great for me… Of course, individual results will vary.

        The research is a different story, and a quality article is all about the research. Depending on the niche, it could take anywhere from no time to hours. It depends on how deep I want to go with the article. The more I want to put into an article dictates the length of research. For me, overloading with research makes writing easier.
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

      It takes me all day to write a 1000 word article because when it's done, it's flawless -- complete with illustrations, charts, and references. What the hell can 20 minutes or even an hour accomplish?! Give me a break!
      With all due respect, the title of the thread has "write" in it...

      I realize that high quality content can also have videos, pictures, etc. In fact, I prefer that, as well.

      I've written my fair share of both. Sometimes I use videos and pictures for 1,000+ word articles. Sometimes I don't. It just depends.

      Here is a sample of articles I've "written", that have taken many many hours to complete:

      Top 11 Most Powerful and Inspiring Post-9/11 Tragedy Tribute Songs Most Americans Have Never Even Heard - InfoBarrel

      Top 10 Most Powerful and Inspiring National Post-Tragedy Songs Ever Written and Recorded - InfoBarrel

      Here is a sample of an article I've written that took me 15-20 minutes, max:
      How to Wear Military Ribbons the Correct Way - InfoBarrel

      I "write" those fast because, like some here have mentioned, I'm very familiar with the subject matter content.

      I do think it's important, though, to accurately define what is meant by "write" in the subject thread.
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      • Profile picture of the author nelram
        Would take me a year and a day. That's why I outsource that stuff.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

      It takes me all day to write a 1000 word article because when it's done, it's flawless -- complete with illustrations, charts, and references. What the hell can 20 minutes or even an hour accomplish?! Give me a break!
      Hi Dave,

      When do you get time to write articles in between slagging off article writers on this forum? :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author bretski
        Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

        Hi Dave,

        When do you get time to write articles in between slagging off article writers on this forum? :rolleyes:
        Richard, he doesn't write articles. He creates awesomeness that we mere mortals simple can not comprehend. His words are perfect and he is obviously the authority on this subject. You and I are nothing... we are little men... little men, he's, he's a great man. We should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across floors of silent seas...
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTheBuilder
    I can't pump out a good 1,000 word article that fast. For a well thought out informative article with credentials, etc.. would take me at least half a day or more.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendan Vraibel
    It usually takes me a few hours. I never assume that I know everything that there is to know about a given subject so I always like to do research (sometimes excessively).

    Also I've found that if I make an outline like you would for a book it makes the writing phase a breeze. If you're spending a lot of time organizing your thoughts in your mind as you write, that might be something to try out. It can't hurt.
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  • Profile picture of the author beckey
    Usually i will take more than 2 hours to write a 1000 words article for my software,it is too long,I wish i can get faster.
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  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    I've adopted the Alexa method, as well...as we've both been staunch proponents of it for a long time. Roughly 75%-90% of my 500+ articles are 800-1,000 words. It isn't without reason either. I do feel that longer articles are generally have a greater possibility of capturing more keywords, and providing more in depth information and insight. Of course, the debate could be had to no end that you don't need a long article to have quality, and that long articles can be 1,000 of garbage.

    Writing these articles hasn't been easy.

    Sometimes, I'll go days and days without writing an article because of sheer writer's block. When I get into a groove, though, I can churn out pretty high quality, 1,000+ word articles, like clockwork--10-15 minutes. THOSE articles are typically my military-related articles that need little to no research.
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  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

    I want to focus on longer, really informative articles... They're taking significantly longer than 1/2 hour though, and I think I might end up spending maybe 3-4 hours on a good article of that length.

    Do you warriors write as slow as me and is it worth it (time investment wise) or should I be working faster?
    On subjects I'm familiar with the topic, it takes me between
    15 and 20 minutes to write a 1,000 word article.

    BUT...

    Read this post by Jon Morrow about ideas, and you'll realize
    why it isn't important how FAST you write, but how HARD you
    work to get those ideas in front of your audience.

    It's a paradigm shifting piece of thought leadership - plus
    a story that's as inspirational as anything I've seen.

    On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas | Copyblogger

    A quote from it:


    If you want to succeed, you can’t wait for the world to give you attention the way a cripple waits for food stamps to arrive in the mail. You have to be a warrior. You have to attack with the madness of a mother whose child is surrounded by an army of predators.

    Because, let’s face it, your ideas are your children. Their future is as tender and delicate as that of any newborn.

    You can’t just write them down and expect them to succeed. Writing isn’t about putting words on the page, any more than being a parent is about the act of conception. It’s about breathing life into something and then working to make sure that life becomes something beautiful.

    That means spending ten hours on a post, instead of 30 minutes.

    That means writing a guest post every week, instead of one every few months.

    That means asking for links without any shame or reservation, not because you lack humility, but because you know down to the depths of your soul that what you’ve done is good.
    All success
    Dr.Mani
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  • Profile picture of the author JeremiahSay
    Hi there,

    A 1000 words article is great. Definitely much much better compared to a 400, 500, 600 etc words Article.. There's no doubt about it BUT only if it's of good quality.

    you've to realize that a 1000 words POOR QUALITY article is not going to go far, google won't index it.

    I would recommend you to go for 500 words article with GOOD QUALITY instead.

    However, if you think you can write a 1000 words article with GOOD QUALITY content, then by all means go ahead. It's even better

    Hope this help,

    God Bless,
    Jeremiah
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  • Profile picture of the author rona
    It takes hours for me to write a 1000 word article coz I'm aiming for a high quality article.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Sol
    I'd say about 30-40 minutes if I am writing on a subject that I know very well... at least one hour if I need to do a little research and it could take a few hours if I am completely new to the subject...

    Mind that English is my 5th language so sometimes my brain blocks for a few moments translating a phrase to a few different languages, lol.

    - Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author chrislangley
    I think it's a good idea to focus on quality no matter how long, the quality will speak for itself with long term interest, long after the shorter articles have been made redundant
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

    They're taking significantly longer than 1/2 hour though, and I think I might end up spending maybe 3-4 hours on a good article of that length.
    This took me a little over two hours from idea to completion:

    Radial Symmetry

    Now, granted, fiction is not an article. But if your research is done, and you're just setting fingers to keyboard to get the words out of your head and into the world, you should be able to get 1,000 words out in about an hour.

    Most people aren't really done with their research when they sit down to write, and they try to multitask it in. They'll start writing about (say) the history of Ayurvedic yoga, and realise they don't actually know it. So they stop writing and go research, then come back and realise they still don't know very much, and go research some more. That's where most of the time comes from.

    But if your research is done, and you just write, you can pump out a lot of content pretty quickly.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
      For me, there's not just the research but also the pre-thinking process. I'm also not the world's fastest typist.... (though I just took some time out for a quick typing test, and scored 73 words/minute, but then I was copying off something that was already there).

      And if I were to type at my "top speed" I'd be exhausted and have a cramp in my wrists well before the article is done. Not worth it.

      Articles take varying times, and it's hard to pin down exactly how long they take me since some of the work is done intermittently and I've never actually used a stopwatch to time the whole process.

      Depending on topic, they can take anywhere from a bit over an hour (if I know the topic extremely well and have it all laid out in my brain) to a couple of hours. Often it takes longer, sometimes much longer.

      I also tend to go for quality, and find that it doesn't pay to skimp in that area.

      Which is why I rarely write articles for hire these days except for people who appreciate the quality they get, i.e., that I can take their information and create articles for them in their voice.
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  • Profile picture of the author JimDucharme
    As others have said, it varies with each writer. Some days I reel one off in an hour and sometimes it takes much longer. It helps if you write a point form outline of the piece first and then fill it in -- start from a high level then drill down. One other bit of advice I would give is to make sure you always read your articles out loud when proofing them. That's the best way to review not just grammar, but flow and logic too.

    If you are using WordPress, I've found the "After the Deadline" plugin to be very helpful as a writer's tool. It doesn't just check spelling, it also does a very good job on the more subtle grammar mistakes we are prone to.

    Regards,
    jim
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  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    It would really depend on how fast you type and most especially how well you know the subject matter. Structuring the contents from introduction down to your main points, and the ending would not be that easy but if you love what you'll like to write then go with it. Considering your audiences will also be good. At the end it doesn't matter how fast you are but how many people will be able to learn and educate from your article. Also, I got this feeling your good at this (twinks).
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  • Profile picture of the author princecapri
    Very interesting discussion!

    In answer to OP's question - a decent 1,000 word article, from idea to completion will take me a little over an hour (maybe some more).

    I have some structures in mind that I tend to use, but sometimes it does get a little confusing. Also, English is not my first language (but then I have spent eons in England, and have a British accent), so I like to think I can write well.

    For me, research takes the most time, followed by editing (I type at 60-70 wpm with good accuracy, so just flesh writing would takes 15-20 mins, give or take). Its not that I make mistakes, more like I can dramatically improve the quality of a piece after reading (I am actually more of a editor than writer!), which I do.

    I have heard of people writing a 500 word article in 12 minutes or so, can't imagine doing that! Maybe its just me...
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew Jacobsen
    The method I use to churn out 1000+ articles for traffic and backlinks is "Professional Paraphrasing!" I simply hook up Dragon NS and find a high quality article which is relevant to my niche and paraphrase paragraph by paragraph. I can chur out a great article like this in 1/2 hour.

    Now if I am guest blogging on a high traffic website I will research and put out an original piece for sure, but for churning good content the above method works great. One thing I have learned is that working smart will let me be much more productive!

    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author mailco
    I got a lot of help from getting some great tips when I got this book from Churchill Publications
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  • Profile picture of the author Exire
    Originally Posted by Gary M. View Post

    Do you warriors write as slow as me and is it worth it (time investment wise) or should I be working faster?
    I find that if I'm simply typing up some notes for myself on a specific technique someone has explained or notes on a WSO that I've bought, I can easily write several pages in 15 minutes or so (I have plenty of "notes" files that are 20+ pages that took me no time at all to write up). However, I tend to write obscenely slow when writing articles, particularly if the article is something I have no personal interest in.

    Should you be working faster? I don't know. I suppose it depends on how good the article is and how much it earns you. If it takes you three days to write an article but it reads like Hemingway wrote it and it earns you $10,000/year then I would say it was worth the three days it took to get it down. If, on the other hand, you crank one out and it takes you three days but earns you $10/year then I'd say you're not working fast enough.

    Also, follow Andrew Jacobsen's advice and use Dragon Naturally Speaking. I haven't personally tried it but most people speak at about 100 - 150 words/minute but type at about 60 - 80 words/minute, I would guess, so you'll save quite a bit of time doing it that way.
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  • Profile picture of the author RutledgeGroup
    It takes me several hours to write an article. So I outsource that part. If you can afford to, I recommend you outsource that part of it and just do the parts you are good at. If you don't have much to spend, you can always use fiverr or iwriter for $2 to $5 for a article. You might have to rewrite parts of them, they're spun articles, most of the time, so some times they don't make sense. But I have also gotten articles from them that are good and don't need anything done to them.
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  • Profile picture of the author dillipbytes
    It depends. If time is the factor, then 45 min. If quality is the factor, then three hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      It takes me about 1 hour for the basic template.

      If I want to write one, out of this world...

      ... I'll let you know when I write one, lol.

      TBH, the out of the world one is what I want to start concentrating on. For that reason, I know what other people mean when they say you can't write the best article you can in 30 minutes.

      Sure, you can write a great article in 30 minutes. Maybe you can even get it syndicated to dozens of sites, but the fact of the matter is, no-one can write their best article in 30 minutes.

      Nothing, most people write from "out of thin air" will be their best. It will take some serious brainstorming to craft it into something wonderful.

      To get the best you can, it can't be the first thing that pops up in that amazing 80wpm speed you all have.

      Great article = 30 mins (for good, fast writers)

      Out of this world = longer

      What do you need to do? Well that depends on it's purpose.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    as i stated very early on in this thread, i dont think the 30 minute professional article is impossible, but i dont believe it is the norm either.

    not many writers typically go from "hey i am going to write an article about (insert topic) to a fully completed (ready to syndicate) article in 30 minutes.

    maybe it has a happened a few times, but there is no way that is the norm. those posts should have the "results not typical disclaimer"
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  • Profile picture of the author apoorv.parijat
    I don't write much to be honest but I do write occasionally. The time it'd take me to write a 1000 word article would depend entirely on the topic I'm writing. An obscure topic, for example, would be difficult to write on because collecting information would be time intensive.

    Even if I know a topic very well, it's tough to come up with articles that are 1,000 word long, or more. You need to have an outline in mind and for the article to read well, you need the entire idea to flow well. The longer the article, the greater the chances of the writer losing the attention of the reader (if the article isn't written well). It is very easy to lose your grip over the article and the way it flows, too, as the length increases.

    I'd say it'd take about 2-3 hours (more, actually) for me to come up with a 1,000 word article that keeps the reader hooked. If I have to just put words together, it'd take less than 20 minutes. However, then it'd just be some sort of a word compilation, not really an article that will serve the purpose that you're trying to serve.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Deegan
    For me it can range anywhere from 40 minutes to 5 hours depending on how much I Know about the subject matter and what my overall goals & intent are. Once I know my overall goals, my target audience and know what I'm trying to convey, I'll then look for a template or model I can use for the basis of my outline. Having templates & systems for the research & writing process make a world of difference.

    Personally, I've been working on an effective research process for about 2 years now. I'm a stickler for quality & delivering value so my ability to do solid research quickly is crucial. As for writing templates, I've built up a nice library of those. Many of my template are in mind map format so its easy for me to put everything together chunk by chunk as I conduct my research.

    However the past few months I've started using Scrivner a bit. If you do a lot of writing you owe it to your self to check it out. It's originally for MAC, but is now available on windows. It works kind of like the old school method of using postcard for research chunks. It's a great tool for all kinds of writing. Non fiction, novels, sales copy, etc.

    Heres a link (no affiliation, just a fan) - Literature and Latte - Scrivener

    Lastly, if anyone is looking for a good resource on creating writing templates, check out Content Catalyst by Roger C Parker.

    -------

    Edit - Quick tip, if you chunk things down and construct things in mind map format you can easily create spin off content for re-purposing. For example, I could take a chunk of content from a single node on my mind map, re-frame the content in the form of a question and BAM I got a nice useful blog post, tweet, etc.

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author richrowley
    Writing doesn't take me too long, say 30 minutes with Dragon. But it's the research that can take time, especially if I'm writing something high quality.
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  • Profile picture of the author NddS777
    As the editor of a high-quality content writing service working with pros, I can tell you; it takes my best writers between 20 minutes and 3 hours per 1000w+ quality piece, on average.

    Of course, as mentioned above, it really depends on several factors. The amount, and type, of research ultimately play a big role in how long a decent 1000-worder will take you.

    As you probably already know, churning out quality content is no easy task, especially if you need stacks of it, but if you've got a good writing system in place, it certainly becomes a whole lot easier.

    This is the system I personally use when writing a decent article:
    • I choose a topic (3 min)
    • I decide on the angle and conclusion (5 min)
    • I pick a great title (Important) (3 min)
    • I do the necessary research and jot down key points (15 min -2 hours depending)
    • I write the article (one that lives up to the title) (30 min - 1 hour)
    • I correct spelling and grammar (5 min)
    • I 'save' and come back later (30 minutes or so)
    • I proofread and edit if necessary (5-10 min)
    That's like 3.5 hours for a great piece normally, and I take a 'stand up' break every 20 min or so.


    Conclusion:


    Depending on your budget, how much content you need, and how specialized the content should be, you might be better off hiring someone to do the hard work for you. Keep in mind that time is money.


    Cheers
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  • Profile picture of the author hotboy18
    Some PLR articles are okay if they haven't been used anywhere else because you want original and relevant content with no grammar errors. I can type pretty fast so it would take me about 30 to 45 minutes for right a quality 1,000-word article.
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    • Profile picture of the author drmani
      Well, interesting discussion all around.

      Unless your writing itself is your earning source (freelancing),
      most content only generates revenue depending upon how
      many people READ your article - and then ACT on it.

      By far the BIGGEST part of article marketing is the
      "marketing".

      The best written, formatted and designed article will
      do squat for you - unless someone reads it.

      Which is why, regardless how nice it might be to write
      a 1,000 word article over a full day or week, reality
      is that it would require a LOT more time and effort to
      spread word about it to your target audience.

      Where's that time going to come from?

      Learning to write quality content - fast - isn't just a
      nice 'extra'. It's quite necessary, which is why it
      helps to write around your passion and expertise.

      My 2 cents

      All success
      Dr.Mani
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim3
    I can write two 2500 word, good quality (I think) articles in a day, maybe for two or three days at a time, but then I go totally blank and may not be able to write any more for a week, does anyone else suffer this writers block problem?
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    • Profile picture of the author nm5419
      Originally Posted by Tim3 View Post

      I can write two 2500 word, good quality (I think) articles in a day, maybe for two or three days at a time, but then I go totally blank and may not be able to write any more for a week, does anyone else suffer this writers block problem?
      I can suffer from the same inability to write for a while (which is why I charge a hell of a lot more than $100 for long content). But for me, it's not writer's block. It's more of a needed downtime. My brain simply needs to rest. And lately, I've found myself craving a bit of stupid television just to stop it from calculating, re-calculating, and then calculating stuff over and over. Seth McFarlane's foo is working pretty darn well so far for that.

      I don't just write. I create.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tim3
        Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

        I can suffer from the same inability to write for a while (which is why I charge a hell of a lot more than $100 for long content). But for me, it's not writer's block. It's more of a needed downtime. My brain simply needs to rest. And lately, I've found myself craving a bit of stupid television just to stop it from calculating, re-calculating, and then calculating stuff over and over. Seth McFarlane's foo is working pretty darn well so far for that.

        I don't just write. I create.

        More than $100 per article? Hmmm I can see some mileage in it at those rates

        I have to say I admire people who can bang stuff out day in day out, without stopping to draw breath, I think I would get a block and starve.
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      • Profile picture of the author bretski
        Originally Posted by nm5419 View Post

        I can suffer from the same inability to write for a while (which is why I charge a hell of a lot more than $100 for long content). But for me, it's not writer's block. It's more of a needed downtime. My brain simply needs to rest. And lately, I've found myself craving a bit of stupid television just to stop it from calculating, re-calculating, and then calculating stuff over and over. Seth McFarlane's foo is working pretty darn well so far for that.

        I don't just write. I create.
        I call BS... upload a YouTube video of you writing an article and receiving "a lot more than $100" for it. Until I see that then I'm simply believing that all of your huffing and puffing here is nothing more than an attempt to make up for your lack of male prowness. Hey! If it was ok for you to call out another forum member then you should expect the same treatment. Put up or shut up.
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  • Profile picture of the author beachblade
    It varies for me. Sometimes I can crank out a long article in a few hours and sometimes it takes me days. It partly depends on how well I know the topic and also how excited I am to write about it.

    Like a lot of things the more you do it the better and faster you get at doing it. My first couple of long articles would take me a week or more and lots of stress but now its much easier and I really enjoy the process.


    Have fun,

    Gary Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Sharyn Sheldon
    It's not the actual writing that takes that long, it's the research and organization up front. If you spend the time to pull all your facts together and organize your thoughts into a clear outline, it can take as little as 30 minutes to write a 1,000 word article. Then I like to let it sit overnight and go back to it the next day. Sometimes, what seemed brilliant at the time looks mundane the next day. Time for a little editing.

    If you already are familiar with your subject, you may just be taking longer to write the article because you haven't organized your thoughts clearly in advance.

    Another tactic you can use to write faster is to try free writing. Even if you have a good outline you can get stuck. If this happens, open up a notepad and just start writing whatever comes into your head. Put a timer on for 10 minutes and keep writing, even if it's 'blah, blah, blah'. Your brain will kick in at some point and you might come up with some really great stuff. I learned about this technique in Ed Dale's 30 day challenge.

    Just using a timer for any writing is a help. Work expands to fit the amount of time you have. If you give yourself a "time budget" for each part of your article writing, you'll be much more efficient. For example, you could give yourself 10 minutes to do some keyword research to come up with a good long-tail keyword for the article. Then give yourself 20 minutes to do some research for facts and interesting quotes or ideas. Then another 15 to 30 minutes to outline your article. Finally, leave about 1 hour to write the article. That's just a really rough guide and totally depends on your topic and how complicated it is.

    I really wouldn't worry too much about word count. It's not the length of an article that dictates its quality. It's the gems of information that people get out of it. I've gotten some great tips from a short list of ideas someone wrote in 200 words vs. absolutely nothing from a 3,000 word essay.

    Hope the tips help you a little.
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  • Profile picture of the author yoangov
    Op question:

    How long?

    about 2 hours with the research and pictures....

    Cheers,
    Yoangov
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    • Profile picture of the author Sharyn Sheldon
      Originally Posted by yoangov View Post

      Op question:

      How long?

      about 2 hours with the research and pictures....

      Cheers,
      Yoangov
      I'm embarrassed to say that picking images for an article often takes me way longer than writing the article itself!
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  • Profile picture of the author Hostpany
    About 2 hours if its a topic I'm not interest in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ian Andrews
    How much time or effort you spend on writing an article of that length isn't important. The important thing is that you get what you set out to achieve. As long as you are happy with your work and the results it generates then it is worth it. When I sit down to write an article the one thing I focus on is getting it right.
    Think of article writing like building a house. If your structure is not done properly or you use bad materials or if you rush the construction then your house isn't going to last too long. Take your time and do it right and it will serve you well for years.
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    • Profile picture of the author drmani
      Originally Posted by Ian Andrews View Post

      Think of article writing like building a house. If your structure is not done properly or you use bad materials or if you rush the construction then your house isn't going to last too long. Take your time and do it right and it will serve you well for years.
      Lovely analogy.

      Reminded me of the "3 Little Pigs".

      Who didn't get eaten by the Big Bad Wolf? If you don't recall,
      go read it up again!

      All success
      Dr.Mani
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      • Profile picture of the author mounds
        I could write a 1000-word article, including some research, in an hour flat. There's only one problem: the article would suck.

        It seems like the criteria for writing online (and in high school, ironically) are mechanics: facts check out, punctuation looks good, sources cited, no spelling mistakes, grammar flows.

        As a voracious reader and writer, I can nail those mechanics in my sleep. I've become unconsciously competent in them. However, the magic of writing is not in the mechanics; it's in the style.

        The top authors and bloggers are not hailed for their ability to score top grades in English class. We care because they're interesting. In my experience, it takes time to write something worth reading.

        So here's the answer to your question:

        SEO fodder - 1 hour, research included

        Something worth reading - 5 hours or more
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  • Profile picture of the author Chedicorn
    I picked up a really good method while I was an affiliate for a company called "Big Ticket To Wealth", I do believe it's called IMACC or something rather.They teach you to go to something like Ezine Articles or Article base, anything of that nature and just pick yourself 5-6 articles. Now just grab a piece of paper and start getting you ideas written down. Won't take you any longer than 15-20 min to have an article that readers can enjoy and of course it's all in your own words.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    Unfortunately I don't think I have ever written a 1000 word article personally. I have written some blog posts that long. But I have pretty much always paid someone else to write articles...
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