Writing shortcuts

Shortcuts can be a good thing. They can get you from one place to another more quickly. They can speed up a process or a chore with a good, perhaps even better, result. (Though not always, mind you.)

In fact, I’ve set a shortcut on my laptop that allows me to quickly insert one of my favorite punctuation marks: the em-dash. I love this shortcut because it allows my fingers to fly without having to stop, think or lose momentum with my writing.

But sometimes I do lose momentum. Like when I’m at the library or using someone else’s computer. It’s then that I try my shortcut and find it doesn’t work. That’s because it’s not a universal shortcut; rather, it’s a shortcut that’s for me on my computer.

That being said, I’ll be sharing some “get great copy” shortcuts now and then that work for me. You may find my shortcuts work for you; and you may find you’re a bit like me at the library … wanting the shortcut to work but it doesn’t. Either way, give these writing shortcuts a try.

And, btw, my em-dash shortcut is the Alt+M key.

Get Great Copy Shortcut #1

• Write a first draft without overthinking, editing, tweaking or perfecting it in any way. Many times this is a great way to overcome writer’s block or inertia and, more often than not, you’ll have a lot of great copy that you’ll keep for the rewrite.

By JanO on 7/31/08, In writing, Tags advice, get great copy, how-to, shortcuts, writer's block, writing mistakes