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Writing FAST: How to Write Anything with Lightning Speed
Your mind moves at lightning speed. Your writing should, too. Introducing the F.A.S.T. System(tm) approach to writing.
Whether you hate writing, or you're an avid wordsmith, see why Writing FAST has quickly become the must-read book for writers of all levels.
The FAST System(tm) is a simple, systematic, step-by-step approach that will revolutionize the way you write. In this dynamic and passionate book, you'll discover how to see your entire project in two minutes, how to flesh it out quickly and accurately, how to use the Talktation(tm) speedwriting technique to write your project almost as easily as you speak, and how to move step by step through the editing and polishing phases, to avoid the quagmire of re-writing.
Chock full of ideas, tips, techniques and inspiration, this down-to-earth book is easy to read, and even easier to apply.
You've got something to share. This book will help you share it. Get started today. You'll be done in no time.
Whether you hate writing, or you're an avid wordsmith, see why Writing FAST has quickly become the must-read book for writers of all levels.
The FAST System(tm) is a simple, systematic, step-by-step approach that will revolutionize the way you write. In this dynamic and passionate book, you'll discover how to see your entire project in two minutes, how to flesh it out quickly and accurately, how to use the Talktation(tm) speedwriting technique to write your project almost as easily as you speak, and how to move step by step through the editing and polishing phases, to avoid the quagmire of re-writing.
Chock full of ideas, tips, techniques and inspiration, this down-to-earth book is easy to read, and even easier to apply.
You've got something to share. This book will help you share it. Get started today. You'll be done in no time.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
18 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Bollow
4 books1 followerJeff Bollow is an actor, writer, director, producer, author, public speaker, and film festival organizer. In 1996, after ten years of moderate success as an actor in his native Los Angeles, Bollow migrated to New Zealand, and then to Australia, where he founded the Screenplay Development Centre, authored the book Writing FAST: How to Write Anything with Lightning Speed, and produced and directed the ATOM Award-winning Making Fantastic Short Films for schools, before returning to New Zealand to co-found the Big Mountain Short Film Festival and co-author the iLife 08 book for Apple and Peachpit Press.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2010
Jeff speaks to his readers as friends. He provides a systematic approach to writing that works! And he tested it himself as he wrote his first book. His book is sprinkled with positive affirmations, such as "when you're done this this book, you'll write ten times faster than you did before." That's the kind of promise that keeps me reading. Even now I'm writing faster than I normally do because he told me to. "Don't let yourself get stuck," he says. "You can always change it later." I love this advice. It frees me to keep writing. He tells his writing readers to begin with a central idea, something that can be stated in one sentence or less. And simple is better. This is essential before beginning the process of writing.
He explains how to break your writing down into manageable chunks and then you move FAST.
From here he goes on to explain the details of the FAST system. He describes a method which he calls "talktation--taking your words onto the page, your fingers in sync with your thoughts." He encourages writers to smile while they write--to enjoy the writing process. The reader will be able to see the smile on your face.
"There is no right or wrong," he says when talking about writing. There's only clear or unclear. Effective or ineffective. Every idea and every word transfers to the reader's head, and that's what we need to be concerned about--that we're getting our ideas from the page to the reader. He reminds us that reading words about pictures makes them pop into the reader's head, so in the last phases of writing, we can evaluate whether or not all the pictures are the ones that we really want to give the reader.
"Completion means exposing ourselves to criticism," he says. And that's one reason why writers get a little scared at the end, even after conquering hardest part--the getting started part of writing. The writing is a reflection of the writer so it's difficult to not take criticism personally. He reminds us to expect that some will love our writing, some will hate it, and most won't care.
"I want you to become a writing machine," he says. Wow! Me too! It's like he's reading my mind. I'm so impressed when a writer can do that. Jeff tells us to conquer time by working with it, by riding it like a horse. And with the FAST system, he gives us a methodical way to move our process of writing through time quicker. He delivers what he promises. He gives us a means to write FASTer.
He describes our brains as "idea factories," reminding us that we need to write down ideas as soon as they come to us. He suggests collecting them in a BIN (Big Idea Notebook)or on a page or somewhere, anywhere. If we don't capture the slippery things immediately, they escape from us, and we may never get them back.
Jeff reminds readers that it's up to writers to put time into their writing every day to be sure it gets done. He describes a detailed process of how to break writing down into small chunks and provides strategies to get them done as quickly as possible. He insists that we create self-imposed deadlines and that we train ourselves to complete the projects we start. It's usually easier to get started than to complete things.
We each have a unique voice and he encourages writers to forget about comparing ourselves to other writers. Instead he tells us to "Fall in love with words." They're our tools and we need to befriend them. It's a love affair with great rewards, he promises.
Jeff's final advice to writers is that we write every day. Yes, every day, including holidays and weekends! Every day we must write something.
If you're someone who keeps talking about writing, Jeff says you're really just a thinker. Ouch! But if you want to transition from thinking about writing to actually writing, then I highly recommend this book. The FAST system provides a writing method to get you going. Or if you're a writer who just wants to write FASTer, this book provides a method to help you reach your goal. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to write more or write FASTer. Time is running out. Read it NOW. Set deadlines. Write NOW!
He explains how to break your writing down into manageable chunks and then you move FAST.
From here he goes on to explain the details of the FAST system. He describes a method which he calls "talktation--taking your words onto the page, your fingers in sync with your thoughts." He encourages writers to smile while they write--to enjoy the writing process. The reader will be able to see the smile on your face.
"There is no right or wrong," he says when talking about writing. There's only clear or unclear. Effective or ineffective. Every idea and every word transfers to the reader's head, and that's what we need to be concerned about--that we're getting our ideas from the page to the reader. He reminds us that reading words about pictures makes them pop into the reader's head, so in the last phases of writing, we can evaluate whether or not all the pictures are the ones that we really want to give the reader.
"Completion means exposing ourselves to criticism," he says. And that's one reason why writers get a little scared at the end, even after conquering hardest part--the getting started part of writing. The writing is a reflection of the writer so it's difficult to not take criticism personally. He reminds us to expect that some will love our writing, some will hate it, and most won't care.
"I want you to become a writing machine," he says. Wow! Me too! It's like he's reading my mind. I'm so impressed when a writer can do that. Jeff tells us to conquer time by working with it, by riding it like a horse. And with the FAST system, he gives us a methodical way to move our process of writing through time quicker. He delivers what he promises. He gives us a means to write FASTer.
He describes our brains as "idea factories," reminding us that we need to write down ideas as soon as they come to us. He suggests collecting them in a BIN (Big Idea Notebook)or on a page or somewhere, anywhere. If we don't capture the slippery things immediately, they escape from us, and we may never get them back.
Jeff reminds readers that it's up to writers to put time into their writing every day to be sure it gets done. He describes a detailed process of how to break writing down into small chunks and provides strategies to get them done as quickly as possible. He insists that we create self-imposed deadlines and that we train ourselves to complete the projects we start. It's usually easier to get started than to complete things.
We each have a unique voice and he encourages writers to forget about comparing ourselves to other writers. Instead he tells us to "Fall in love with words." They're our tools and we need to befriend them. It's a love affair with great rewards, he promises.
Jeff's final advice to writers is that we write every day. Yes, every day, including holidays and weekends! Every day we must write something.
If you're someone who keeps talking about writing, Jeff says you're really just a thinker. Ouch! But if you want to transition from thinking about writing to actually writing, then I highly recommend this book. The FAST system provides a writing method to get you going. Or if you're a writer who just wants to write FASTer, this book provides a method to help you reach your goal. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to write more or write FASTer. Time is running out. Read it NOW. Set deadlines. Write NOW!
April 27, 2020
I have seen the guy speak on YouTube and said why not? Well, the answer is NOT. What a waste of time and money!
The guy is a bullsh*t artist. He has tried anything film related : producer, actor, speaker, and his best chance was to give hope to failed writers who probably shouldn't be in this business anyway. The book starts with a very important introduction which you should read and in which it says nothing about the technique, but about how you should feel for buying his book. He also misrepresents himself as a producer. Well, in 2020, IMDB has a longer list of him playing small time roles in mediocre movies than movies produced. In fact there is only one credit for him working as a producer and that is not something has has been seen by many outside his family circle. It has an average rating of 4.6 and it was a scheme for him to pose as a writer and main role actor. And that was 20 years ago!
The guy is a bullsh*t artist. He has tried anything film related : producer, actor, speaker, and his best chance was to give hope to failed writers who probably shouldn't be in this business anyway. The book starts with a very important introduction which you should read and in which it says nothing about the technique, but about how you should feel for buying his book. He also misrepresents himself as a producer. Well, in 2020, IMDB has a longer list of him playing small time roles in mediocre movies than movies produced. In fact there is only one credit for him working as a producer and that is not something has has been seen by many outside his family circle. It has an average rating of 4.6 and it was a scheme for him to pose as a writer and main role actor. And that was 20 years ago!
February 19, 2020
I had high expectations. This is a medicre presentation of a supposedly 'revolutionary' method.
The only intriguing notion configured in this book is how to match the development of ideas with the writing of those ideas. Thinking and writing are distinct. This book offers strategies to align them.
Yawn. Not strong.
The only intriguing notion configured in this book is how to match the development of ideas with the writing of those ideas. Thinking and writing are distinct. This book offers strategies to align them.
Yawn. Not strong.
July 1, 2021
I read the first couple of chapters of this book online, and was convinced to buy it. The author has an informal and entertaining way of writing, and overview of his writing technique was interesting. His FAST method/acronym breaks down into Focus, Apply, Strengthen, and Tweak, which seemed like a good way to approach writing.
As I read the book, the Focus and Apply steps made sense, but the Strengthen and Tweak sections seemed to bog down. Perhaps the author’s informal style, in which he addresses the reader directly, joking and second-guessing him/her, started to get irksome. Or perhaps all the analysis of the Strengthen and Tweak sections didn’t make sense without a writing project.
So I started writing a rather complex book review using his method. The Focus section, gathering ideas and fine-tuning them, worked great. The Apply section was less appropriate for me. His idea of writing in “Talktation,” or stream of consciousness without stopping or correcting, just didn’t resonate with me. I got through it, writing perhaps the worst-chosen words of my life. The author advised setting the writing aside before proceeding, which I was glad to do. The months went by.
Eventually I tried applying the Strengthen and Tweak sections to my review, but the need to read it time and again and analyze it in many ways, instead of editing all in one or two passes, again bogged me down. Finally I looked at what I’d written from the first two stages, did some major editing, and published the review without completing the method. It’s ironic that the “Writing Fast” method took longer than my usual techniques.
With that said, I think this book could work for people who don’t know how to write, can’t get started writing, or don’t have a method for editing their writing that works. The Focus section will save you some time by clarifying your idea. The rest of it didn’t work for me, but it might for you, depending on your writing style.
As I read the book, the Focus and Apply steps made sense, but the Strengthen and Tweak sections seemed to bog down. Perhaps the author’s informal style, in which he addresses the reader directly, joking and second-guessing him/her, started to get irksome. Or perhaps all the analysis of the Strengthen and Tweak sections didn’t make sense without a writing project.
So I started writing a rather complex book review using his method. The Focus section, gathering ideas and fine-tuning them, worked great. The Apply section was less appropriate for me. His idea of writing in “Talktation,” or stream of consciousness without stopping or correcting, just didn’t resonate with me. I got through it, writing perhaps the worst-chosen words of my life. The author advised setting the writing aside before proceeding, which I was glad to do. The months went by.
Eventually I tried applying the Strengthen and Tweak sections to my review, but the need to read it time and again and analyze it in many ways, instead of editing all in one or two passes, again bogged me down. Finally I looked at what I’d written from the first two stages, did some major editing, and published the review without completing the method. It’s ironic that the “Writing Fast” method took longer than my usual techniques.
With that said, I think this book could work for people who don’t know how to write, can’t get started writing, or don’t have a method for editing their writing that works. The Focus section will save you some time by clarifying your idea. The rest of it didn’t work for me, but it might for you, depending on your writing style.
January 31, 2013
This book is extraordinary. I've seen a lot of reviews on Amazon that just don't seem to get it. It's not a book to read, it's a book to USE. It's written like an encouraging guide to help you through the process. So for anyone that finds it hard to write, it shows a clear and easy way to get it done. I had writers block for years, and I kept putting off writing, scared of not being good enough, overwhelmed by where to start, etc, and this book IMMEDIATELY got me going. It was exhilarating. I read this book about six months ago and I've been writing ever since. It opened me up and writing every day is what makes you improve.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews