...and reasons why you probably shouldn't.

There are generally two types of writers: Plotters and Pantser.

Plotters: plan out their book from start to finish before even the first keystroke.
Pantsers: fly by the seat of their pants.

As a pantser, I'm a slave to my muse. When inspiration hits, I have to write and I can think of little else. But once the well is dry and I am exhausted, I may not write anything again for a few days, weeks, months, or even years. I'm not concerned about long breaks because it gives me a chance to go back and do some much-needed edits. That means I don't write if I'm not inspired which has both advantages and drawbacks.

But how do I do it? How am I able to finish a novel in thirty days or less?

By doing it poorly.

Like with all things, when you focus on speed, you make sacrifices elsewhere. Am I saying that all I write in that time is terrible? No. Am I saying that it's not fit for human eyes? No. But it is certainly NOT 100% polished. It is a draft after all.

Scenes that require more descriptions take a hit. Vague references that require a tie-in later on, sometimes get forgotten. And side characters who were kinda cool and could really bring a certain 'something' to the piece if they had a few short bouts of information about their background are left to die by the wayside.

Simply put, there is no time for it. I've seen authors suggest putting SINGLE WORDS to hold the place of a scene, name, location, even eye color. I DO NOT recommend this. It may work for some, but it won't work for me. As each scene builds from the last, I've found that should I jump around, things get disjointed and feel shoe-horned in.

I am saying that maybe that extra page detailing a character's strawberry blond hair catching the sunlight just right in the crisp autumn morning in front of an ocean of red, yellow and pink leaves rustling in the branches should PROBABLY wait.

The leaves were red, and off we go.

So my first method is by skimping on the details.

Second, I take liberties with my words. When I edit, I must make certain that there are no distinct patterns to ruin the flow of the passage. Words can't be used too often in close proximity. Also, instead of using five words to say something, I need to reduce that to keep the tempo. That's editing. In the draft version, it's the Wild Wild West. I will repeat my words. I WILL use a pattern to death, and I will say ONE thing with seven words instead of ONE if I have to. Hence the reason 100k is severely reduced in editing.

My third method is the jaws of life approach (as I call it).

People say kill your darlings in editing? Oh no, kill them in drafting, too.

If I write 100k, I can only use about 60-70 of it. Meaning that any time I reach a chapter that brings me to a wall, that chapter HAS TO GO. I must delete it and go back to the chapter that had momentum.  (If I'm lucky, I can segment it and cannibalize key parts of that dud chapter, but chances are, it's bye-bye.)

I believe it was Stephen King who said, "When I get stuck, I delete my favorite scene." Now, I don't agree with Stephen King in most things, but I do agree in this. Sometimes we write something we LOVE and we're trying so hard to keep it that we sacrifice the story.

No. Cut it out with the jaws of life if you have to. Get rid of it, and keep the flow moving.

Lastly, how to write fast? Practice, practice, practice, practice.

Anything we do for an extended period of time, we get a feel for. A pro basketball player didn't start out a pro. He/she practiced so much so that it became second nature. As such, the best you can do is keep going until you Forest Gump your way out of those braces and take off!

P.S. I'm still not quite there yet either.

Happy writing, and good luck!