There are great tips here. When I actually have something I want to write about, something where I believe I have something I can contribute, I have a process that works for me. It's not super-fast, but it doesn't need to be since I'm not a professional writer who needs to publish a lot in a short time.

I usually research before I write. The problem with this is that I end up blocked because I can't think of anything to say that's any different than what everyone else is saying about whatever my topic is. How do you avoid this?

I still want to be as efficient as I can and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn touch-typing in high school. I wish it was as simple to come up with things to write about as it is to find efficient ways to get the words on the page.

I have a few questions for you.

When you write quickly, are you not also just saying the same stuff being said by others many times? Without time for thought, can there be a new idea or a fresh take on the topic?

How does free-writing fit into your process? Do you have a rough outline in mind first?

Do you always free-write before you pair research and writing your article?

How does Markdown handle quotations when you copy them to the Medium editor?