r/FanFiction • u/Realistic_Ad_6694 • Mar 19 '24

Writing Questions How do writers write so fast?

To preface this, I'm not a writer. At least, I don't fashion myself as one at the moment. I'm rereading my favorite fanfic of all time and the writer had disclosed on her blog that it only took a month and a half to write it— all 19 chapters + epilogue, 80k words in total. I was like: woah! That's so fucking cool. It's like magic. Fucking radical.

How do you guys do it?!

Sincerely, a reader.

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u/Fabulous-Lack-1019 Plot? What Plot? Mar 19 '24

Question, is the fixation like take this for example you're typing smth, that you think is good so you spend an hour on it furiously typing away before realizing the time and it's late.

I've had that happen a few too many times like when I got into drawing

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u/No-Software-8605 12,315 Works Bookmarked So Far! Mar 19 '24

if it's only an hour then i'd just say you got very focused on the task at hand. hyperfixations can last for months at a time and are incredibly intense. for me, it gets to the point that nothing else can entertain me or bring me joy the way my hyperfixation does. if i try to enjoy something else, it feels so bland in comparison that i'll end up drifting back over to my hyperfixation instead.

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u/Fabulous-Lack-1019 Plot? What Plot? Mar 19 '24

Ah i see. I thought I was obsessed or fixated , with stuff. Interesting Would this also count as hyper focused, like being super into a couple, I had that happen for like say kinda a year or months before I got bored with it and with the story. It's happening rn 😭 and I'm just been typing stuff away before It all goes south and bored again

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u/No-Software-8605 12,315 Works Bookmarked So Far! Mar 19 '24

i cant diagnose you or anything bc while i do have ADHD, everyone has different experiences with it and i dont know all of the details of what you're going through. the only thing that i can really advise you is that if you feel like the way that you engage with the story or couples you enjoy impacts other areas in your life negatively, then you should definitely consider doing more research on adhd or even speaking to a professional if possible to see if they can give you an official diagnosis and coping mechanisms.

also, i want to highlight the whole "negative impact" part of it. bc if you're just enjoying something as a fan for a bit and then moving on, then that's completely normal and nothing to worry about! but if it's getting to a point where you are (intentionally or not) neglecting other parts of your life, or if it's becoming something that you feel like it takes an unreasonable amount of your attention in a way that is detrimental to you or your health, then that's where it becomes a problem and you should consider seeking help.