My sequences take somewhere between 2 minutes and 30 minutes to write. This time period is irrespective of level since it takes me about the same amount of time to write an A2 dance as a C4 dance. A good sequence takes time to write. Since I intend to call each sequence in several different places, it makes sense to spend the time to be sure that the sequence is good, and not just filler 'fluff'.

My normal writing rate is about 8 to 10 sequences per hour. My sequences are generally 12 to 17 calls in length. Asymmetric sequences typically take longer (15 to 20 minutes per sequence) since I usually have to push the dolls through many different times to verify that things work the way that I want them to.

I speed up writing sequences as follows:

1. I have a list of calls that haven't yet been used for the dance sitting in front of me. Calls at the primary level are highlighted in boldface so that they stand out. I can tell at a glance which calls I might want to add to the sequence.
2. I have several pages of ideas (e.g., short 2 or 3 call sequences that go together; starting formations and things to do from there; or lists of all the things that I could do 'Initially' or 'Finally') that I can look at. The difference between my A2 and C4 sequences is that for C4, I have many pages of ideas to look at. These pages took many hours to generate, putting them in sequences is easy. It's not writing the sequences that takes so long, it's preparing the idea pages.
3. I sometimes write sequences in parallel. I will take 50 pages of paper and write down the first 2 or 3 calls of a sequence on each page (e.g., on page one I might write HEADS WHEEL THRU; TOUCH 1/4; FOLLOW YOUR LEADER. Then on page two I might write HEADS WHEEL FAN THRU; CIRCLE TO A WAVE. Etc.) After the first 2 or 3 calls, I make a note of the ending formation (including sexes and facing directions as necessary). Then I search my idea pages for something interesting to do, and then add it to whatever sequence it might be easiest or most appropriate to add it to. This 'parallel' writing can significantly speed things up.
4. I don't worry about finding resolves until I have written a set of 10 or more sequences (without resolves). Blankly staring at a set of dolls trying to figure out how to resolve can waste a helluva lot of time. Instead, I take the set of unresolved sequences to my computer and use my resolve database to find appropriate resolves.