The Power of Timed Writing Sprints: Unlock Creativity and Boost Productivity
/As authors, one of the biggest challenges we face is finding the motivation and discipline to sit down and write every day. Timed writing sprints are a powerful tool that can help you overcome this hurdle and make consistent progress on your book. But did you know that writing sprints can also help unlock the flow of creativity?
When you’re under a time constraint, there’s no time to second-guess your word choices or self-edit as you write. Timed sprints of writing allow authors to get out of their own way and allow creativity to flow through. This is where the magic happens! I host writing sprints for my members of the Author Success Academy, and they are often amazed and what comes up during these short bursts of writing.
A writing sprint is a short period of time, usually 10-30 minutes, during which you write as much as you can without any distractions. The goal of a writing sprint is to help you focus on the task at hand and produce a significant amount of writing quickly.
Here are some benefits of timed writing sprints for authors and the steps to follow:
Benefits of Timed Writing Sprints
Boosts productivity
Timed writing sprints provide structure and accountability, which helps to increase your productivity. When you know you have a set amount of time to write, you’re more likely to make the most of that time and avoid distractions.
Encourages consistency
By incorporating timed writing sprints into your daily routine, you establish a consistent writing habit. Consistency is key when it comes to writing a book, and regular writing sprints can help you make progress on your manuscript every day. We all have busy lives, so sometimes it’s easier to set aside 10-30 minutes when you can rather than putting off writing completely until you have a large block of time. Sprints can help you keep your word count (and momentum) growing in between those longer writing sessions.
Helps to overcome writer’s block
When you set a timer and start writing, you give yourself permission to write without worrying about the quality of your work. This can help you overcome writer’s block and get your creative juices flowing. Later, after your timed writing sprint has ended, you can set aside revision time to clean up what you wrote and expand upon it.
Boosts creativity
When you’re under a time constraint, you’re forced to think quickly and creatively. This can help you develop new ideas and solutions to problems you may be facing in your writing. Plus, as mentioned earlier, when you get out of your own way and silence those pesky voices inside your head that try to self-sabotage your forward progress, you’ll unlock the flow of creativity, allowing the magic to unfold. This is when I produce some of my best writing!
Steps to Follow
1. Set a goal/intention
Before you start a writing sprint, it’s important to set a goal for what you want to accomplish during that time. This could be a specific word count, a particular scene or chapter, or simply a period of uninterrupted writing.
2. Set a timer
Once you’ve set your goal, set a timer for the amount of time you want to write. This could be anywhere from 10-30 minutes, depending on your personal preference and schedule. There are plenty of writing timers available on YouTube, but personally, I love these sand timers from Amazon.
3. Eliminate distractions
During your writing sprint, it’s essential to eliminate any distractions that could interfere with your focus. This could mean turning off your phone or email notifications, closing your web browser, and finding a quiet place to write.
4. Write quickly and without self-editing
During your writing sprint, write as quickly as you can during the timed interval. Don’t stop to edit or revise, as this can slow you down and interfere with your flow. There will be plenty of time for self-editing later, but it should be scheduled separately from your creative writing session. It’s the focus on speed that helps to silence the mind and unlock the creative flow, so give it a try!
5. Take a break
After your writing sprint is over, take a short break to recharge. This could mean taking a walk, stretching, or simply stepping away from your computer for a few minutes. You’ll come back to your writing with fresh eyes.
6. Repeat
Once you’ve taken a break, repeat the process by setting another goal and starting another writing sprint. When I’m writing a book, I like to schedule a writing sprint each morning, and on my longer writing days, I may conduct a series of sprints throughout the day. This is a great way to get your word count up or sprint to the finish line once your book is nearly completed.
Pro Tip: Record and track your word count
If you are writing in your manuscript, take note of your starting word count so that when the sprint ends, you can tally up the number of words written and track your progress. Although this step is optional, tracking my word count and trying to increase it with each sprint has made me a much faster writer over time.
Timed writing sprints are a powerful tool for authors looking to boost their productivity and consistency. By following the steps outlined above, you can establish a regular writing habit and make steady progress on your book. So set a timer, eliminate distractions, and start writing!
Invitation
Every Friday, I host optional writing sprints inside the Author Success Academy for our members. We all meet on Zoom, and I put a timer on the screen for 15 minutes. Afterward, we take some time to chat about our progress and what came up for us during the session. It’s one of the most loved aspects of my author coaching program!
I just opened registration for the Author Success Academy, and if you join us today, you can get in on our next sprint! Not to mention instant access to all the other benefits the program has to offer. Check it out here. I hope to see you on our next sprint!
