Much as I’ll swear blind I’m superwoman, apparently, I’m not. Go figure.
My delightful off sprung has decided sleeping is for the week. Oh, how I adore his wide-eyed insomnia-riddled brain. We’re zombieing our way through sleepless night after night. Which means I’m flagging more than usual.
Blogs are late or, non-existent and so is my motivation. So my writing BFF Ali and I have been trying something new together. Sprint writing.
*Reaches out*
*Pulls reader into her arms*
“Come here my pretty, let me rock your writing world.”
How do you ‘do’ sprint write?
- Get a timer or stopwatch.
- Choose a time you want to sprint for. Note – for best results choose a time UNDER 20 minutes. This is for various reasons. I’ve tried half hour and hour long sprints, but I’ve found I slow down part way through, I start to edit and my mind wonders. The shorter the time, the harder and faster I can sustain the burn for! I usually choose 10-15 minutes.
- Write. Hard and fast. Let your keyboard burn like the steroid injected sun’s belly. Fuck the editing. Stop for nothing, throw the men overboard, and write. If you find yourself worrying about editing and corrections, flay yourself with a keyboard and write on baby.
- Repeat – for best results, repeat 15 minutes sprints 4 times. (Yes, yes I am brewing a novel-shaped recipe!)
- As an added incentive – find the most insane word-nerd maniac you can and chain them to the desk opposite you for eternal sprintery. A buddy applies that little bit extra pressure to keep you focused. Share word-vomit counts at the end for accountability.
But why should you bother sprint writing?
REASON ONE
Over the course of a normal hour, I will write 6-700 words, maybe. You know, in between the Facebook stalking, Instagram photo taking and all manner of other demon-like distractions.
BUT. In the course of a 15-minute sprint, I can write 350-400 words. Multiply that by 4 sprints in one hour (ok just over an hour when you take a couple of minutes break) and at worst I have 1400 words, at best 1600. Over double my usual rate of writing. Even with editing, this is still a faster pace than I can normally achieve.
REASON TWO
The best bit is, you’re too busy raising keyboard hellfire to get distracted by social media. Bitch please, you don’t have time to watch your ex-boyfriend’s neighbors cat face plant the swimming pool. There are no social media slaves here. This distraction-free writing at it’s best. Sprint writing = productive writing.
You need to sprint write.
REASON THREE
I’m competitive. I like to beat myself, constantly. So each sprint I want to write faster. I set target word counts that are just a few words out of reach, and then type at the speed of Captain Pickard’s warp 7.
REASON FOUR
What I love most is that it is perfect for people with no time.
No time?
Tough, that’s no excuse for not writing.
What’s your work break like? I get a half hour lunch – that’s two sprints. 700 words before I even get home and get my laptop out. 3,500 words over the course of a weeks lunch breaks… that’s a chapter and a half of a novel…! I dare you to tell me you don’t need sprints in your life!
Sprint writing has helped me increase my standard typing speed. It's the same reason marathon runners to hill sprints. #amwriting #IARTG #writingcomunity Share on X It helps you speed up over the longer stretches too.
It will help you write faster too.
Try it out. Let me know if it works for you. How do you find more writing time in your day?
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So true! Do you feel like that about music? Does the same thing happen?
Accepting your sprint writing challenge got me writing my new project, something I had actually found hard to get started on. Just write, you said, so I did. Normally, I edit as I go along, which really slows me, and actually offers up so many barriers to the writing process. I’m enjoying the sprints, and plan to use them regularly! ?
interesting that you say editing as you go offers barriers. I wonder if it also removes some? Like overwhelming fear of editing for one?!
Haha! The only thing that will remove that fear is tackling a major edit. Then you’ll see how fun it is, and how satisfying whipping that rampant wordy manuscript into a slick, polished novel ready for… gulp… formatting can be! ?
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
Excellent ideas.
Thanks Judith – how do you manage to fit writing in?
I don’t normally sprint, but I have set timers for myself on days I was feeling more distracted than usual. Knowing you have a “deadline” just kind of scares your mind into getting the work done.
completely agree! I love nothing better than pressure. Cant seem to function without it!
This sounds like it has breathed new life into your writing habits and given you a much-needed boost 🙂
It really has. I wrote 11.6K this month of a novel, next month I want to double that, at least! More focus on the novel, less on the blog I think.
It sounds as though you are on a roll at the moment. I reckon you will hit your target next month no problem! 🙂
I just went to a intense struggle to get something up on time. I’m definitely going to try this to make some good drafts so hopefully I don’t have to do that again!
Ahhh well I really hope it helps – the best bit for me is knowing I have someone to report to at the end of it – I don’t know if you have a writing buddy that would help like that, but its a major win for me. I hope it helps
Thank you so much for the tip! I will certainly try to find somebody who is willing too.
I need to try this approach. You are a genius.
Lol. Why thank you! hehe. Let me know if it works for you. Also – I went to reblog your Monday inspirations with me today and couldn’t find the reblog button…. hints?
Hehe. I hid it under the more icon. (I think that’s the reblog button) Press the “W” and see what happens 😉
I had a few of my posts reblogged on strange websites that looked like all they did was reblog, so I hid it. Figured those who really want to reblog will find it. Or will ask.
With so many of us swamped and out of free time this may help a lot of us.
EXACTLY!! It’s literally a miracle worker – plus I am then actually tired enough to sleep after because it’s so intense and usually I never sleep! Hope it works for you
This will help so many people. Time is something all we writers seem to lack 🙂
Tell me about it!! I honestly don’t know how people do it – If I wrote full time I would be a proper nightmare!
Ha! You so would be 😉
Yes! You know I’ve been blogging about this. Wondering what to do. I’ve got to give this a try. It’s so crazy it might just work! 😉 Brilliant, really. (I’ll let you know how it turns out.) I definitely need more writing time in my day and let’s not talk about ‘distracted by social media’. Good luck with the new novel! <3 I have to go back and read the Adultland posts.
I do. It’s true. I did think of you when I wrote that social media comment! Bloody social media. It’s so wonderful yet pesky at the same time. It is a bit mental, and its also DRAINING because you have to focus so intensely, and when you do the repeat sprints its really really knackering. BUT, you know what…. it bloody works!
Ahh, don’t worry about reading them! I will only edit them into something decent anyway – they were all first draft type stuff!
Interestingly, I’ve been finding that in addition to writing, this approach works for other creative endeavors. I’m able to set 30 minutes stints for cutting fabrics for quilting, or sewing just a few seams. That constant search for the elusive block of time is what keeps us from moving forward. 🙂
Hi Deborah, thanks for reading my post. That’s a great point too – I hadn’t considered using the same methodology for other stuff – I wonder if it works for housework! :p
Probably, but it’s more fun with the creative stuff. 😉
I wonder what my own word per minute would be at 15 minute intervals. I suspect it might be fairly similar to yours. I may just have to try this out.
ooh. If you work it out let me know, I would love to hear if this technique works for you.
Sprinting has become my favorite way to get some words out. I LOVE to rewrite. I can always make it better. Which can be great way to make my writing shine, or a great way to keep from moving forward with my writing.
Off to sprint.
Ah Ha! a fellow sprinter. I wish I felt the same about rewriting though – I am terrified – my manuscripts sat collecting dust at the minute!
This is how my mom made me do my math homework. It helped me be efficient and not spend an afternoon on 10 exercises. Sometimes I use it for writing too, and it sure boosts productivity.
Haha, there was no sprinting Math for me I’m afraid! I was RUBBISH at it! could barely get through it without tantrums and tears!! lol.
Solveig, your mom was either genius or evil.
Ula, I was just thinking the same thing. Sorry, Solveig. 😉
I use timers as well, especially when I’m not that into the subject matter – fifteen minutes and all I’m allowed to do is write. It does work! Glad to hear it’s working for you too xx
ooh glad its not just me. I never realised how good of a technique it was till I tried it. its like every efficiency addicts dream!! haha
Works a treat every time, especially when I have a deadline and can’t focus on the topic 🙂
Great points here Sacha. We all feel smothered at times with the pressure we sometimes put on ourselves. Sprint writing sounds like a good plan. I personally like to plan my goals for each day, the night before. As I don’t have another job anymore (gratefully), I work at my writing at home every day, scheduling my time around ‘real life’ obligations and writing, reading, blogging etc. Whichever process we use, I believe it’s dedicated discipline that sustains our good habits. 🙂
Yes, thats seriously true – I always put ridiculous pressure on myself! which is crazy given the number of responsibilities I have at the minute, but you are right about goal setting, I think I will try that – doing it the night before – or maybe the week before 🙂 <3
Sounds one to try Sacha, anything to motivate me would be good as I’m getting so distracted with social media, blogging, life et all. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
I totally need to get into the habit of doing this. Fifteen minutes of sprint writing will be so much more productive than fifteen minutes of faffing about on Facebook!
Yeah but. It seems a solution but what then for whining excuses?
self flagellation? :p I jest. Decide what you want, and don’t let anything get in your way. Not even yourself. Whiny excuses or nay. :p
Typing 90WPM helps. 🙂
Great writing idea.
haha yes it does!