I am struggling for time again. I missed my writespiration by a day last week, and I am writing this post far too late on Sunday night. Time is a constant problem for me. How do I balance, full time employment, with being a mum, wife, keeping a house, trying to stay fit and healthy so I don’t have a heart attack, write novels, and keep a blog? Basically I can’t, much as I like to think it, I am not actually super woman.
I’ve written before about being more efficient as a writer, 10 Life Hacks For The Efficient Writer. But with the onset of some sleepless nights with our toddler I am waning more than somewhat. Posts 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.
How do you sprint write?
- Get a timer or stop watch
- 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. No editing, no stopping. Worry about editing and corrections after you finish.
- Repeat – for best results, repeat 15 minutes sprints 4 times. (sounds like a recipe now!)
- As an added incentive – sprint with a buddy. It applies just that little bit extra pressure to ensure you stay focused, because someone will want to know your word count at the end.
REASON ONE
Over the course of a normal hour, I will write maybe 6-700 words. 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 minute 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 for me is, you don’t get distracted by social media, because you don’t have time. I am a slave to social media, so this distraction free writing is ideal, and massively productive.
REASON THREE
I am competitive, I like to beat myself, constantly. So each sprint I write faster and faster. I set target word counts that are just a few words out of reach, and then type at the speed of light to break them.
REASON FOUR
What I love about this is that it is perfect for people with no time. What’s your work break like? I get a half hour lunch – thats 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! :p
Somehow, Adultland has made it to over 11,600 words because of sprint writing in the last couple of weeks. I have also made the decision to write it as a novel. So I have been busy editing the first three chapters and writing considerably more. I honestly think, sprint writing will enable me to finish the first draft before the year is out. Given that it took me almost a year to write my first novel, three months is some going.
Try it out. Let me know if it works for you. How do you find more writing time in your day?
So true! Do you feel like that about music? Does the same thing happen?
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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! 😀
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interesting that you say editing as you go offers barriers. I wonder if it also removes some? Like overwhelming fear of editing for one?!
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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! 😁
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
Excellent ideas.
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Thanks Judith – how do you manage to fit writing in?
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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.
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completely agree! I love nothing better than pressure. Cant seem to function without it!
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This sounds like it has breathed new life into your writing habits and given you a much-needed boost 🙂
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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.
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It sounds as though you are on a roll at the moment. I reckon you will hit your target next month no problem! 🙂
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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!
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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
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Thank you so much for the tip! I will certainly try to find somebody who is willing too.
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I need to try this approach. You are a genius.
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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?
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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.
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With so many of us swamped and out of free time this may help a lot of us.
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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
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This will help so many people. Time is something all we writers seem to lack 🙂
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Tell me about it!! I honestly don’t know how people do it – If I wrote full time I would be a proper nightmare!
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Ha! You so would be 😉
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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! ❤ I have to go back and read the Adultland posts.
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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!
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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. 🙂
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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
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Probably, but it’s more fun with the creative stuff. 😉
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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.
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ooh. If you work it out let me know, I would love to hear if this technique works for you.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Solveig, your mom was either genius or evil.
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Ula, I was just thinking the same thing. Sorry, Solveig. 😉
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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
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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
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Works a treat every time, especially when I have a deadline and can’t focus on the topic 🙂
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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. 🙂
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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 🙂 ❤
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Reblogged this on graemecummingdotnet and commented:
It’s surprising how often you need to apply some psychology to yourself to get motivated. Sacha explains here a method she uses to make herself more productive as a writer. Although not quite the same, I think it’s worth sharing here my own technique for getting myself started.
I am one of life’s great procrastinators, and tend to put things off until there’s a deadline. When it comes to sitting down and writing, I can also find lost of things to distract myself with – social media being high on the list. So when I do sit down to write – whether it’s a blog post, a review for my local theatre, or a story – I always have a note book beside me. And in that notebook I jot down the time. And below that time, I jot down the time in 5 minutes or 10 minutes (what can I say? I like variety), and repeat that for usually about an hour. So if the first time I write is 7:00, the last time will be 8:00. Then I start to write.
At 7:10 (using the example above), I make a note of my word count. At 7:20, I do it again, and so forth. What always amazes me is how often the word count rises with each new 5/10 minute segment. And as that word count rises, so too does my sense of achievement and my motivation.
It works for me, so it might also work for you. And so might Sacha’s approach. We’re all different, so it’s worth trying them both.
Have fun with them
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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. 🙂
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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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!
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