Struggling With Writer's Block? Try Writing Sprints
This underutilized writing "tool" can help you get past writer's block and squash you inner self-editor while writing your first draft.
There are two writing woes that affect writers more than anything else—writer’s block and editing when we should be freeform writing. Sometimes writing prompts can help infuse life back into a dry spell, but writing sprints (also known as word sprints) can actually help with both writer’s block and taming our inner editors.
What Are Writing Sprints?
Writing sprints are short bursts of focused writing time that can be done alone or with a group. Twitter and Instagram have a lot of information and groups of people virtually completing writing sprints together. Anyone can join in a sprint on Twitter by following hashtags like #writingsprints and #wordsprints. Instagram users also use the “Live” feature when they want to connect with others during a word sprint.
How to Get Started?
First, you’ll need a piece of writing you’re currently working on (or you can use a writing prompt). Sprinters use a timer to set the amount of time they want to dedicate to their writing; the most common time increments are fifteen to thirty minutes and up to one hour. During this time, writers turn off all distractions and race against the clock to increase their word counts. If you’re going to sprint alone, all you need is yourself and your writing tools of choice—computer or old-fashioned pen and paper. If accountability is more important, seek out other writers and start a word sprinting group.
5 Tips to Maximize Your Word Sprints
Find the writing environment that works for you—at home in silence or a coffee shop with background noise.
Note your pre-sprint word count.
Turn off all phone and computer notifications.
Set your timer.
Once you set your timer, immediately move it out of sight or flip your phone upside down so you aren’t checking the time you have left when you should be writing.
When you’re done, compare your post-sprint word count to where you started.
Why Should You Do Writing Sprints?
You may wondering if you could benefit from writing sprints, and the answer is “yes.” Here are a few ways your writing life will improve:
Efficient use of time—Writing sprints are a huge boost for writers with busy lives. If you work five days a week and take a one-hour lunch every day, reallocate thirty minutes of your lunch to writing sprints and you automatically incorporate two and a half hours of writing into your schedule every week.
Variation produces results—Writing routines are great, but too much structure can create boredom, which can choke out creativity. By varying the amount of time you use to write, you train your brain to produce words in whatever time span you give it, which means less writer’s block and more productivity.
Results are in the numbers—On average, a slow sprinter is going to produce about 400 words in 30 minutes and an experienced sprinter can work up to 1,000 words in a 45-minute window. At 1,000 words a day, that’s 30,000 words in just 30 days.
Give word sprints a try, and let us know how you like the process!