How to Write Fast & Finish your eBook

Word sprints cut your book writing time in half

When a runner needs to cover the most stretch of ground, fast; she sprints for speed and optimal results. And when a writer needs to create her project as fast as possible, she must also sprint to finish the task. Writing sprints (or word sprints) create big chunks of writing in a short period of time and move your book along at great speed. But that’s not even the best thing about a writing sprint, they are the easiest writing activity to do and are pure, writing exhilaration!

The definition of a writing sprint is basically freewriting with a timer. Freewriting is writing off the top of your head with no style, structure or editing, just writing freely with no worries at all. It is the easiest and most enjoyable style of writing. A writing sprint (also called a word sprint), is when you write at lightning speed and are mentally pumped to write a section of your project in a set amount of time. The aim of this exercise is to write as much you can, as quickly as you can and take advantage of the flowing words pouring from your beautiful mind. And a writing sprint would not be complete without the pressure of a deadline, which is why the timer is included.  

Writing sprints are the 100m Usain Bolt of the writing craft – with no worries, effort, thinking or fixing. When a writer word sprints,, you get to know yourself as a writer; and although your writing is all over the place, this is one of the most effective ways to improve your skills and move your project along, quickly.

How to Word Sprint

One of the best things about a writing sprint is there are no rules or strict instructions. Still, the following guide is worthwhile reading as it will help you to make the most of your wrord sprints and be a faster writer.

We also encourage you to jump straight in and write creattively in any way that feels right to you.

1. Open your word document, a note pad or another writing tool or device.

2. Decide on the time duration for your writing sprint and set a timer.

Many writers word-sprint for 30 - 60 minutes to produce a high volume of writing in one sitting, especially when they’re on a roll with a story or have a stream of ideas. But if you’re new to writing for an audience, you may like to start with a 5 - 10 minute word sprint to warm up your writing muscles and then piece by piece work your way up to longer writing sessions. If you force yourself to write for long periods of time when you’re just starting out, you won’t enjoy your writing sessions and may stop writing your book, altogether.

Try to stick to short and sweet writing sessions while you develop the concentration skills to write for 30-60 minutes or longer. The best way to increase your focus skills is with practice. Practice focusing on one thing at a time, such as with meditation or by timing how long you can read or write for, then slowly extend the time frame as your focus improves.

3. Start your writing sprint.

Align your mind with your hands and keyboard and write like no one’s watching, as fast as possible. Write down everything on your mind, all your thoughts and ideas, whether they’re story related or not. Try to focus on your writing project or a specific section of your project, and if your mind strays, just keep writing and delete the irrelevant ideas and content later. Write whatever comes to mind, fluently and without thinking or stopping to make corrections.

One of the greatest things about a writing sprint is you don’t have to think too much while you are writing, just write whatever comes to mind. So, relax and allow your subconscious writing mind to take over and enjoy the ride.

4. Set a goal for your writing sprint.

Setting a writing goal or a word count goal for your writing sessions is the extra motivational push you need to write fast and produce a large chunk of content in your session. You may like to set an incentive for your writing sprint, such as write a certain number of words in your session (200 words in 10 minutes, 500 words in 25 minutes or 20 words in a few minutes). If you’re just starting out as a writer, try to make the goal easy to achieve, e.g. 1 paragraph or 50 words for a 10 minute sprint. Even if you just write 20 - 50 words in your sprint, you’ll still receive the dopamine boost for competing your writing task and you’ll be contributing to the overall creation of your eBook or blog.  

As your writing experience grows, you can easily increase the time and word count goals for your word sprints, as your writing ability will also naturally grow. Challenging yourself is a great way for a writer to stay motivated and get the job done efficiently and effectively. All you need to do is align your thoughts with your fingers and allow your creative genius to do the rest.

Get Through Your Draft as Quickly as Possible

A word sprint is the ultimate ‘write-fast’ tool to write a book or a large project in a short amount of time. The next time you need to write fast to achieve a section of your book or finish a blog, set a timer to help you fly like the wind while you write. Breaking your word sprints into a short time frame (5 to 10 minutes) also makes it easier to stay focused and write for the whole sprint while you are building a regular, more involved writing routine.

Writing sprints are ideal for people who struggle to find time to write or writers who are experiencing writer’s block. A quick 10 - 15 minute word sprint in the morning and evening will make great progress with your book and improve your writing skills, significantly.

And writing sprints are extremely easy to perform. All you need to do is write off the top of your head - with no style, editing, proofreading or sequence. So go for it and use writing sprints to work through the blocks and rocket your project to completion.

To learn more about how to write fast, be productive in your writing practice, fix writer’s block and become a better writer, click on the above program to purchase the most effective writing and creativity program on the market How to Overcome Writer’s Block.