5 Writing Sprints for Winning NaNoWriMo
Procrastination is the death of many writing attempts…
…and this is especially true during National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is all about writing your novel quickly in order to finish your first draft in only one month—but, with so many distractions, roadblocks, and pesky inner editors, it’s easy for your progress to stall.
Enter, writing sprints! With a few simple sprints, you can push past procrastination and write more efficiently, too. All you need is a basic timer, a sheet of paper, and a few minutes to spare. So, let me introduce you to five handy writing sprints!
What are Writing Sprints?
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Before we dive into the types of writing sprints, I want to start by explaining what writing sprints are.
Writing sprints are simply short, timed bursts where you focus intensely on writing your novel, usually fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. All you need is a timer like the one on your phone, though you can use special writing sprint tools or the more traditional tomato timer.
The goal of these sprints is twofold:
#1: They encourage you to focus on your story and eliminate distractions
#2: They only require small chunks of time, so they’re easy to complete
This is a magical combination!
Many writers struggle to maintain their momentum, caught up trying to choose the “right words” or get their draft “perfect.” Over time, they lose steam, until writing starts to feel like a chore. Instead, the key to successfully writing a first draft is writing it quickly—and writing sprints make that much easier.
For others, writing sprints are a matter of practicality.
If you have a busy schedule, you might not have hours every day to write your novel. However, you probably have fifteen minutes! This means writing sprints can help you maintain a daily writing habit, whether for writing challenges like NaNoWriMo or in your day-to-day life.
The Pros and Cons of Writing Sprints
Of course, as with all things, there are pros and cons of writing sprints.
If you’re seriously considering incorporating sprints into your writing routine, it’s wise to know what you’re getting into. These pros and cons apply whether you’re using writing sprints for NaNoWriMo, or whether sprints are part of your normal writing habits.
To start, let’s discuss the positives:
- Sprints silence your inner editor by forcing you to write fast
- They help you overcome procrastination, since you only need a few minutes
- Writing sprints are easier to fit into a busy schedule
- These can often increase your writing speed
- They’re a great way to overcome writer’s block and find your creative flow
And here are the negatives:
- Your first draft will be messy, because you’re writing quickly
- Sprints usually lead to longer editing times down the road
- They can create burnout if you don’t take regular breaks
- Writing sprints require a space that’s distraction-free
If the pros outweigh the cons for you, then writing sprints are probably a good option.
5 Types of Writing Sprints
Classic Sprints:
There are many types of writing sprints, and I plan to introduce you to a few—but the classic is a great place to start!
To complete a classic writing sprint, all you need to do is:
- Clear your writing space
- Decide what you want to write
- Set a timer for either fifteen or twenty minutes
- And write as many new words as you can in that time
This one-off style of sprint is great if you have a busy schedule, but still want to fit writing into your day. You can toss a classic sprint into your lunch break, complete a sprint between chores, or even do a writing sprint while dinner is in the oven.
Classic sprints are also easy to spread throughout the day. If you have twenty minutes to write in the morning and fifteen before bed, both times could be turned into writing sprints.
What makes these “sprints” versus normal writing time is simply the focus on writing as many new words as quickly as possible—thus making tons of progress in a short amount of time!
The Pomodoro Method:
Next up, we have Pomodoro sprints, which are my personal favorite!
Named after the Pomodoro Method, this type of writing sprint links multiple sprints with multiple short breaks. It’s a great way to make the most of large chunks of time, while still enjoying the benefits of writing sprints.
To complete a Pomodoro sprint, all you need to do is:
- Clear your writing space
- Decide what you want to write
- Set a timer for twenty five minutes
- Write as many new words as you can in that time
- And then rest for five minutes
Repeat this process for as long as you can and bam—you’ve completed a Pomodoro sprint!
It’s that break that really makes this type of writing sprint work. Five minutes is the perfect amount of time for your brain to rest, allowing you to jump back in while your creativity is still thriving, but with a fresher perspective. It also helps avoid burnout. By working plenty of breaks into your writing, you give yourself space to recharge when you need it.
Pomodoro sprints are also very flexible.
Though they’re named after the Pomodoro Method (which is itself named after the kitchen timer), they don’t have to be twenty-five minutes long. You can sprint for fifteen minutes, or ten minutes, or twenty. Either way, you’ll complete your sprint, rest for five, and continue.
If you plan to string more than four or five sprints together, just make sure to add a longer break—around thirty minutes—somewhere in between.
Group Writing Sprints:
Of course, sometimes you want some healthy competition to liven up your writing life.
If that’s the case, group writing sprints can help! These are sprints you do with friends, both to hold yourself accountable and to add a nice social element to your writing.
To complete a group writing sprint, all you need to do is:
- Gather some writing friends
- Agree to a goal (word count, scenes written, etc.)
- Set your timers
- And start writing!
After the sprint is over, you’ll compare notes, see who hit their goals, and offer support. This style of sprint is easy to organize through video platforms like Zoom, though you can also use dedicated writing sprint tools like OhWrite. Some writers even run sprints on Twitter using #writingsprint or #nanosprint!
NOTE: Excited for group writing sprints, but need something more interesting than hitting a word count? Check out our article all about fun writing games!
Death Metal Writing Sprints:
This one was fun to name, though I promise it isn’t as scary as it sounds. You don’t even have to listen to death metal while you write—though a nice writing sprint soundtrack never hurts!
To complete a death metal sprint, all you need to do is:
- Clear your writing space
- Choose a sprint goal (word count, scenes written, etc.)
- Choose a payment if you miss your goal
- Set a timer for twenty five minutes
- And try to hit your goal before the timer runs out!
Basically, death metal sprints are classic writing sprints with the intensity turned up to eleven.
Here, your job is to hit a clear goal by any means necessary—whether that means writing stream of thought, dictating your novel, or writing in bullet points. If you hit your goal, you’re good to go! But if you don’t, you’ll have to pay some price to the writing gods. 😉
Fortunately, that price is only something small. I like to clean a room in the house when I fail a sprint, while others walk a lap around the block or do ten pushups. Whatever it is, don’t make it too extreme. This isn’t meant as a punishment, but as a light form of motivation to push you towards your goals.
If external motivation is important to you, then this is definitely a sprint to try.
Prompt Sprints:
Finally, prompt sprints are a bit different than the others on this list—because for these sprints, you won’t actually be working on your novel.
Instead, you’ll choose a writing prompt to free write to until your sprint is over. This is great if you’re getting to the end of a long day or are feeling stuck in your story. Sometimes, shifting gears and writing something new is exactly what you need to clear your head!
To complete a prompt sprint, all you need to do is:
- Clear your writing space
- Choose a writing prompt
- Set a timer for twenty five minutes
- And free write until the timer runs out!
If you’re looking for prompts, definitely check out my writing prompt Pinterest Board!
Final Tips for Successful Sprints
Ultimately, the point of writing sprints isn’t perfection, but speed.
This is all about getting as many words on the page as quickly (and messily) as possible, so you can start refining and polishing those words when it comes time to edit.
Luckily, this is the ethos of NaNoWriMo too!
Writing sprints are a perfect tool for winning NaNoWriMo, because the two align so closely. So, if you’re ready to set some NaNoWriMo writing sprints of your own, here are a few final tips to help you succeed:
Plan Ahead:
Make sure you’re prepared to write before you start. Set your intentions, clear your writing space, and create a NaNoWriMo outline if you can. This will help you avoid hitting a creative wall.
Rest and Reflect:
Once your sprints are done for the day, take some time to reflect on your progress—both how much you’ve written and how you feel about it. Your first draft won’t always feel fun. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong, but it might mean you need some time to rest.
Stay Flexible:
If you start out at twenty five minutes and decide that isn’t working for you, experiment! Writing sprints aren’t a strict rule, but a guideline. Don’t be afraid to make changes if it helps you reach your goals.
Build Your Muscles:
Finally, remember that your brain is a muscle. Early on, your writing sprints might feel slower than expected. However, if you stick with it, you’ll train your writing muscles and get faster over time.
Here’s to a successful November, and to your finished first draft!
I am excited to try these sprints. I’ve been sprinting without realizing it, grabbing minutes here and there between Life Things, but this seems more intentional and making sure there are breaks is good. Sometimes I forget to take breaks then wonder why I am so tired. This was a super helpful post!