Want to write more in less time? Here are 5 proven strategies to boost your word count fast without burning out.
With November right around the corner, plenty of folks are trying to figure out how they can hit their word-count goals without slamming face-first into a brick wall. Tons of people wonder how to write more words within a time limit, and November is the time to pick up some new tricks and sharpen your pre-existing skills, what with the seemingly infinite writing events there are.
Why Writing Faster Matters
The short answer? It doesn't! Whether you write a hundred words a day or ten thousand, words are words, and any progress is good progress. That said, plenty of us would just love to write more and crank out more books each year. Stephen King reportedly writes a few thousand words a day, and that's a great amount! No wonder he gets so many books out.
The first step for any writer is to get a first draft finished. Once the draft is done, the real magic begins, and publishing feels closer than ever! It's also super easy to get sidetracked if a project drags on for too long, so figuring out what makes you tick and getting more words down can help you see a book through to the end.
Above all else though, consistency is what really helps, so pick up a few of the tricks below, and try to incorporate writing into your daily routine.
Pre-Writing Rituals
When people talk about rituals, it's easy to imagine bedtime rituals, or early morning checklists including meditation, yoga, and a walk around the block. Rituals can come in all forms, though, and they can absolutely help boost your writing speed.
If you struggle with opening the document and finally getting started, consider creating a writerly routine! Have a go-to writing setup: playlist, beverage, location, time of day, writing prompt starter, etc. This turns writing into a cue-based habit rather than a battle of willpower, which means less time groaning about starting, and actually writing. There's also the upside of having everything handy for when you need it, such as a light snack, a drink, or your notebooks to scribble things down mid-sprint.
Clear, Minimal Writing Outlines
Let it be known, I am not a planner. All of my projects come from a vague idea of a theme, character, or even just a vibe I want to go with. Planning is firmly not something I do for any of my projects... but it can be a vital part of writing for a lot of people.
If you haven't tried planning yet, then give a clear, minimal outline a try. If you're a pantser that's struggling to understand where your story is headed, then try it, too! Minimal outlines can provide gentle nudges towards story beats and plot points without making you feel stuck or like your creativity is being stifled.
Having a minimal outline, either before you start writing the project or a fresh list each time you open your document, can help stop you from feeling lost and wasting far too much time staring at the blank page, wondering what your characters should get up to next. If you're using Scrivener, you can fill out the scene cards to give yourself a bit of clarity, too.
Writing Sprints and Word Wars
I don't think any post like this would be complete without writing sprints and word wars! These handy writing activities have helped me more than anything else when it comes to sheer speed, and I encourage everyone to try them at least once.
Put simply, writing sprints (and word wars) are writing for a set period of time. I like ten minutes, but there's tons of folks who like to go for half an hour or even longer. You can do these alone or with friends, but having a time limit can add pressure to your writing session and force you into making quicker, more deliberate decisions that boost your word count quickly.
Interested in doing sprints with others? OhWrite is a free website that lets you sprint with strangers, and there are plenty of Discord bots to help you along. If you need extra challenge and pressure, attempt something more challenging - instead of simply writing for ten minutes, try writing 500 words in 5 minutes, or 1000 words in 10. Great for those of us with a competitive streak.
Turn Off Editing Mode
One of the main reasons people struggle with hitting their word count goals is because they're editing as they go along. Almost nobody has an error-free first draft, and plenty of drafts go through extensive edits and revisions after the first draft is complete.
If speed is your goal, try to train yourself to just write. A first draft doesn't have to be perfect (and almost never will be!), so get into the habit of just letting the words flow. Utilising writing sprints can be a great way to write more words in less time, and help train this skill.
If you're still struggling with going back to check if you used the strongest word, correct typos, or just re-reading sections over and over to make them as strong as possible, then there's plenty of tricks. You can set your text colour to the same colour as the background (white text on white background, for example), or change your font size to something ridiculously huge so you can only see your last typed letter/word.
Still struggling? Go more extreme and try Write or Else. Stop editing, or lose what you've written... spooky!
Track What Works
Lastly, something that seems so simple but is really easy to overlook... track what works. Everyone is different, and every writer will have something that makes them tick. Some writers can only write first thing in the morning. Some can only scribble down their thoughts at two in the morning. There's a lot of writers who can only write after copious amounts of coffee, and others that can only turn out a chapter on a Saturday afternoon after a swimming session.
When you're trying out the tricks above, track what works for you. When it comes to writing consistently, or even writing faster, it's important to learn what makes you tick. For me, I can only write in Scrivener, and I can only write when nobody is around and I have complete silence. Without Scrivener (and silence), I'm totally stuck! Test out different environments, sound levels, and even software (yes, software matters!), and try to incorporate those things into your writing routines and rituals where possible.
With tons of us attempting 50k words next month, maybe some of these tricks can help you silence your inner editor and boost your word count. Have any tricks of your own? Share them in the comments!
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