Writing Sprint or Word Count?
The age-old question.
I have my coffee, my article outline, and an hour to write.
Should I set my timer for 25 minutes, say “Go,” and write as fast as I can?
Or, should I say I’m finished when I reach 500 words?
When I’ve read articles on this topic in the past, they seem to view these as either/or options.
I’ve used both techniques, as have my academic editing clients. The trick is to know when to use which technique.
Here’s a quiz:
Do you fly through the first draft stage but hit a wall when it’s time to edit?
If you answered yes, try writing sprints.
Do you prioritize picking lint off of your cat’s fur over writing but love playing with words when it’s time to edit?
If you answered yes, try a word count.
Writing Sprints
The Pomodoro Method, which involves writing for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break, can be most useful when you’re writing…
