Write Fast, Write Free
The Pros and Cons of Writing Sprints for Authors
If you’ve ever stared at a blinking cursor and wished your brain would just go, you’re not alone. Writers across the globe have wrestled with the slow drag of perfectionism, distractions, and self-doubt. Some of us have utlized writing sprint: a time-based challenge where the only goal is to write—fast and without stopping.
I’m a fan of sprints in general—not just for writing. This approach is often referred to as the Pomodoro Technique, though creatives tend to rebrand and theme it to fit their own process. Whenever I have a sprint-focused day, I usually get more done than on any other day. That said, I don’t do it every day, and I don’t recommend it as a daily practice. It’s powerful, but it works best in moderation.
Popularized in NaNoWriMo communities and productivity groups, writing sprints are like interval training for your creativity. Like any writing tool, they come with their strengths and shortcomings. I launched my author platform through writing sprints, connecting with fellow writers, and found them incredibly helpful for building momentum. That said, what works for me doesn’t work for everyone—and I’ve heard plenty of opinions on the topic. For some writers, it’s a full-blown soapbox debate.
What Is a Writing Sprint?
A writing sprint is a short, focused burst of writing—usually lasting between 5 and 30 minutes, though some writers go as long as an hour—where the goal is output, not polish. You write as much as you can without pausing to edit or overthink. Sprints can be done solo or with others, and often include a short break before the next round. I like to use those breaks to walk around and stay physically active—it helps keep my mind clear and avoids that mental fog. I used to do sprints in coffee shops, but I’d end up chugging coffee during breaks and made myself sick more than once. I’ve also tried online sprints, but struggled with them since some people treat them as a social hour while I’m there to work.
The Pros of Writing Sprints
Kickstart Momentum
If you're feeling stuck, writing sprints can act like jumper cables. The tight time constraint forces you to stop overanalyzing and just write. Even 10 minutes can generate a surprising word count—and more importantly, crack open the door to creativity.
Tip: Set a timer for 15 minutes. No distractions. Just write the next scene. You'll be amazed at what breaks loose.
Train Your Brain for Focus
Doing regular sprints can build a habit of entering “flow state” faster. You teach your brain that when the timer starts, it’s go time. This is especially useful for writers who have day jobs, kids, or fragmented time.
Great for First Drafts
Sprints are perfect for powering through a messy first draft. If your goal is to get the story down before you edit it into shape, sprints help you stop obsessing over the perfect word and focus on telling the story.
Built-In Accountability
When done with others—online writing sprints, Discord groups, Twitter threads—they create instant community. You’re not just writing alone; you’re part of something active, fast, and encouraging.
The Cons of Writing Sprints
Quantity Can Overshadow Quality
Let’s be honest: not everything written in a sprint is usable. While sprints can produce surprising gems, they can also leave you with a heap of chaotic prose to sift through. This can be discouraging if you’re not prepared for the editing required later.
Reality check: You’re not failing if your sprint draft is messy. That’s normal. Editing is where it gets good.
Can Increase Burnout
Sprinting too often without proper breaks or a recovery rhythm can lead to creative fatigue. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint, and treating every session like a race can end up draining your energy instead of fueling it. In my experience, this hits discovery writers the hardest—those working without an outline often burn out faster because they’re figuring out the story as they go. Writers with an outline, on the other hand, tend to move through sprints more efficiently, at least from what I’ve observed.
Not Ideal for Deep Planning
If you're in the outlining or worldbuilding phase, sprints can feel rushed. Some creative phases require slower, deliberate thought, and trying to speed through them can result in frustration or plot holes.
Flow Breaking
While working on this blog post, I was actually using a timer to keep myself on track. About five minutes ago, my break timer went off—and it completely frustrated me. I was deep in the zone, writing smoothly, and suddenly I had to choose: stop and take the break I scheduled, or push through and keep the momentum going. For writers, hitting that flow state is rare and valuable. Interrupting it with a timer can derail your train of thought and break the rhythm of a strong scene.
When to Use Sprints (And When Not To)
Use Sprints When:
You need to break a writing slump
You’re drafting a first version of a story
You want to build consistency in your writing routine
You’re on a tight deadline and need word count fast
Avoid Sprints When:
You’re refining prose or doing heavy revisions
You’re brainstorming and need time to let ideas stew
You’re already creatively burned out and need rest
There is a big scene you want to stay in the zone for
How to Make Writing Sprints Work for You
Pick Your Time – Start with 10-15 minutes. Increase as needed.
Choose Your Focus – Know what scene or section you’re tackling.
Eliminate Distractions – No tabs, no phone, no excuses.
Use a Timer – Pomodoro apps, kitchen timers, or tools like Forest or Flow.
Review After – Don’t edit during the sprint, but jot down what worked or didn’t afterward.
It Doesn’t Work for Everyone
While writing sprints can be a fantastic tool, they aren’t realistic for every writer—especially those balancing writing with parenting or caregiving. Writers with young children often experience the most difficulty with this approach. Kids are wonderfully intuitive and tend to ask for attention at the exact moment a parent gets into the creative zone. When your child needs you, they come first, and a sprint timer doesn’t stand a chance against that kind of priority.
Beyond parenting, sprints also require a particular type of mental discipline. You need to be able to shut out distractions and maintain a focused mindset for the duration of the sprint. Writers who struggle with attention, executive function, or high levels of daily stress have expressed frustration with this method, finding it more discouraging than helpful.
Other factors can affect how well sprints work for someone:
Living environment: If you’re in a shared or noisy space, uninterrupted focus can be hard to come by.
Mental health: High-pressure productivity techniques may not pair well with anxiety, burnout, or perfectionism.
Creative style: Some writers thrive on slow, meditative work or need to mentally “live” in a scene before putting words down. Sprints can feel too fast or superficial for this type of process.
It’s important to recognize that sprints are a tool—not a requirement. If they don’t fit your season of life or your creative wiring, that’s not a failure. It just means your writing rhythm looks different, and that’s okay.
Sprinting Toward Progress
Writing sprints aren’t for every moment in the writing process—but they’re a fantastic tool when used with intention. They remind us that stories aren’t built on perfect sentences. They’re built on showing up, setting the timer, and trusting that our creative minds can do more than we think—especially when we get out of our own way.
Whether you’re a plotter, pantser, or something in between, give sprints a shot. Who knows what you’ll get done in 15 minutes.