Writing Sprints

Within the buddy writing sessions and write-ins on discord, we run writing sprints. This is a way to help people get their drafts down fast without having the pressure of the perfecting their prose. Or they can be used as focussed editing time. Or in my case, blog writing, while I am in the process of building a backlog of content during the Indie Author Book Fair Minisode Series.

There is only one certain thing about being a writer, it is that you need to take the time to hone your craft and get the words down in any way that you can. I have found that going through sprints helps me stop being so critical about the prose and get the first part on the page. You can refine it as much as you like throughout the editing process.

Everyone has a unique process that works for them, and at the moment this seems to be working for me.

It took me a while to get used to using Discord as a platform. It is very basic and that is what I like most about it. There are different categories set up and one of them is write-ins. Under the write-ins, there is a section for general, and that is for conversation and general commentary relating to writing and sprints. Then there is the Sprints tab that we use this timer bot to count down. I like to set me times in an interesting way, my favourite at the moment is 23 minutes and 45 seconds. But the option of the time is up to you.

Then there is the lounge. This is something that makes me stick to the seat. There is an option to have your camera on or off, there is an option for you to have sound and mic on or off, it is up to you. Common courtesy for the write-ins is to have the microphone off during a sprint, but outside of that, people can talk if they want to. As mentioned above, it is very basic, in the best way.

There are a bunch of other categories in the channel, including, newsletters, competitions and events, author community, writing craft, Low Content books, Non-FIction Novellas, Fiction Novellas, Podcast News. Each of these have sub sections, but for the purposes of this blog, the main one to not is the write-ins.

If you are interested in joining in, follow the link in the discord pic and check it out.

Official Write-in times (AWST)

Monday: 3-5pm

Tuesday: 10am to Noon

Wednesday: 3-5pm

Thursday: 10am-Noon

There is often someone sitting in the server, so people are welcome to come in and use the space outside of those official times as often as they like.

Maybe I will see you in there some time.