Sometimes you wanna make those word counts fast, and that’s when you need writing techniques to boost your productivity. There are several tips and tricks you can try to get writing faster. I’ve experimented with numerous writing hacks to output more words, and here’s some of what I’ve found.

Writing Techniques to Boost Your Productivity

There are no magic tricks or shortcuts. You still have to think and plan hard. But, there are still little things you can do to make your brain work better.

Things like taking a break or changing your font, surprisingly, can you write a little faster. And then tried-and-true tactics like sprints and brain dumping can get you pages quick. What are the best writing techniques to boost your productivity?

Practice the Pomodoro Method

The Pomodoro method is a classic productivity hack. Someone found out people work better if they stay on task for 25 minutes and then take 5-minute breaks. He timed it using a tomato (or in Italian, pomodoro) timer.

Our brains need breaks. They cannot focus on one task for too long and stay productive. That’s why Pomodoro calls for short sessions of work followed by briefer breaks.

The Pomodoro method can work for anything, but it’s really great for writing. Sit down at your computer, blast out words for 25 minutes, and then take a short break.

There are plenty of fun and free apps to time your sessions. There’s the free “Tomato Timer” I’ve been using. But now I’m testing out “PomoGo,” which pops up a quick exercise routine on your break. So you can get brain + body benefits! But if you want to time your sessions using a plain ol’ stopwatch, that works, too.

What if the Pomodoro Method is too restrictive for you? After all, working under such specific constraints, making yourself take a break when you’re in the zone—it’s a little rigid.

The good thing is, this writing technique is customizable! You don’t have to only work in 25-minute sessions or only take 5-minute breaks. You can adapt it to your work style.

Work 15 minutes, break for 1. Work for an hour, break for a quarter. Find the rhythm that suits you.

Write in Comic Sans

Either this writing hack sounds totally insane, or you’ve heard it before. Many people claim simply switching the font on their word processor to comic sans lets them write like crazy.

The thing is, your brain has adapted to Arial and Times New Roman. You’ve stared at screens with them for hours. Comic sans (or a variety of other fonts) forces your brain to take a fresher look at what you’re writing—or so I’ve heard proponents say.

Color me skeptical. But, I’m a sucker for pretty fonts. I liked the idea of switching fonts as I wrote, so I gave it a try.

I can’t say I noticed a huge boost in my words per minute. But, it did help me find a lot more typos. Seeing the letters in a new light and forcing my brain to read more closely definitely helped me catch more errors.

I’ve started switching up my fonts regularly in the hopes it helps. Plus, maybe Comic Sans will unleash the writing beast in you. It’s worth a shot!

Photo by Lum3n from Pexels

Tackle a Writing Sprint

Writing sprints are a super popular way to pound out words. They are like a foot race for your WIP! Just write as fast as possible for the length you set.

It’s pretty easy to try writing sprints. Just find some free time and set a word count you’d like to reach or a time you’d like to go for. Then write without stopping until you hit the goal!

Don’t research, don’t google, don’t plot. Just put words on paper.

One of the best parts of this technique is that you can team up with other writers! Plenty of writers’ groups like to host writing sprints. Everybody meets at a library or cafe and writes for an hour or so. You can write + mingle with other writers!

Or, if you prefer, there are plenty of online group writing sprints. These virtual writing sprints still keep you accountable by pairing you with other writers, but you don’t need to have a face-to-face.

You can combine writing with the Pomodoro Method, by the way. Just have a writing sprint for 25 minutes, break, and repeat! These two pair to make the perfect productivity-boosting writing routine.

Give Brain-Dumping a Go

What is brain-dumping? Basically, it’s more extended brainstorming. Like brainstorming, you write down any idea that comes to mind. When brain-dumping, you get everything out—all the ideas, all the details, any thoughts at all.

Think of it this way. I have a story idea, but I’m not really sure what I want to write. I decide to brain-dump it.

I write down the idea I have. Then I create a quick character profile of the protagonist, including all the details I can think of and none I can’t. I think up some cool imagery I want to use somewhere in the story and sketch it. Then, I think of another character or two and write everything I know about them.

Now, I have some ideas for scenes. I write out some fast and loose scene descriptions, somewhere between an outline and a rough draft. Then that gives me an idea of what my plot would look like. I draw a rough plot map. You know what that does? It gives me more thoughts on what my hero should be like.

Eventually, I’ve got all my ideas and drafts out of my brain and onto paper (or I’m truly out of thoughts and I need a break). From there, I can actually write and edit the story into a real draft.

Brain-dumping is the best kind of word vomit. It’s throwing your ideas on paper with no judgements or restrictions. That’s why I find it’s the best way to start writing my stories.

So those are my fave writing techniques to boost your productivity. Do you know any great productivity-boosting writing techniques? Have you tried any of these before, and if so, did they work for you? Tell me in a comment!

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Mint Miller

Mint is a writer and digital marketing pro who lives in coastal Virginia with her family and one lovable pitbull. Her passions include helping people and businesses display their best side through the power of communication, buying her dog costumes he doesn’t want to wear, and talking all day about Batman.