How writing sprints work

What they are, who's behind them, what to expect, how to take part and a few principles to help you get the most from your sprint week.

A 7-Day Writing Sprint is a structured course that helps you set a weekly writing goal and meet it in daily steps. If you want to, you tell us and your fellow sprinters what you’re going to write each day and check in with us once you’ve done it.

We give you a few things to think about over the course of the week so you learn about your process too. We’re on hand to answer any questions and to give coaching advice along the way.

They’re fast, fun and motivational to help you supercharge any project you might be writing - whatever stage you’re at.

Make a note of the next start date which is Monday May 6th 2024. Please note that you’ll need to be a paid-for subscriber to this newsletter to take part.

Who’s behind them?

The 7-Day Writing Sprint format has been created by us, Bec Evans and Chris Smith who are authors of Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit that Lasts and co-founders of The Written Academy where we help people improve their writing practice and overcome their blocks. We also write Breakthroughs & Blocks, the newsletter you’re reading right now. Here’s a bit more about us.

We’ve been running sprints in various incarnations for around 10 years and the original idea is based in Agile project management methodology - an approach that breaks down projects into short, repeatable phases. The process works for the development of software projects so we wondered whether it would work for writing projects too - it does!

How to take part

The sprint takes place on Substack and you’ll need a Substack account to take part.

You’ll also need to be a paid subscriber to this newsletter - this gives you access to our Writing sprint Club. You can join annually or month by month - it’s up to you. Here’s how you can support us by subscribing.

Instructions on how to join are in this post: Can you help us? Volunteer to test our 7-Day Writing Sprint on Substack

What to expect

Sprints are simple, fast moving and fun!

✏️​ Before you start: you’ll receive a pre-race training plan to complete. This will set you up for the week and help you prepare for any obstacles. 

✏️​ During your race: we'll send you daily posts helping you to reflect on each writing session and plan the next day’s step. 

✏️​ After the race: you’ll receive a cool down exercise. This will help you consolidate what you've learned and keep going. 

5 principles of engagement

We want this to be a positive and friendly community of people who are all committed to supporting each other. To that end:

1. Always treat fellow sprint club members with respect, courtesy and consideration.

2. Embrace varied perspectives and backgrounds without judgement or prejudice.

3. Keep comments suitable for all ages.

4. Never share private or sensitive material - please consider this a public forum.

5. This is not the place to ask for feedback on your work. Please avoid self-promotion or irrelevant posts.

In short, let’s be nice to each other folks. Thank you. ❤️​

What you need

📚​ One project or more to work on

✒️ Something to write with/on (high-tech or old-school)

📒 A place to capture your thoughts and reflections

🧠​ Your willingness to write with an open mind

How to get the most from your sprint

#1. Train daily: Try to move your project forwards every day – even in a small way. Connecting with your writing each day keeps your writing muscles warm and this helps you to maintain momentum.

#2. Stretch yourself (a little): The key to a good 7-day goal is to make it a teeny bit challenging. Be realistic – but don’t be too easy on yourself otherwise you’ll get bored.

#3. Go step-by-step: Always focus on the next day’s task – and only on that. The sprint helps you focus on what’s immediately in front of you so you don’t get overwhelmed or distracted.

#4. Reflect and recalibrate: After each writing session, consider how your session went and what you’d change for next time. Use your reflections to adapt your approach throughout the sprint.

We look forward to seeing you on the starting line soon – please shout if you have any questions.

Chris and Bec, your sprint coaches