Word Sprints? What Do They Do For You?

Word sprints? You may ask yourself what there are and why we do them. Well, They are timed times where you try and get as many words as you can. Allotted times vary depending on who is running them. Check out our ‘Sprint Schedule’ tab for groups that do them. They are on Twitter, so if you don’t have an account, get one!

Why we run word sprints is more difficult to answer. There are many reasons. 

1. Motivation. This is a biggie. Many of us need a push to get our fingers moving. 
2. They remind us to write. Many groups do sprints at specific times. It keeps us from straying to Facebook or e-mails. 
3. You get to meet peoples that write too.
4. You have the ability to ask for help form others that know what you might need rather than staring at the post wondering what the heck you are talking about. 
5. It helps with 'Time Management'
6. Most of all it’s FUN!

Themes? What are they?

Themes are basically just that, themes. Some sprints will have them. Once in awhile I will. I usually do rodeo or fill the bucket with wordies. Others will do ones significant to them.

Why themes?

It’s simple it gets you more motivated if you have a reason to write. If you’re asked to fill a bucket of words, you are more likely to push yourself a bit harder.

Prompts?

Prompts are suggestions for added text to your WIP(work in progress). Like add someone eating, storms, etc. You are not required to use them. They are there to help only. Like I said suggestions.

Who Sprints?

Writers! Many unpublished and published authors do sprints. Some do them with groups or among their friends. You can find them with hashtags. Click our ‘Hashtags’ tab for all of them.

How long are the word sprints?

The length of word sprints depends on who is running them. Hashtags and the GO! post will tell you. Most are 30 minutes though. I run some 1k1hr (1000 words in an hour). Then of course there is our 10k Writathon. For more about that click our ‘10k Writathon’ tab.

In short, if you need motivation or just want to have fun; join in with any of the sprinting groups. Join us @GetWordies on Twitter. Follow here for helpful information and fun things!

Writing for Camp

It's time to get writing and catch up on your goal for CampNaNoWriMo!

I found this wonderful site that has been helping me out when I'm stuck on grammar issues. Grammar Help! It has everything from help with 'A' and 'An' to 'Writer's Block' Holy cow is it great. A perfect site to have up when you are editing, which you shouldn't be doing during Camp.

First week of Camp is almost over. Have you been keeping up with your daily goal? That's okay, you can catch up on July 26th with out 10kWritathon. A full day of writing to push you over your goal. I know what you are thinking, 'How can I make 10k?' Well it's simple, most get 400-500 wordies in a 30 minute sprint. That's 1000 wordies in an hour. 10 hours of writing and there you have it. Of course I won't forget to take two 1 hour breaks so you can eat. A starving writer is no good. Remember, you do not need to set you 10kWritathon goal at 10k. 1000 wordies is a fine goal as well. Though I'm hoping you get tons more than that.

Fruity Fruit Salad and cut fruit.

There are recipes for slow cookers under Writer's Food. If you have kids or even a husband that will need fed while you're writing all day, these are helpful. I use them several times a week with my kids. Plus you should have snackies ready to grab during break times. Look what I will have ready...

NOW get yourself back to writing and stop hopping around on the web. LOL! Just pace yourself.

Need encouragement during the week check out Sprint Schedule tab to see who is running word sprints on Twitter.

Camp is About Here!

As July 1st approaches many of us writers are getting ready for CampNaNoWriMo. 

Finishing up...
research and organizing the last of the many notes we have laying around, not to mention all those thoughts that just jump into our heads when we least expect it. I just a few days we will begin the hard part, putting it all together and making sense of it.

I know I have touched on many of the things I will this post but it is always good to know everything you can, especial before a month of stress and intense writing.

This week you should...
not only be preparing for a month of wonderful writing but also meals, handy snacks and quick drinks. Click Writer's Food tab at the top for tons of great ideas.

If you are looking for a new program to write with...
 check out Scrivener's free 30 day uses (not 30 days but 30 days you open the program). Grab it at Literature & Latte. Need help with keeping the time line in order check out Aeon Timeline at Scribble Code. This free trial is 20 days of use (as with Scrivener it's the days you use it.).

Keeping your blog readers up to date...
on your word counts are made easy by Sarra Cannon with her counters. Sarra's Word Meter is great to update multiple blogs with a click or two. She also has many other Indie Writer's Resources. Language is a Virus has a great NaNo word counter widget.  Writing for Your Supper has many word counter links for you as well.

As for the writing process there are many resources on Twitter. 

Get Wordies for example. We run 30 minute wordsprints Mon-Thurs and and during July we will be having more than our normal schedule and tossing in some 1k1hr to help you along. July 26th is out 10kWritathon (10,000 wordies in 1 day(12 hours- 10 hours of writing). Check out our Sprint Schedules for our times among many others that have sprints. Don't forget #writeclub with @FriNightWrites and @Sprint Shack on Twitter.