The 10-Day Blitz: Try this tactic to energize your writing

If you read my previous blog post, you know that my blogging buddy Carol and I are on a mission we’re calling the 10-Day Blitz. We kicked off the Blitz to push forward with our writing and project goals.

We’re huge fans of timed writes. It’s a way we focus and push ourselves to throw words down on the page. (It also works for other projects we want to complete.) Sometimes, we’re able to sit in the same room and write together, and other times we communicate via instant messages or e-mail. One of us sets the timer and notifies the other when to “go in” and when the time is up. This structure helps us focus and complete our writing and other projects.

Sharon Melnick, author of Success Under Stress: Powerful Tools for Staying Calm, Confident, and Productive When the Pressure’s On, advocates this type of concentrated work as a way of creating structure in the workday. She suggests engaging in periods of work with intense focus and concentration like a sprint, followed by a brief period of recovery and rejuvenation. During recovery, do something peaceful — like meditation — or invigorating, such as taking a walk. This clears away the stress hormones and refuels energy, allowing you to be more productive and focused.

For more insight about this way of working, read my post, Rearrange your life and write your book faster.