> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.fortelling.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.fortelling.app/writing/writing-sprint.md). # Writing Sprint ## What is a Writing Sprint? A writing sprint is a strategy many authors use to stay productive: a short, timed writing session with a set word-count goal, where you write as much as you can before the clock runs out. Inside Fortelling, you can add a visual pace tracker showing whether you're on target or falling behind.
Does Fortelling have a writing sprint? Yes! Fortelling lets you set up a writing sprint in just a few taps. As you write, a visual pace tracker shows whether you're on target or falling behind, and your sprint automatically updates your overall statistics. Best of all, this tool is free for all users.
Why is a writing sprint useful? Sprints work because they take the pressure off. Instead of staring at a blank page trying to write something perfect, you're just trying to beat the clock. That shift alone gets a lot of writers past the procrastination stage. The pace tracker also turns something as abstract as 'making progress' into something you can actually see in real time, which makes it easier to notice when you're stalling and adjust before the sprint's over. And because Fortelling logs each sprint into your overall stats, you build up a record of your habits over time, useful for spotting your most productive hours, or just for reminding yourself how far you've come on days when the writing feels slow.\ \ Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope is often credited as the practice's original user: he'd sit down each morning with a pocket watch and hold himself to 250 words every 15 minutes, which added up to about 2,500 words across a single two-and-a-half-hour session.
## Set up a writing sprint in Fortelling? There are two ways to start the writing sprint inside Fortelling. 1. Via the streak page 2. Via the chapter page in the info section. (Right-side tab on the web, tap on the icon "#" on mobile)
### How to use Writing Sprints to hit your word count goal {% stepper %} {% step %} #### Ready? Time to focus. Visualize what you want to accomplish today. It's important to prepare your surroundings; have a cup of coffee or tea already next to you. Play music that fits the scene. Ready? Tap on "start writing sprint" {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Set. Decide how long you want to write for and how many words you want by the end of the sprint. Only have 20 minutes to spare? Or do you want to sit down and focus for a whole hour? You don't have to write your whole novel in one sitting. Break it into smaller parts and steps instead. Consistency, combined with breaking your goal down into smaller goals, adds up over time. The goal doesn't have to be to write fast; everyone has their own pace. Keep that in mind. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Go! The countdown begins the second you tap it. Watch the progress bar fill as you type. It updates automatically with every word you add. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Share your accomplishment! When time's up, you'll get an overview of the full session: how many words you wrote, how that compared to your goal, and how the pace held up. Other people share their stats when they go for a run; you share yours after writing. You should be proud of your progress; you can now share with your audience or friends how much you have advanced on your story. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Review Look back at your work and see what you can improve. Then think about any challenges you ran into while writing, and how they made you feel. Jot those thoughts down in your logbook. {% content-ref url="/pages/Jb57V9cM1WdoWGHgE7TP" %} [Goals & Logbook](/writing/writing-goals.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} Ready to start writing? Click the smart link below. Start Writing