Sprint - Tumblr Posts
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sprint (Jamaica)
Mehdy Metella, Swimming (France)
Pita Nikolas Taufatofua, Taekwondo (Tonga)
Storytime
So my parents go to the park a few minutes away to go for a walk ya know cardio and that good shit. And I accompanied them [not willingly, I had no choice]. I was listening to music and calmly walking and then all of a sudden Spotify decided that I am a sloth and played freaking VICTORY SONG [by stray kids for any creature who's wondering] and I began full on sprinting and I lost my parents and somehow found where the car was parked and spend the entire time waiting for my parents, complaining about how life sucks to a human I just met.
Writing Exercise: The Sprint
One of the hard parts of writing as a hobby is that thereās often very limited outside push to get things done and internal push can dwindle from time to time. While replying purely on outside pressure isnāt a good idea for productivity or enjoyment, itās possible to create a form of it with a writing exercise called the Sprint.Ā
Step 1: Set a timer.
Step 2: Write as much as you can.
Okay there are some more details in there, but itās an idea that isnāt hard to simplify.Ā Sprints can be used to further a specific story from a point, to start a new story, to actualize a scene onto paperā almost anything that requires getting words on paper can benefit from a sprint.
Notice the āalmostā. The point of a sprint is not to end up with perfection; itās to get you in the flow of writing and/or to force words onto the paper. Do not expect high quality of writing or perhaps even for all of the work to be usable. Not everything you write has to be put into a story and any writer who expects to keep everything needs a reality check. Part of growing as a storyteller and writer is learning to cut bad pieces, unnecessary scenes, subplots that donāt quite fitā a true edit tears a story apart for the better.Ā
Getting good at sprints requires learning to turn off that inner editor and self-questioning, allowing you to get something on paper to edit later.Ā
How to Sprint:
Method 1: Find a site
There are a few ways to do this, the first being sites like Word Sprints, the slightly more novelty Written Kitten, or ones that have actual reinforcement of goals like Write or Die. I recommend testing out a few before you stick with any method, as some people may find, or know, that they work better with certain parameters over others.Ā
Method 2: Find some friends
Most online options have the comparisons with other writers, but comparing with strangers doesnāt always give the right push that some people need. You can also find and join, or create your own, group in person or on social media where you all sprint together and compare at the end.
Step 1: Gather your group in person or online.
Step 2: Set the timer.
Step 3: Write as much as you can as fast as you can until the timer is up.
Step 4 (Optional): Compare word counts and tips that helped each of you.
If you set up your own group, remember to designate a timekeeper or use an application where youāre all on the exact same countdown. It also helps to make sure that everyone is clear on the rules for the Sprint before you start.Ā
Method 3: Itās all on you!
Set the timer and go.
Itās best to develop a routine for Sprints to help with getting used to the no-edit rule, particularly when you use it to write a longer story. What start as 15-minute Sprints can turn into and hour or two with practice, but I wouldnāt recommend going beyond two without a break to avoid burnout. Writing for over two hours is different than Sprinting for over two hours.
Tips for success:
Focus on a single project to avoid getting story ideas mixed up with the fast writing pace.
Be reasonable about your goals: time and word count.
Have a plan! Writerās block can come from not knowing what happens next and Sprints arenāt the time to ponder about it.
Remember than this is a first draft. Itās mean to be torn apart and your final may get rid of over 50% of it.
Keep track of your stats per sprint so you can watch your skills grow and identify areas where you can improve!Ā
The challenge of finishing a first draft is learning to throw out the idea that itās going to be good. Even if you plan to have beta readers, they shouldnāt be seeing anything until the second draft where you can clean up the first one and have a coherent story. Writing Sprints are for maximizing word count and moving forward, not for editing or thinking about what happens next.
Itās easier to edit a bad story than to perfect a nonexistent one.Ā
Try a few Sprints out! Who knows, if done properly they may turn into the easiest way for you to get things done.Ā
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Felicity, Bree, Danessa, Sage, Patter, and their Besties - Enchantimals Icons
-Left images are from āMeet the Enchantimalsā web episodes
-Right images are from āFinding Homeā
-Enchantimals (c) Mattel Animation and Kickstart Entertainment
Sprint, the Bestie of Danessa Deer
-Enchantimals (c) Mattel and Kickstart Entertainment
Danessa Deer & Sprint
-Enchantimals (c) Mattel and Kickstart Entertainment
Flick, Twist, Sprint, Caper, and Flap - Besties of the Enchantimals Main Five
-Enchantimals (c) Mattel and Kickstart Entertainment
Group shots of Enchantimals Main Five with their Besties š§”š©·šš©¶š©µš¦š°š¦š¦Øš¦
-Enchantimals (c) Mattel and Kickstart Entertainment
