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Writing Productivity Hacks

Bryan Young
June 13, 2024 | 4 min read
It is a truth universally acknowledged that finding focus in the digital age is impossible.
Everything we do is optimized for productivity, so it's no wonder that we get lost scrolling for hours on end. Consuming is so much easier than creating.
Whether you're a seasoned author, a struggling student, or a pro journalist, focus and productivity are important — and difficult to find. To help, we gathered the top writing hacks that are relatively easy to implement and will help you streamline your process.
By integrating these hacks into your creative process, you can cultivate a more productive and prolific writing life.
In this article:

1. Learn from the Pros

As in anything, first and foremost, we like to look to the professionals for advice. Seeing how Ernest Hemingway liked to write or reviewing Stephen King's routine are not only fun and interesting, they're downright educational.

And the best part is that every writing process is as unique as every writer. So go research your favorite author's writing process. Just make sure to take the tips and tricks that serve you — and leave the rest.

Writing Tips from Prolific Writers

2. Set Writing Goals

We are firm believers in this one, and so are psychologists. Research shows that setting achievable goals (key word: achievable) is a concrete way to push yourself toward higher achievement, whatever that may look like for you.

It turns out that people who set goals are more self-confident, have higher levels of motivation, and are more independent.

Concrete goals give you something tangible to work toward, and that is often the difference between completing a manuscript and giving up entirely.

Learn how to set effective writing goals, backed by psychology, that will actually help you smash your word count targets right here.

 

3. Build a Routine

Some of the greatest writers of all time swear by their writing routine, and it's for good reason. Once you've set your goals, there's no better way to reach those goals than to make writing part of your everyday routine.

4. Utilize Writing Sprints

So much of writing is managing your time. But how do you make the most of your time when the words just won't flow? Try writing sprints.

It turns out a little competition — with others or yourself — can really push the process forward, even when it feels like slogging through mud.

5. Make It a Habit

Humans are creatures of habit. Which is great, because habits free up mental energy by automating our actions and allowing us to focus on more complex tasks — like writing.

For example, when sitting down in your favorite armchair at 5 p.m. to write becomes a habit, you don't have to expend the mental energy deciding whether to do that. And that makes getting started a lot easier.

There are many ways we can leverage our tendency toward the habitual to aid us in the writing process. Good writing habits, when used correctly, can help us get into a regular rhythm that keeps us focused during our writing time.

Find out what habits experts recommend writers cultivate here.

 

6. Gamify Your Process

There's a lot of powerful neurochemistry that's unleashed by turning difficult tasks into a game. It's called "gamification," and there's a reason the most successful apps of today use it. (How many times has that sad little Duolingo owl shamed you into continuing your daily learning streak?)

The same methods work for writing, too. It's just a matter of implementing them into your own writing process!
We did the heavy work for you by creating Postbox Profiles, which track your key writing stats, and we put together this guide to help you gamify your own writing process.
Read the Gamification of Important Tasks
 

7. Create Your Workspace

We all have a place where we love to write. If we're lucky, we get to arrange it just the way we like it. The key is to create a space that helps you focus and inspires you.

Because that's the ideal writing space: whether it's a fixed point in your house, or a setup that travels with you, the point of this space is not to be pretty or professional, or to impress others or look good on social media.

The point is to create an ambience that gets you in the mood to write.

 

8. Join a Community

The act of writing is a solitary activity. But it's more fun when you can share that activity with others. As Writer & Agent Eric Smith says:

"Not only does [collaborating] make the writing process feel less alone, particularly in times that feel, and are, so wildly difficult to navigate. It can also make you a better writer. Because without a doubt, your collaborator will start to rub off on you in ways you don’t expect."

We couldn't agree more.

But how do you find one? A good place to start is by signing up for writing workshops and retreats. Find writing instructor Bryan Young's take on workshops and retreats here.

September 10, 2025 3 min read

The Freewrite 500 Writing Contest — Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: 10-09-2025

By submitting an entry to The Freewrite 500 Writing Contest (the “Contest”), you agree to abide by the following Terms and Conditions.

1. Organizer

The Contest is organized by Freewrite, a brand owned and operated by Astrohaus, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Freewrite”, “we”, “our”, or “us”).

2. Eligibility

  • The Contest is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

  • Employees of Freewrite, the Flash Fiction Institute, and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

  • Void where prohibited by law.

3. How to Enter

  • Entries must be submitted through the official entry form before Monday, September 22.

  • Entries must be original works of flash fiction no longer than 500 words.

  • All submissions must be the original work of the entrant.

  • Only one entry per person is allowed.

  • Entries must be written in English.

  • The deadline for submission is 11:59 p.m. EST on September 22, 2025. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted.

4. Entry Requirements

  • Submissions must be the entrant’s own original work and must not have been previously published, including on personal blogs or social media.

  • Entries must not contain any material that is obscene, offensive, defamatory, or otherwise inappropriate.

  • By entering, you confirm that your submission does not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, or privacy rights.

5. Judging and Winner Selection

  • All eligible entries will be judged by a panel of reviewers affiliated with Freewrite and the Flash Fiction Institute.

  • Judging criteria include length, creativity, and adherence to theme, and overall quality of writing.

  • The winner will be notified via email.

6. Use of Generative AI Prohibited

  • The use of generative AI in the creation of a submission for this competition is prohibited.

  • The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that is suspected to have been generated, in whole or in part, using generative AI tools (including but not limited to text-generating algorithms, large language models, or similar technologies).

7. Prize

  • The winning entry will be published on both the Freewrite Blog and the Flash Fiction Institute Blog.

  • The winner will receive recognition across Freewrite and Flash Fiction Institute's social media platforms.

  • No cash prizes will be offered. Prizes include a Freewrite Traveler, a Words Are Hard writing prompt deck, publication on the Freewrite blog and the Flash Fiction Institute blog, and a free flash gym session hosted by the Flash Fiction Institute.

8. Rights and Usage

  • By entering the contest, entrants grant Freewrite and the Flash Fiction Institute first publication rights. This means Freewrite and the Flash Fiction Institute have a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to publish, reproduce, and distribute the submitted entry in connection with the promotion of the Contest, including on their websites, blogs, email newsletters, social media channels, and more.

  • After initial publication, all rights revert back to the author, who is then free to republish or distribute their work elsewhere. However, we request that any subsequent publication acknowledges Freewrite and the Flash Fiction Institute as the original place of publication.

  • The winning author will be credited by name or preferred pen name when their work is published.

9. Privacy

  • Personal information collected during the entry process will be used only for the administration of the Contest and in accordance with Freewrite’s Privacy Policy.

  • Entrants may be contacted by Freewrite regarding their submission or related opportunities.

10. Disqualification

Freewrite reserves the right to disqualify any entry that:

  • Violates these Terms and Conditions,

  • Is found to contain plagiarized material,

  • Is deemed offensive or inappropriate,

  • Is submitted by someone ineligible.

11. Limitation of Liability

Freewrite is not responsible for:

  • Lost, late, incomplete, or misdirected entries;

  • Technical failures of any kind;

  • Any injury or damage to persons or property related to participation in the Contest.

12. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [Insert State], without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

13. Contact

For any questions regarding the Contest, please contact us at:
📧 hello@getfreewrite.com.

September 10, 2025 1 min read

One blank page. 500 words. Zero fear. Let’s see what happens when you stop thinking and just go. It's the Freewrite 500, presented in collaboration with the Flash Fiction Institute.

August 22, 2025 3 min read

Most of us are surrounded by screens all day. To get your writing done, take writer Shannon Liao's advice and unplug.