The house is quiet, coffee warm in my hands, 20 minutes until the school rush. I have five kids, and I have published six books on KDP. That’s why I care about how to write faster without burning out. In this post, I’ll show you the simple system I use to get clearer words in less time, with fewer stalls, and steady progress toward a real finish date. The steps fit a busy life and small pockets of time. Each section tells you what to do today.
Set clear writing goals I can actually hit each week
Photo by cottonbro studio
Pick one core project and a finish date
Focus beats juggling every time. When I split my attention, my speed drops and my draft drags. I pick one main project for 6 to 10 weeks, and I set a clear finish date on my calendar. That date becomes my north star.
I keep a simple capture list for side ideas so I do not switch. If a new idea hits, I park it in that list and go back to the page. You can keep your list in your notes app or a small notebook. The point is to make switching harder and finishing easier.
If you want more support on building time to write as a parent, I like this guide on planning short bursts in real life, not perfect life, from The Write Life: 6 Ways to Make Time to Write: A Guide for Busy Parents.
Turn the big goal into weekly and daily targets
You can track words or time. Both work. Pick the one that feels simple.
- Words: 40,000 words in 8 weeks equals 5,000 words per week. If you write 5 days a week, that is about 1,000 words per day.
- Time: Two 25-minute sprints per day, 5 days a week. That is 250 focused minutes at the end of the week, even with a few misses.
I set good, better, and best targets to flex around family life. For a 1,000-word day: “good” is 600 words, “better” is 900, and “best” is 1,200. Most days will be in the middle. That is fine. The point is progress.
Busy moms often feel pulled in five directions. This short post offers helpful mindset tips, such as using small windows and pushing aside doubt: Top 5 Tips for Busy Moms Who Want to Write a Book.
Plan writing windows around real life, not a fantasy schedule
I map my week first, then I insert writing. Real windows count. Early mornings before the house stirs. The car line. Lunch breaks. The 20 minutes after bedtime when the house sighs.
I pick a default slot and a backup slot for each weekday. Sessions stay short, 20 to 30 minutes. Short sessions stack up and feel doable. If I miss the default, I use the backup without guilt.
A fellow mom writer said it well in this community thread. You do not find time; you make time. Proof helps on hard days: Are you a stay-at-home mom trying to write a book?
Track words per hour to spot wins fast
I use a tiny log with four items: date, minutes, words, and location. That is it. Fast to fill in, useful to review.
This reveals my best times and places. Maybe the kitchen table at 6:30 a.m. is golden. Maybe the couch at 9 p.m. is a slog. I try one change per week, like shorter sprints or a new location, and watch my words per hour number rise. The small tweaks add up. Speed comes from knowing what works and doing more of it.
Sticky note plan for your monitor: Write 20 minutes, 2 sprints, before 8 a.m., Mon to Fri.
Build a fast draft workflow that cuts friction
Start with a 10-minute outline that guides every paragraph
A 10-minute outline clears fog. Keep it to one page.
Simple outline for most posts:
- Hook
- 3 to 5 key points
- Close with a next step
For scenes, I ask: who wants what, what blocks them, and what changes? For blogs, I note the problem, why it matters, the steps, examples, and a next action. Your outline is a road map, not a cage. It keeps your draft light and on track.
Use writing sprints and the Pomodoro method to stay in flow
Set a timer for 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off. During the 25, write only. Start each sprint by typing the next subhead at the top. This points your mind in the right direction. End each sprint by jotting the first line for your next session. That lead-in keeps you from stalling when you return.
Close email tabs and chats. Silence pings. Protect those 25 minutes like you protect nap time.
Create simple templates for scenes, blogs, and emails
Templates reduce choices and speed up starts. Save a few fill-in prompts you use often.
- For blogs: title, promise, steps with proof, quick example, and call to action.
- For scenes: goal, conflict, stakes, twist, and exit line.
- For emails: subject, one key idea, short story, ask.
I save my best lines and phrases as reusable snippets. A good transition or a sharp CTA can live a second life. Busy moms will find this guide both realistic and kind, with sample plans and quick wins: How to Write a Novel as a Busy Mom.
Set a no-editing rule while I draft
Editing while drafting slows the brain. It flips your focus from making to judging. I turn off spell check if it nags. I use XX to mark spots to fix later. If I forget a fact, I write TK and keep going. I promise myself a clean edit pass later with a checklist. This truce frees my first draft to flow.
Save this mini checklist for your wall:
- Outline in 10 minutes
- Sprint 25 on, 5 off
- Type next subhead before each sprint
- End with a lead-in line
- XX for fixes, TK for missing info
- Leave the polish for the edit pass
Use tools and tech to speed up words on the page
Improve typing speed with 10 minutes of daily drills
Speed builds in small, steady steps. I do short drills right after my first sprint, when my fingers are warm. I aim for clean accuracy first, then speed. Learn common shortcuts, like copy, paste, and jump to start or end of a line. Ten minutes a day compounds over a month.
If a drill feels boring, turn it into a game. Beat yesterday’s clean words per minute by one or two. That is enough.
Try voice dictation for first drafts when my hands are full
Dictation helps when I cannot sit at a desk. I use it in a quiet room, in the car line, or on a walk. I keep my outline open, speak in short phrases, say punctuation, and keep going. Cleanup is faster than stopping the flow.
I dictate messily. Later I fix names, dates, and quotes. If you feel awkward at first, that is normal. Two or three sessions in, your brain learns to talk in sentences that land.
Use text expanders and shortcuts for common phrases
Text expanders are like a second brain for repeated lines. I build tiny shortcuts and grow them over time.
Five useful snippets:
- Scene header: scn; becomes Chapter [#]: [Location] at [Time]
- CTA line: CTA becomes. Want the checklist? Reply, and I will send it.
- Disclaimer note: disc becomes Note: This is not legal or financial advice.
- Chapter break: brk; becomes ### [Short Hook Title]
- Bio lines: bio; becomes [Name] writes [genre] and chases kids between sprints.
Make two or three today that you will use this week.
Let AI help with ideas and structure, keep my voice
I use AI for brainstorming, not for writing my final prose. It can suggest titles, outline subheads, list examples, or summarize research notes. I do not paste whole drafts to rewrite. That risks my voice.
To keep the tone, I feed AI a short sample paragraph of my own as a guide when needed. Then I write the draft myself. Your voice is your edge. Treat AI like a fast assistant, not a ghostwriter.
If you want a quick reminder that daily practice builds skill, this Q&A captures the spirit: How can I write faster so that I can complete it in time?
Edit smarter and stay on track to hit my deadline
Run a quick cleanup pass with a checklist
I run a focused cleanup pass with a timer so it does not sprawl. Here is my 10-point list:
- Trim filler
- Fix tense
- Tighten verbs
- Cut repeats
- Check names
- Add one vivid detail per section
- Verify facts
- Check links
- Format headings
- Final call to action
I set 20 to 30 minutes, hit start, and move briskly. This keeps me from drifting back into drafting.
Batch edits by type to save time
Edits move faster when grouped. I do all cuts first, then clarity, then polish. Cuts remove the extra words. Clarity sharpens meaning. Polish cleans grammar and flow.
I use find and replace to hunt for weak words like “very” and “really.” I read the first and last line of each section out loud to check the arc. The piece should open strong and exit clean.
Protect momentum with streaks, rewards, and a weekly review
Momentum is a fragile friend. I protect it with a simple streak tracker on paper. Each day I meet my good target, I mark an X. Ten Xs feel great.
I use small rewards for finished sprints or weekly goals. A walk alone, a new pen, a fancy coffee at home. On Sunday, I do a 10-minute review. What worked, what got in the way, and what I will try next week. Clear wins, clear tweaks.
Fix common slow-downs: research rabbit holes, overthinking, distractions
Fast fixes help during messy drafts.
- Set a 3-minute timer for any research mid-draft. When it rings, write TK and move on.
- Write in airplane mode when possible. Fewer pings, fewer detours.
- Park ideas in a notes doc so you do not jam your brain.
- Choose good enough for now. Save it for later.
For more ideas on building real writing time into a full life, this parent-focused guide hits the right tone: 6 Ways to Make Time to Write: A Guide for Busy Parents.
Real life is loud. I juggle five kids and I have published six books on KDP, so this simple system is how I hit my goals. The flow is clear: set a target, make a fast outline, write in short sprints, use smart tools, run a quick edit, and review your week. Pick one change and try a 25-minute sprint today. Set a tiny goal for tomorrow, like 300 words before breakfast, and put it on the calendar. Small, steady steps build real momentum.
