How to Write 2,000 Words a Day (Even When You’re Tired, Busy, or Stuck)
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Writing 2,000 words a day sounds productive, impressive, maybe even a little magical. But when you’re staring down deadlines, exhaustion, or distractions, it can feel completely unattainable. A lot of writers set large word count goals like that in order to finish writing a book in 30 days. I’ve been talking a lot about different strategies to writing a novel in just one month on the blog and the truth is, consistency is key to achieving a difficult goal like that. So, for this post, I’ll be explaining how you can consistently write 2,000 words a day, every day, even when you feel busy or stuck.
Want to get your book done in just 30 days? Check out Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days for a full, proven toolkit and workflow with guided questions, instruction, daily checks and motivation!
Start by Reframing the Goal
Don’t aim to write 2,000 perfect words a day. Aim to write 2,000 draft words.
There’s a huge difference between crafting polished prose and simply getting the story down. A 30-day draft doesn’t need to be beautiful or even amazing. Let go of the pressure to create your best work and you’ll be amazed at how much faster the words will flow as you’re typing.
Use Timed Sprints to Stay Focused
Timed writing sprints are one of the most effective ways to increase your output.
A popular method is the Pomodoro Technique:
- Write for 25 minutes
- Take a 5-minute break
- Repeat 3 or 4 times
- Take a longer break afterward
Even a single 25-minute sprint can yield approximately 400 to 600 words. Do that a few times in a day, and you’ll hit your target without needing hours of free time.
Write Out of Order
One common misconception is that you have to write your book in chronological order. In fact, you don’t even need to do that at all. If you’re stuck on an earlier chapter or you’re bored with a certain beat in your story, then you can skip ahead and write something else. Momentum is much more important than sequence.
This approach can help maintain interest and excitement and you’ll also avoid getting blocked from your writing by slower sections. Using a tool like Scrivener makes this really easy because you can easily create any chapters at any moment you want. Check out this post here for my full review on Scrivener!
Set Smaller Writing Targets Within Each Session
Telling yourself to “write 2,000 words” can feel overwhelming when you say it out loud. So, instead of saying “I want to write 2,000 words” you can say, I want to:
- Write one conversation between two characters
- Finish one short scene or emotional beat
- Hit a specific plot point you’ve already outlined
These mini-targets keep you focused and give you a sense of progress, which fuels motivation to keep going. If you’re using my 30-Day Novel Planner, these are built in for you and every day is broken down into manageable checkpoints to prevent overwhelm.
Track Progress with Visual or Written Rewards
Writing every day can start to feel repetitive. That’s why tracking tools and light incentives help and gamification is a great way to do that. Create rewards for yourself and track your progress and celebrate milestones.
Gamification isn’t about making the process silly or cheapning it, but one of the best techniques that’s been proven before for motivation is gamification. It’s why so many apps and tools offer up rewards for completing tasks.
When You’re Having a Bad Day, Write Anyway
Some days, the words won’t flow. Here’s what to do:
- Write 300 to 500 words instead of your full target.
- Switch formats. So, try writing by hand, using a notes app, or even dictation.
- Change your environment. Move to a new room, sit outside, or work from a café.
- Freewrite. Draft a character’s backstory, write a dream scene, or journal from your protagonist’s POV.
For freewriting, I feel like that’s a great way to spark inspiration. One thing I made sure to include in Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days is writing prompts every day of the month-long session so that you can get a chance to free write different ideas and concepts whenever you want.
Need a System to Keep You on Track for All 30 Days?
Writing a book in a month is possible but it’s much easier with a plan that adapts to your life.
That’s why I created the 30-Day Novel Writing Guide and Planner, Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days. It includes:
- Custom word count tracking
- Flexible outline and scene planning templates
- Daily and weekly writing check-ins
- Built-in catch-up and rest days
- World building, character planning, and even more writing tools
Use it digitally or print it out and write directly onto the pages!
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