Recently, I decided to add writing sprint videos to the WriterSanctuary YouTube channel. They are as much to help motivate others to write as they are to help me with accountability. And so far, they are turning out to be a nice surprise.
The best part is that I’m not adding more to my already overflowing plate. I’m simply using the same block of time I dedicate to writing my books every day.
The only difference is that now, I’m hitting the “Go Live” button before I write.
Why Writing Sprint Videos?
The idea was brought up to me a while ago, but I wasn’t sure how to handle the logistics of it. My week is still quite sporadic, and I didn’t want to commit to something that wasn’t viable.
However, I managed to get a bit of stability going recently and decided to give the sprints a try. I weighed a few pros and cons and researched a bit as to how everyone else was running them on YouTube.
So, what are the driving factors behind adding the live writing sprint videos to the channel?
Accountability for Me
Probably the most important element of the writing sprints to me is the sense of accountability. This isn’t just holding myself accountable to finish my book, but also to the viewers.
When it comes to the live streams, I am quite stringent when it comes to dedicating myself to specific times. After all, I don’t want viewers to sit around waiting for me to go live.
By committing my writing time block to the live sprints, I’m essentially forcing myself to sit down and write with my audience. I’m putting effort into writing my book as well as engaging with viewers.
Motivation for Others
One of the key features of writing sprint videos is how they can motivate others to write. It’s a group mentality where everyone does their best and encourages each other during the breaks.
That’s one of the reasons why I show my progress bar during the livestream. That way, people can see that I’m actually working on my book and how many words I can write per session.
I’m not showing the word count as a way to brag or anything. I’m trying to encourage others by demonstrating what can be done in a 25-minute period.
As I’ve said before, you shouldn’t compete with other writers. However, there’s nothing wrong with viewing an author as an inspiration. I do it myself when it comes to the work of Stephen King.
Providing an Encouraging and Relaxed Atmosphere
I love to hear about the triumphs of others. It’s one of my goals to encourage every writer to achieve greatness. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a blog post, an Instagram image description, or a book, I want you to succeed.
I also want to provide a relaxing atmosphere other than dead silence during the writing sprint videos. That’s why I work on background sound effects and images to play while we write.
For me, natural sounds such as rain storms, babbling brooks, or even ocean waves help me relax and focus. I can easily write for hours if I turn on the rain to loop the video.
It’s not for everyone, I’m afraid. I know a lot of writers who either need it absolutely quiet or listen to music while writing. But for those who can relax and be creative with some background natural sounds, you’re more than welcome to join us.
A Lot of Fun When Writing with Others
As I’ve never hosted writing sprints before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized just how fun it is to write as a group.
Then again, I love interacting with people on YouTube regardless.
In any case, I find the writing sprints to be more fun than just hanging out on Monday nights. For one thing, I’m being productive and actually putting time into my book, which is already fun for me.
Now, the fun is dialed to eleven as I am mixing two of my favorite pastimes.
Need the Watch Time
Obviously, one of the key elements of going live is to help rack up a few hours of watch time for YouTube. Half of the requirement for the YouTube Partner Program for monetization is 4,000 hours over a 12-month period.
Statistically speaking, I need a consistent extra hour per day so I can make a few bucks from YouTube. And even then, I need to sustain it for several months.
At the time of this post, the writing sprint videos perform about as well as the normal Monday night live streams. Perhaps over time, they’ll improve, but at the moment, it’s a bit of time that I can add to the total for the channel.
Will Live Writing Sprints Be a Permanent Fixture?
Based on my progress from the first week, I find that the writing sprint videos have been quite beneficial. As I said, there is a bit more accountability when you have other people watching and joining.
Even if no one watches the livestream, I am still going to work on my book regardless. Just the idea that anyone can join at any time is enough to keep me focused and motivated.
In fact, I am still heavily debating on doing these Monday through Friday during my “book writing” time. My audience is holding me accountable and I find that I am far more likely to put in some solid time with my manuscript.
Sure, I’d love more watch time for the channel. But the mere potential of someone stumbling across the videos while I write will keep me productive overall.
For now, though, I’m going to keep them on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you’d like to join us, you can check out the writing sprint playlist on the YouTube channel.
More Ambient Sounds to Come
Although I love the background rainstorm, I would love to add a wider collection of ambient sounds. I’ll be working on a few ideas as time permits, but I think the next is going to be a fireplace crackling with rain outside.
Can you tell I have a thing for rain?
I’ve also been toying with writing from a train car, on the ocean, and in a rainforest. So, if any of those pique your interest, be sure to subscribe to WriterSanctuary’s YouTube channel.
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