Let’s talk about writing productivity—specifically, how to get more words on the page without sacrificing your sanity or the quality of your steamy scenes. As a professional smut writer juggling deadlines, character development, and ensuring those bedroom scenes sizzle just right, I’ve learned that productivity isn’t just about typing faster—it’s about working smarter.
Whether you’re balancing writing with a day job or you’re a full-time author struggling to meet your word count goals, these seven productivity hacks have genuinely helped me produce more books without burning out. And no, none of them involve getting up at 5 AM unless that’s actually your thing (it’s definitely not mine).Embrace the “Terrible First Draft” Philosophy
The single biggest productivity killer I’ve encountered is perfectionism. When I first started writing romance, I’d spend hours crafting the perfect opening paragraph, only to delete it all the next day. Sound familiar?
Here’s the truth: first drafts are supposed to be messy. As Hemingway allegedly said, “The first draft of anything is shit.” Embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly.
Give yourself permission to write badly. As Kelley Editorial points out, “What’s important in this beginning stage is getting your story on the page in full. You can have typos, grammatical errors, cheesy dialogue, uneven pacing, and even factual inconsistencies—as long as it’s legible from start to finish.”
When I’m working on a first draft, I repeat this mantra: “I can fix it later, but I can’t fix what isn’t written.” This mindset alone has doubled my daily word count.
Want more tips on finding your writing flow? Check out my post on Character Development Exercises, where I discuss how developing characters can actually help you write more efficiently.
Time Blocking with the Pomodoro Technique (with a Twist)
The Pomodoro Technique—working in focused bursts with short breaks—is popular for a reason: it works. But I’ve added my own twist that’s particularly effective for romance writing.
Here’s my romance writer’s Pomodoro formula:
- 25 minutes of focused writing (plot advancement, character development)
- 5-minute break
- 25 minutes of focused writing (continue or switch to a different scene)
- 5-minute break
- 25 minutes specifically for intimate scenes
- 15-minute longer break
Why separate time blocks for intimate scenes? I’ve found that writing steamy content requires a different headspace than plot-driven scenes. By dedicating specific time blocks to these scenes, I avoid the productivity drain of mental context-switching.
Using this method, I’ve written complete steamy novellas in just a few weeks, even with a busy schedule.
Scene-Based Organization Instead of Word Count Goals
Rather than setting word count goals (which can lead to padding your writing), try organizing your writing sessions by scenes. Author K.M. Weiland recommends this approach on her website Helping Writers Become Authors, noting that scene-focused goals lead to tighter writing and better pacing.
My process:
- Create a simple scene list for your manuscript
- Assign each scene a roughly estimated word count
- Check off scenes as you complete them
- Celebrate each completed scene (seriously—rewards work!)
This approach has transformed my productivity because it breaks the intimidating “write a book” task into manageable chunks. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about checking off a completed scene.
For more on story structure and planning, see my blog post on Romance Writing Tropes That Readers Can’t Resist, where I break down how familiar structures can actually speed up your writing process.
Create a Personalized Productivity Ritual
The brain loves patterns and rituals. When you create a consistent pre-writing routine, you’re essentially training your brain to enter “writing mode” on command.
Bestselling authors throughout history have used this technique. As Nicole Bianchi notes in her article on productivity strategies of famous writers, “Even the most prolific writers struggled with the problem of only having twenty-four hours in a single day. However, they knew how to optimize their time and work efficiently.”
My personal writing ritual includes:
- Making a specific type of tea
- Playing the same instrumental playlist
- Lighting a scented candle
- Reviewing my scene notes for 5 minutes
- Setting a timer
This might seem excessive, but after practicing this ritual for months, just the smell of that particular candle puts me in a productive writing mindset. Your ritual might be completely different—the key is consistency.
Use the “Write Ahead” Method for Smoother Drafting
Here’s a technique that revolutionized my drafting process: at the end of each writing session, write the first paragraph of your next scene while the story is still fresh in your mind.
This technique, sometimes called “Hemingway” (after Ernest Hemingway, who reportedly used a similar approach), eliminates the terror of the blank page when you next sit down to write. You never have to start cold—you always have that paragraph waiting for you.
I’ve found this especially helpful for maintaining consistency in longer romance series where keeping track of multiple storylines and character arcs can become complicated. It’s like leaving a breadcrumb trail for your future self.
Implement “No-Excuse” Minimums
On days when motivation is low, or life gets chaotic, having an absolute minimum word count can keep your project moving forward. The key is making this minimum so ridiculously small that there’s literally no excuse not to do it.
My no-excuse minimum is 250 words—roughly one double-spaced page. That’s it. Even on my busiest days, I can find 15 minutes to write 250 words.
Here’s why it works: once you start writing, you’ll often find yourself exceeding your minimum. The hardest part of writing isn’t the writing itself—it’s sitting down and starting. A tiny minimum requirement overcomes that initial resistance.
As John Steinbeck advised, “Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page for each day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised.”
Create Accountability Through Writing Sprints
Writing can be isolating, which is why finding accountability partners can dramatically increase your productivity. One of the most effective accountability methods I’ve found is participating in writing sprints with other authors.
Lisa Poisso, a respected editor and writing coach, recommends joining writing communities that offer daily writing sprints and accountability. You can find these communities on Discord, Facebook, or specialized platforms like 4thewords.com, where writing becomes a game with rewards.
If you’re looking for places to connect with fellow romance authors, check out my comprehensive guide to Online Romance Writing Communities, where I share the best places to find sprint partners, critique groups, and genre-specific support.
During a writing sprint, everyone writes simultaneously for a set period (typically 25-45 minutes), then reports back with their word counts. The combination of gentle peer pressure, community support, and time constraint creates a powerful productivity boost.
I regularly host sprints with fellow romance authors, and we consistently report 30-50% higher word counts during sprints than when writing alone.
Putting It All Together
Remember that productivity systems are highly personal. The most effective approach is to experiment with these hacks and adapt them to your unique writing style and life circumstances.
Start by implementing just one or two of these techniques. Once they become habitual, add another. Small, consistent changes to your writing process will yield greater results than trying to overhaul everything at once.
And perhaps the most important productivity hack of all: be kind to yourself. Some days, the words will flow effortlessly. Other days, every sentence will feel like pulling teeth. That’s normal. That’s writing. As long as you keep showing up to the page, you’re doing it right.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a steamy meet-cute to write and a word count to hit. Happy writing, fellow smut crafters!
Further Reading
For more insights on balancing your writing life and creating compelling stories, check out my posts on Character Development Exercises and Mastering the Meet-Cute.
I also highly recommend Brandon Sanderson’s university-level creative writing lectures for in-depth craft advice, the One Stop For Writers resource library for character development tools, and “The Emotion Thesaurus” by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi for adding emotional depth to your scenes quickly and effectively.
