Find Time to Write: Planning to Succeed (Novel Sprint Prep)

In this session, Reedsy’s own Martin Cavannagh walks you through practical strategies to help you prepare for the Reedsy Novel Sprint. These insights will help you carve out time to write, stay motivated when inspiration fades, and make steady progress toward the 50,000-word goal. Read on for a breakdown of the key takeaways, with timestamps so you can follow along. As a bonus, here's the slide deck with all the key points!

Finding time to write around roadblocks (14:35)

It’s easy to believe you need long, quiet stretches of time to write — but most successful writers actually rely on small, consistent bursts. Early mornings, lunch breaks, and late-night sessions all count: just keep writing. There are no perfect conditions. The goal is to show up daily, even for just fifteen minutes or a few lines at a time. Those brief windows will add up, turning all that consistency into significant progress.

Dealing with self-doubt: the “taste vs. talent gap” (18:46)

Every writer eventually hits a point in their journey where they feel that their skills don’t match their ambitions. This phenomenon is what Ira Glass calls the “taste vs. talent gap.” It’s the moment when your work falls short of your vision, and it can feel disheartening. But the only way through it is to keep writing. Improvement comes from practice and persistence, not waiting until you feel “ready.” 

Haruki Murakami’s approach to daily writing (23:15)

In his book Novelist as a Vocation, bestselling author Haruki Murakami reflects on the power of writing 10 pages a day, even on days you don’t feel like writing. The principle is simple: discipline over inspiration. 

Writing regularly builds creative stamina. By setting a daily goal (however small), you teach yourself to trust the process and push through the all-too-familiar resistance. That steady rhythm is exactly what’s going to help you turn your unfinished drafts into completed novels.

Join fellow writers over at Reedsy’s Discord community (33:40)

As you prepare to embark on your quest, remember that every great challenge is made easier with company. With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to the Reedsy Discord: a community buzzing with writers from around the globe, from curious first-timers to published pros chasing their next big idea. With daily sprints, lively discussions, and heaps of writing advice, it’s the perfect place to stay inspired (if we do say so ourselves). 

The energy’s higher than ever right now as everyone gears up for the Novel Sprint. So jump in, find your writing crew, and make your challenge this November a little more connected, and a lot more fun!