If there is one thing I love just about as much as writing, it's video games. I've written quite a few video game-related posts over the years, ranging from craft-specific posts inspired by recent playthroughs to reviewing games' storylines from the stance of a storyteller.
Between that and my day job as an escape room game master, it's no surprise that I'm often keeping an eye out for ways to gamify the writing process. As fun as writing already is, it becomes harder when you find yourself feeling stuck.
Gamifying your writing can help you build a stronger and more consistent writing routine, prevent burnout, keep you motivated, and make your writing process more manageable, all while having fun. And the best part? There are so many ways to gamify your writing process and gear them to your individual preferences!
In this post, I'm sharing a few pro tips to level up your writing game.
Speed Run With A Writing Sprint
Writing an entire book can get overwhelming. There are so many steps along the way, many of which take longer than one might expect because there are so many little checklists within them.
When dealing with any complex or multi-step process, it can be helpful to break it down into smaller chunks. Taking it some small step at a time makes the whole thing easier to manage.
One of the most common approaches for writers in the drafting stage in particular is the writing sprint because they encourage you to get a lot done in a short amount of time.
Writing sprints are quick challenges that can last a few minutes to an hour, during which your only focus is writing. They're great for writers who have a tendency to get distracted or those who only have a little bit of time here and there to write.
Set a time for fifteen or twenty minutes, or however long you prefer, and get to writing. You might set a goal of 300 words per sprint, or try to beat your high score.
They're also fun to do with friends—which brings me to my next point!
It's Dangerous To Go Alone...
One of the hardest things about being a writer is how isolating it can feel. A lot of the time, it's just you and a blank screen. It gets lonely, but it doesn't have to be a solo campaign!
I can never stress enough how important it is to have friends who support your writing goals, especially those who also are fellow writers. Suffice it to say, they get it. They know the frustrations we writers face better than anybody because they're also dealing with them. You can commiserate and celebrate together. They'll be there to throw the rope when you've fallen into a plot hole and help you figure out how to fill it. And chances are, you can learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses.
But your writing companions don't have to be alive—BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS SUGGESTION DOES NOT MEAN YOU NEED TO LEARN NECROMANCY!!
You can if you want to, though...
You may have heard of rubber duck debugging. It's a trick—or, dare I say hack—mostly associated with the software engineering world, in which programmers struggling with a bug read through the code aloud "to" a rubber duck or other inanimate object, which helps them figure out what went wrong. Having something to read your work "to" makes reading aloud less awkward.
It also works for debugging your WIP. Reading your writing out loud is a great way to spot typos and other issues. For example, if you're running out of breath, your sentence might be too long.
The Pascal shoulder plush I got for my Rapunzel cosplay is a personal favorite for debugging my writing (and I also have my eye on the animatronic owl shoulder plush you can get from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter park at Universal, but that feels like something I should "adopt" in person rather than buy online, you know?).
Joining forces with someone (or something) to talk through your writing woes, offer support and accountability, and celebrate your wins with can make a world of difference.
Create An Objective List
In some games, you'll be able to access a list of objectives. Not only is this good for refreshing your memory when you're gearing up for another play session or just need a little direction, it's also so satisfying to cross things off your to-do list.
Whether it's your next task to progress the main storyline or a minor side quest you can do for funsies, that sense of accomplishment that comes with the little completion notification popping up can be its own reward.
So why not give your writing the same treatment?
Giving yourself a checklist of tasks can help keep you organized and motivated while offering that coveted sense of gratification as you cross things off. You could even assign the tasks on your to-do list fun and cryptic quest names to make it even more of an adventure.
Reward Drops
You know what's better than the thrill of finally taking down a boss after countless failed attempts? The loot you get after!
No matter if it's a boatload of in-game currency, a new power-up or ability, a new piece of clothing or armor, unlocking a new side quest, or getting your hands on a shiny new weapon you can use to take down the next big bad in line, the amount of stuff you get from slaying your foe is the icing on the cake.
We tend to be reward-driven in real life, too, sometimes even on a subconscious level, and it can become a powerful source of motivation. And it's easy to implement a reward system into your writing!
Firstly, decide what you're looking to reward. Some writers may assign an XP system, with one point for each word written. Others might reward themselves with every writing day they add to their streak. You could also give point values to different things on your to-do list, with the more challenging things being worth more points than the trivial ones.
With an XP system, you could then give yourself rewards to work for. Maybe once you've accumulated 20,000 XP you can buy that fancy pen you've been eyeing, or you get to eat a gummy bear for every 300 words you write. With a streak, you could give yourself little treats for every day you sit down to write, with more substantial ones for milestones like Day 100 granting a trip to the salon for a manicure.
On the other hand, you could create a looming punishment, like having to write for twenty minutes without getting distracted or else you have to go for a mile-long jog around your neighborhood or down a spoonful of hot sauce. As long as they aren't harmful, punishments can hold you accountable.
Reward drops can be super flexible and geared towards whatever incentives will motivate you most effectively.
By the way, I've got some printable word count trackers available in my Etsy shop, and you can get a FREE one every month designed by yours truly by signing up for the blog's newsletter! They're perfect for not only word counts but writing streaks.
Games For Writers
What better note to end this post on than sharing a few games geared towards building a steady writing habit?
The most well-known, and the one I've played most in the past, is 4TheWords. It's a fantasy-inspired RPG game in which you battle different monsters with your words. Each word typed does a little damage.
There is a paid subscription to access the game, which combined with my infrequency of play was the primary reason I didn't renew the trial I won in a giveaway, though a limited free option has since been introduced so I might check it out again in the future. I also found that, as someone who is unfamiliar with RPGs, the vastness of the game's mechanics could also get overwhelming and confusing at times. The basic plan membership plan costs $8/month with a Pro plan at $12/month when billed yearly, or you can purchase the Lifetime plan for $599.
For a similar system with far fewer bells and whistles, there's 750Words. The daily word count goal of 750 is a little more than 4TheWords's 444 but it's a much simpler user interface (and I really liked the confetti that appears when you cross that threshold). 750Words gives you a 30-day free trial and requires a paid subscription after that, but the higher of the two tiers is only $10/month. I haven't explored this one as in-depth at the time of writing, but I did enjoy what I saw.
When I was looking into games for writers, one I saw mentioned a bunch was one called Write or Die, a word processor that threatens to delete your words if you're idle for too long for a more intense writing experience with higher stakes. However, it seems that it has shut down. The folks at The Write Practice have come up with a replacement tool inspired by the original, but I cannot speak to how well it compares as I have not used Write or Die.
Turning the writing process into a game allows you to put your own creative spin on even the most arduous of tasks while having fun along the way. Gamifying your writing allows you to stay motivated and consistent—and possibly more organized, too.
Who said productivity and fun can't couch co-op?
Let the games begin!
Do you gamify your writing process? Share your favorite ways to level up your writing habits in the comments!
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