From the First Draft Friday podcast archives
Editor’s note (updated February 2026): This post was originally written by Robin James in 2020 and has been updated for clarity and current references.
Productivity hacks from Robin James, a bestselling author of more than 65 novels…
By Robin James
As writers, we all have certain superpowers. Mine is productivity. I picked up a few tricks during my time as an attorney and then refined them over the course of writing more than 65+ novels under several pen names.
After all, as writers and authors, productivity is our lifeblood. It’s how we turn scenes into chapters, chapters into drafts, and drafts into books.
In a past episode of Authors A.I.’s First Draft Friday Facebook Live series, fellow thriller author Danielle Girard hosted me for a conversation on productivity. While the series is no longer in active production, archived episodes remain available and offer valuable insights for both established and aspiring authors.
During the 35-minute session, which you can watch below, we covered a wide range of productivity hacks. I compiled them into this handy handout, which I encourage you to download, print out and apply to your own writing process.
Here is the handout: Six key productivity hacks for authors.
Claim your space
- While some authors prefer to write in a people-watching venue like a cafe, most of us write in our homes these days. Stake out an area of the house that serves as your dedicated writing space. Set specific hours and ask family members to try to avoid interrupting your creative “me time.”
Try writing sprints
- 2. Have you heard of the Pomodoro Method? It’s a great technique to get out of your own way and honor your commitment to get words on the page every day. Write in 25-minute bursts and let the words flow. Don’t self-edit, just write! Then take a break and begin another sprint. Some authors can get 5,000 words down on a page in an hour!
Measure word counts
- 3. Keep track of how many words you write during each sprint or session. Set goals. Over time, you’ll get more words down on the page. Your writing program (Scivener, Word, etc.) likely already has this feature. If not, try this free word counter.
Use an app
- 4. Several apps can help you maintain focus. Popular attention apps include: (updated for 2025/26)
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Forest – Gamified Pomodoro-style focus timer that grows a virtual tree as you stay off your phone (and loses it if you get distracted). (iOS and Android)
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Be Focused (iOS) Focus timer for work and study
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Focus To-Do – Combines Pomodoro timers with task lists and analytics so you can plan and measure focus sessions. Apple (iPad, iPhone, Apple watch, Mac) Android, Windows, Chrome
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Pomofocus – A minimalist browser-based Pomodoro timer that works without logging in — great for distraction-free workflows.
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Reclaim.ai’s Pomodoro Timer – Part of a larger productivity suite, it automates focus blocks and integrates with your calendar. ( Outlook, Google)
You can also use your phone’s built-in timer or stopwatch — or an actual egg timer.
Ditch your computer!
- 5. These are single-purpose writing tools designed so you can write without browsers, notifications, or apps pulling your attention.
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Freewrite Smart Typewriter – A modern e-ink writing device with a mechanical keyboard and built-in storage for long writing sessions.
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Freewrite Traveler – A portable, clamshell distraction-free writing machine with an E-ink screen and full keyboard.
Get ambient
- 6. Get in the mood and shut out the rest of the world with Brain.fm, Amazon Music (did you know it comes free with your Amazon Prime subscription?) or build your own ambient soundscape at myNoise.
Where authors commonly find ambience:
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Streaming platforms with ambient playlists
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Dedicated focus or meditation apps
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YouTube channels specializing in long-form ambient audio
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Smart speakers or sound machines
Another powerful productivity hack for writers is using tools that reduce friction during drafting and revision. Platforms like our Marlowe 3.0 Author Dashboard help writers stay focused by streamlining feedback, organization, and iteration—so more time is spent writing and less time managing the process. Try it for free here.
First Draft Friday: Productivity Hacks for Writers
(Original transcript edited for better readability)
A conversation with Robin James, hosted by Danielle Girard
Introduction
Danielle Girard:
Hi, I’m Danielle Girard, and today I’m here with Robin James for First Draft Friday. We’re talking about productivity hacks for writers.
I’m the author of 14 thrillers, and my 14th book, Whiteout, is coming out tomorrow, August 1st. Right now, it’s sitting at number five in the Amazon store, which is pretty wild and very exciting.
Robin James:
Amazing.
Danielle Girard:
It really is one of those dream moments. Let me introduce you to today’s guest. Robin James is a former law professor and trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in civil, criminal, and family law. She’s been writing full time for seven years and has published more than 65 novels under several pen names. She’s best known for her legal thrillers featuring small-town defense lawyer Cass Leary.
Robin is here to share her productivity hacks for meeting word-count goals, beating writer’s block, and crafting page-turning novels when life gets in the way.
Writing Under Pressure: Robin’s Background
Robin James:
I should start with a disclaimer. My background really shaped how I work. I went through law school and spent years as a litigation attorney, so my entire professional life was built around writing under pressure and on deadline. There was no option not to deliver.
That training gave me the discipline to get words on the page consistently. That said, I never set out to write 65 novels in seven years—that was never the goal.
At this point, I also have several unfinished manuscripts sitting in various “dust bunny” folders that took years to write. We all start somewhere.
I also think many writers—myself included—have ADHD-style brains. We see stories and characters everywhere. The challenge is learning how to harness that creativity and turn it into finished books.
There Is No One “Right” Way to Write
Robin James:
People often ask, “How do you write a novel?” My answer is always: any way you can. There is no single correct process.
Some writers are plotters, some are pantsers, and everything in between is valid. I don’t do well trying to copy someone else’s process. What works for me might not work for you—and that’s okay.
What I focus on instead is reducing distractions and creating systems that help me get the work done, especially now that so many people are working from home with kids, pets, and constant interruptions.
Productivity Hack #1: Claim Your Space and Your Goal
Robin James:
The first tip is to claim your space. That can be a home office, a kitchen table, or wherever you’re comfortable writing.
Just as important: claim your goal for the day.
For me, that goal is almost always the same—I write a chapter a day. I don’t obsess over word counts. On particularly good days, I might write more, but my baseline goal is one chapter.
At first, this was hard. I’d sit down with my coffee and suddenly two hours were gone—checking email, social media, writing forums. So I learned to define my space and my goal before I start, and then hold myself accountable.
Productivity Hack #2: Writing Sprints (Pomodoro Method)
Robin James:
The biggest game changer for me was writing sprints.
The Pomodoro method breaks writing into focused time blocks—typically 25 minutes. You sit down, set a timer, and write without stopping or editing.
I usually write two 25-minute sprints a day. That’s it. Fifty focused minutes.
During that time, I give myself permission to write badly. First drafts are supposed to be messy. The goal is to get the words down.
Most days, those two sprints produce around 2,500 words. Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on what I’m writing.
Danielle Girard:
I love writing sprints. JT Ellison introduced me to them, and she really emphasizes taking the breaks to avoid burnout.
Robin James:
Exactly. You can adapt this however you need—shorter sprints, longer ones, more or fewer. The key is consistency.
Writing Around Real Life
Danielle Girard:
Sprints work especially well if you have limited time—kids napping, a short break during the day, even 15 minutes.
Robin James:
Absolutely. Once you open that creative well, ideas keep flowing even when you’re not actively writing. Most writers don’t struggle with ideas—we struggle with managing them.
Productivity Hack #3: Measure Something
Robin James:
Whether it’s word count, chapters completed, or problems solved, measure something.
If your goal is 500 words a day, you can still write a novel in a few months. That’s incredibly fast.
For me, it’s finishing a chapter. That’s how I can write a book in about a month. Goals will shift as the story evolves, but having a metric creates accountability.
Do You Write Every Day?
Danielle Girard:
Do you write every day?
Robin James:
Yes—during first drafts, I write every day. If I’m not drafting, I’m outlining the next book or handling the business side of publishing. Writing may only be an hour, but the workday is much longer.
The AlphaSmart: A Distraction-Free Writing Tool ( Discontinued product)
Robin James:
This is my most important writing tool: the AlphaSmart Neo.
It’s just a keyboard with a tiny screen—no internet, no apps, no distractions. You can only see a few lines of text at a time, which shuts off your internal editor.
I write my sprints on this device, then plug it into my laptop and upload everything to Google Docs. It runs on AA batteries, is nearly indestructible, and lets me write anywhere—outside, in the car, on a boat.
Coupling writing sprints with the AlphaSmart completely changed my productivity.
Don’t Delete Your Work
Robin James:
Never throw your writing away. If something doesn’t work, cut it and put it in a “burn file.” You’d be surprised how often discarded scenes come back to life in another book.
Often, what we think isn’t working turns out to be some of our best material once we gain distance.
First Drafts vs. Revision
Robin James:
I write my entire first draft straight through without looking back. Editing comes later.
Afterward, I do a cleanup pass, then let the manuscript rest before revising again. Beta readers and professional editors come after that.
Perfection isn’t the goal—persistence is.
Productivity Hack #4: Ambient Sound and Focus Music
Robin James:
I can’t write to music with lyrics during drafting—it pulls my attention away. I use ambient sound or focus music instead.
Some tools I recommend:
- Brain.fm for focus-specific soundscapes
- Amazon Music playlists like “music to write by”
- Mind Noise, where you can layer ambient sounds like rain or forest noise
Sound can help drown out distractions and train your brain into “writing mode.”
Final Thoughts
Robin James:
Writing fast isn’t the goal. Getting out of your own way is.
Everyone has their own process. The key is finding systems that reduce friction and help you show up consistently.
Danielle Girard:
This has been fantastic. Thank you, Robin—and thank you to everyone who joined us.
