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The 15-Minute Writer: How To Write Your Book In Only 15 Minutes A Day
FINALLY GET YOUR BOOK WRITTEN IN ONLY 15 MINUTES A DAY This short, interactive book will teach you a simple method you can use to write your book--and build a writing habit--in only 15 minutes a day. Perfect for busy writers, writers who procrastinate, are easily distracted or who want a better way to make consistent progress with their writing. This book > How to create a consistent habit of writing for at least 15 minutes a day > The mindset of thinking like a pro writer > How to get into a writing flow > How to clear mental clutter so you can focus during your writing session > And MORE The book also includes profiles from 15-minute writers who swear by the method. If you're ready to stop talking about writing a book and actually start writing it, The 15-Minute Writer is your guide to make it happen. Buy your copy of The 15-Minute Writer now.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2016
54 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 3, 2016
A quite short book, but very motivating for getting words written in a short amount of time. All writers are limited with time, and Jennifer Blanchard has some great points in here about making the time and creating short, 15-minute increments of productivity.
While this is a nice little pamphlet to get you motivated to write, there wasn't as much content as I was hoping for. I would personally like to have an extended version with additional tips and tricks, etc. So while it's free on Amazon if you have Kindle Unlimited, it's hardly worth the $0.99 to buy if you don't.
Final rating: 3.5/5
While this is a nice little pamphlet to get you motivated to write, there wasn't as much content as I was hoping for. I would personally like to have an extended version with additional tips and tricks, etc. So while it's free on Amazon if you have Kindle Unlimited, it's hardly worth the $0.99 to buy if you don't.
Final rating: 3.5/5
September 14, 2016
Lo positivo de este libro es que le obliga a uno a reflexionar sobre el hecho de que al menos esos 15 minutos al día podría estar dedicándole a su escritura (y probablemente no lo esté haciendo). Aparte de eso, no hay nada demasiado novedoso ni llamativo, lo que hace que la propuesta resulte un poco superficial.
September 5, 2017
A short and useful book.
September 6, 2016
I was first introduced to the concept of breaking up big jobs into 15-minute sessions way back in the 1990s by the FlyLady, aka Marla Cilley. The premise is that tasks which seem insurmountable (ie. cleaning out the garage of doom, filing and organizing your important papers, or writing the Great American Novel), can be accomplished much sooner if you commit to working consistently every day, even just fifteen minutes, rather than waiting until a large block of time presents itself. I wish I could say that I’m now super-organized and industrious. Sigh. However, I can attest that the tactic works, in that I have made progress on a lot of my goals using this little secret.
In Bird by Bird, author Anne Lamott shares that she keeps a one-inch picture frame on her desk to remind herself that in a single sitting, she will not finish her work-in-progress; instead, she focuses her efforts on a “small assignment,” a fragment just large enough to fill her metaphorical one-inch frame.
In The 15-Minute Writer: How to Write Your Book In Only 15 Minutes a Day, a short, 99-cent Kindle ebook, Jennifer Blanchard shares strategies that can help even busy people write the book they’ve always dreamed of writing. Blanchard points out, “If you committed to working on your book for 15 minutes a day, every day, for an entire year, you’d have put in around 91 and a half hours—long enough to do an effective job putting a book together.” (I confess I’m a much slower writer than Blanchard—I devote a thousand hours or more to my books. But 91½ hours a year is an auspicious start.)
Many times writers get bogged down in the “other” tasks that are part of the writing experience, like building a tribe with social media, writing blog posts, journaling, and reading. These can also be done in 15-minute spurts.
And on the days when words are flowing, you don’t have to cut yourself off at 15-minutes (unless, of course, “real” life intervenes—maybe you can make some quick notes about your ideas before you quit).
Two critical requirements of making the most of your limited time are working on your mindset and eliminating distractions. The goal of perfection must be replaced with the objective of progress. And nothing will derail your progress like interruptions. Blanchard gives strategies for overcoming these roadblocks.
Each section of the book ends with 15-minute action steps to get yourself started utilizing 15-minute units of time. Blanchard also includes the insights of three other writers who have successfully accomplished their goals using brief work periods.
If you want to be a writer but think you don’t have enough time, I strongly recommend you read this little book.
In Bird by Bird, author Anne Lamott shares that she keeps a one-inch picture frame on her desk to remind herself that in a single sitting, she will not finish her work-in-progress; instead, she focuses her efforts on a “small assignment,” a fragment just large enough to fill her metaphorical one-inch frame.
In The 15-Minute Writer: How to Write Your Book In Only 15 Minutes a Day, a short, 99-cent Kindle ebook, Jennifer Blanchard shares strategies that can help even busy people write the book they’ve always dreamed of writing. Blanchard points out, “If you committed to working on your book for 15 minutes a day, every day, for an entire year, you’d have put in around 91 and a half hours—long enough to do an effective job putting a book together.” (I confess I’m a much slower writer than Blanchard—I devote a thousand hours or more to my books. But 91½ hours a year is an auspicious start.)
Many times writers get bogged down in the “other” tasks that are part of the writing experience, like building a tribe with social media, writing blog posts, journaling, and reading. These can also be done in 15-minute spurts.
And on the days when words are flowing, you don’t have to cut yourself off at 15-minutes (unless, of course, “real” life intervenes—maybe you can make some quick notes about your ideas before you quit).
Two critical requirements of making the most of your limited time are working on your mindset and eliminating distractions. The goal of perfection must be replaced with the objective of progress. And nothing will derail your progress like interruptions. Blanchard gives strategies for overcoming these roadblocks.
Each section of the book ends with 15-minute action steps to get yourself started utilizing 15-minute units of time. Blanchard also includes the insights of three other writers who have successfully accomplished their goals using brief work periods.
If you want to be a writer but think you don’t have enough time, I strongly recommend you read this little book.
January 8, 2017
I've had this checked out on KU for awhile now (KU: the best thing since public libraries) but haven't ever gotten down to reading it. That was mainly because I was afraid the book would be merely the title and honestly, I'm tired of giving books bad reviews.
I love reading. I love authors. Every time I read a book, I *want* to love it. So when I'm disappointed, I don't want to review it. Finishing a book is a PITA (obviously, since I'm reading a book like this) in my experience and I don't want to knock a writer that finishes.
Sometimes, I don't even read books that I fear will disappoint. I've been known to quit a series rather than continue when the story arch becomes something other than fantastic just so that I don't have anything negative to say when another reader asks about an author... Okay, I also do it because I don't like it but still...
But this book... It was just the title. I mean, write for 15 minutes every day, no excuses. Repeat that ad nauseum, throw in some ramble (as I'm doing here), and there you have it. I gave it two stars because the premise is great.
15 minutes is a lot of time. I learned that years (decades?) ago when I read FlyLady's book about cleaning. Set a timer for 15 minutes, work efficiently, and you and everyone in your vicinity will be amazed at the results. But... Having read that book already, and also already knowing about the Pomodoro technique, meant that I really got nothing from this book, I'm sad to say.
I love reading. I love authors. Every time I read a book, I *want* to love it. So when I'm disappointed, I don't want to review it. Finishing a book is a PITA (obviously, since I'm reading a book like this) in my experience and I don't want to knock a writer that finishes.
Sometimes, I don't even read books that I fear will disappoint. I've been known to quit a series rather than continue when the story arch becomes something other than fantastic just so that I don't have anything negative to say when another reader asks about an author... Okay, I also do it because I don't like it but still...
But this book... It was just the title. I mean, write for 15 minutes every day, no excuses. Repeat that ad nauseum, throw in some ramble (as I'm doing here), and there you have it. I gave it two stars because the premise is great.
15 minutes is a lot of time. I learned that years (decades?) ago when I read FlyLady's book about cleaning. Set a timer for 15 minutes, work efficiently, and you and everyone in your vicinity will be amazed at the results. But... Having read that book already, and also already knowing about the Pomodoro technique, meant that I really got nothing from this book, I'm sad to say.
January 1, 2026
I'm fairly certain I acquired this ebook at no cost (and it's currently 99 cents), so I am not going to complain about the value. I will say that I regularly (like, almost every week), write blogs posts that are longer. (This isn't damning; my posts are exceedingly long. But it gives me pause to read an ebook that falls short of a longread.)
The content is not bad, per se, and the writing is cheery and accurate; however, there is fairly little content to either praise or malign at any length.
The central concept is that in order to make progress on your writing, you must write at least 15 minutes a day; not even "at least," but you must develop this minimal practice of writing. She compares her approach to the well-known Pomodoro Technique wherein one overcomes procrastination by setting an intention, doing the intended activity for 25 minutes, and taking a break, after which one may choose to continue that activity or do something else.
The Pomodoro Technique a key productivity strategy, and I've been teaching it in my professional organizing practice for twenty-five years. And yes, although 25 minutes is the "official" duration, many people vary it; 4o or 45 minutes is a common extension for co-working, and people doing "deep work" often extended it to 90 minutes. But although 25 is the basic approach, Blanchard found that too distracting and felt she could only maintain focus for 15 minutes. That was her sweet spot, and one can't fault someone for finding what works for them.
While I'm somewhat concerned that someone (absent an untreated executive function disorder) could not *ever* focus on their actual — preferred — professional writing for 25 straight minutes, if 15 minutes works for her, that's grand. Short writing bursts (or short bursts of any activity) can be motivating; we often suggest people who procrastinate about exercising try to do it for just 10 minutes, or encourage children to try just one bite of a new food, so that advice is solid, as far as it goes. But it's a topic sentence, not a book.
The author explains why a limited approach like this works. Fifteen minutes forces focus (or at least forced away obstacles to that focus), reduces how daunting the idea of sitting down to write may feel, and it fits into any person's schedule so it's easier to achieve consistency. All of which, one assumes, boosts self-esteem and makes it more likely that someone will learn to expand their writing practice if they wish to be professional authors with books completed in this lifetime.
The author takes pains to flesh out the exceedingly simple concept with some equally simple flourishes. She encourages writers to:
* Write down their commitment to writing 15 minutes every day and post the message where it can motivate them.
* Strive to eliminate all-or-nothing thinking, by which she advises embracing on a one-day-at-a-time approach, and breaking writing into smaller, more manageable pieces (like paragraphs or sections rather than chapters).
* Practice the method for at least one week without skipping a day. (The method? Plan what you're going to write in advance, pull up your document, set a timer, and write until the alarm goes off. Oof.)
The author acknowledges that she sees this as less about productivity and more about creating the appropriate mindset, and takes a few pages to encourage meditation, journaling, setting intentions, and saying or writing affirmations. She also offers some minimal (page-long) ideas regarding how to create a distraction-free writing space, and eliminate distractions caused by others as well as those we bring on ourselves (like doomscrolling).
Her advice regarding intention setting is low-level, such as you'd read in a sidebar in a ladies magazine: do a breathing exercise, state your intention, meditate to clear your mind, and visualize what you want to accomplish and how you'd do it. And she finalizes her guidance by encouraging the mantra "Progress, not perfection." In other words, she provides adequate, but clichéd advice on how to get out of your own head for long enough to put your butt in the chair.
Do I disagree with any of the advice proffered? Of course not. And if you are a teenager or even an adult completely new to these productivity-adjacent concepts, then you might find them instructive, though I would have loved for her to provide a variety of solid, specific tactics and recourses for achieving these mind-clearing ends in support of getting oneself to sit and write for 15 minutes daily.
Interspersed with the "chapters," three authors share anywhere from a paragraph to a few pages of real-world testimonials of how they have used the method. I was unfamiliar with the authors, but the first in the spotlight provided four high-quality WMGR-style pages that would have made a good explanatory blog post about the method. The second author offered 64 words, including an obvious grammatical error in the first sentence. The third offered a charming, cheery, one-page description of why the approach works for her.
The book was published in 2016, and has been languishing in my Kindle, so I'm glad I finally read it. It's short, and to the point, with no egregious writing errors, so if you're a novice time manager (no matter your writing experience), you may find the concepts inspiring and worthy of experimentation, either solely related to the 15-minute writing bursts, or in conjunction with the additional advice Blanchard offers.
I will note that the formatting of this ebook leaves much to be desired and feels inconsistent and unprofessional. However, given that it was published a decade ago and, again, was free, I mention this only for those who find frustration in uneven margins, inconsistent spacing between lines, orphan pages, and links that no longer work.
Is there anything new here? No. But the advice is accessible and breezy, and if you would like an easy glance at her approach and are good at taking other's thin suggestions and pulling motivation from them, reading this won't be daunting or onerous. However, if you prefer meaty guidance to blog-length tropes, you may wish to consult advice from productivity experts or better known authors who write extensively about authorial productivity.
You will suffer no harm from reading this book, and 99 cents will make nobody a pauper. Just don't go in with higher expectations than you have when reading blog posts.
The content is not bad, per se, and the writing is cheery and accurate; however, there is fairly little content to either praise or malign at any length.
The central concept is that in order to make progress on your writing, you must write at least 15 minutes a day; not even "at least," but you must develop this minimal practice of writing. She compares her approach to the well-known Pomodoro Technique wherein one overcomes procrastination by setting an intention, doing the intended activity for 25 minutes, and taking a break, after which one may choose to continue that activity or do something else.
The Pomodoro Technique a key productivity strategy, and I've been teaching it in my professional organizing practice for twenty-five years. And yes, although 25 minutes is the "official" duration, many people vary it; 4o or 45 minutes is a common extension for co-working, and people doing "deep work" often extended it to 90 minutes. But although 25 is the basic approach, Blanchard found that too distracting and felt she could only maintain focus for 15 minutes. That was her sweet spot, and one can't fault someone for finding what works for them.
While I'm somewhat concerned that someone (absent an untreated executive function disorder) could not *ever* focus on their actual — preferred — professional writing for 25 straight minutes, if 15 minutes works for her, that's grand. Short writing bursts (or short bursts of any activity) can be motivating; we often suggest people who procrastinate about exercising try to do it for just 10 minutes, or encourage children to try just one bite of a new food, so that advice is solid, as far as it goes. But it's a topic sentence, not a book.
The author explains why a limited approach like this works. Fifteen minutes forces focus (or at least forced away obstacles to that focus), reduces how daunting the idea of sitting down to write may feel, and it fits into any person's schedule so it's easier to achieve consistency. All of which, one assumes, boosts self-esteem and makes it more likely that someone will learn to expand their writing practice if they wish to be professional authors with books completed in this lifetime.
The author takes pains to flesh out the exceedingly simple concept with some equally simple flourishes. She encourages writers to:
* Write down their commitment to writing 15 minutes every day and post the message where it can motivate them.
* Strive to eliminate all-or-nothing thinking, by which she advises embracing on a one-day-at-a-time approach, and breaking writing into smaller, more manageable pieces (like paragraphs or sections rather than chapters).
* Practice the method for at least one week without skipping a day. (The method? Plan what you're going to write in advance, pull up your document, set a timer, and write until the alarm goes off. Oof.)
The author acknowledges that she sees this as less about productivity and more about creating the appropriate mindset, and takes a few pages to encourage meditation, journaling, setting intentions, and saying or writing affirmations. She also offers some minimal (page-long) ideas regarding how to create a distraction-free writing space, and eliminate distractions caused by others as well as those we bring on ourselves (like doomscrolling).
Her advice regarding intention setting is low-level, such as you'd read in a sidebar in a ladies magazine: do a breathing exercise, state your intention, meditate to clear your mind, and visualize what you want to accomplish and how you'd do it. And she finalizes her guidance by encouraging the mantra "Progress, not perfection." In other words, she provides adequate, but clichéd advice on how to get out of your own head for long enough to put your butt in the chair.
Do I disagree with any of the advice proffered? Of course not. And if you are a teenager or even an adult completely new to these productivity-adjacent concepts, then you might find them instructive, though I would have loved for her to provide a variety of solid, specific tactics and recourses for achieving these mind-clearing ends in support of getting oneself to sit and write for 15 minutes daily.
Interspersed with the "chapters," three authors share anywhere from a paragraph to a few pages of real-world testimonials of how they have used the method. I was unfamiliar with the authors, but the first in the spotlight provided four high-quality WMGR-style pages that would have made a good explanatory blog post about the method. The second author offered 64 words, including an obvious grammatical error in the first sentence. The third offered a charming, cheery, one-page description of why the approach works for her.
The book was published in 2016, and has been languishing in my Kindle, so I'm glad I finally read it. It's short, and to the point, with no egregious writing errors, so if you're a novice time manager (no matter your writing experience), you may find the concepts inspiring and worthy of experimentation, either solely related to the 15-minute writing bursts, or in conjunction with the additional advice Blanchard offers.
I will note that the formatting of this ebook leaves much to be desired and feels inconsistent and unprofessional. However, given that it was published a decade ago and, again, was free, I mention this only for those who find frustration in uneven margins, inconsistent spacing between lines, orphan pages, and links that no longer work.
Is there anything new here? No. But the advice is accessible and breezy, and if you would like an easy glance at her approach and are good at taking other's thin suggestions and pulling motivation from them, reading this won't be daunting or onerous. However, if you prefer meaty guidance to blog-length tropes, you may wish to consult advice from productivity experts or better known authors who write extensively about authorial productivity.
You will suffer no harm from reading this book, and 99 cents will make nobody a pauper. Just don't go in with higher expectations than you have when reading blog posts.
June 12, 2017
Not really for me. I write fiction and need longer than that to “warm up” and remember where I was up to. Can’t see why it takes a whole book to tell you to sit down every day with a kitchen timer. I did try it but found the ticking too much of a distraction. Having said that, it was useful to see how much I could write in 15 minutes.
June 19, 2019
This was a quick read. It was very encouraging in reminding us how much can be done with daily dedication, even if it's only 15 minutes at a time. There wasn't anything mind-blowing about the concepts contained here, but I did think they were helpful and could be useful in developing consistent habits.
July 23, 2017
Endorsing the "15 minutes a day" writing schedule, with positive ideas and checklists. Proof that everyone can devote 15 minutes a day to any project if they are serious enough about it.
Nothing new here, but great tips to reinforce the message and commit to getting things done.
Nothing new here, but great tips to reinforce the message and commit to getting things done.
August 11, 2017
Good but short
It is a nice book. Has some interesting ideas for getting to that goal. However is a lacking a lot of content for writing and it is too short. For 1 USD i have gotten more value from other authors
It is a nice book. Has some interesting ideas for getting to that goal. However is a lacking a lot of content for writing and it is too short. For 1 USD i have gotten more value from other authors
September 5, 2017
Great tips!
Easy tips that can implemented right away. Just the way I like my advice.
I wrote my first book in 1 hour spurts but never thought it could be done in 15 minutes. I was happy to be proven wrong.
Easy tips that can implemented right away. Just the way I like my advice.
I wrote my first book in 1 hour spurts but never thought it could be done in 15 minutes. I was happy to be proven wrong.
October 12, 2017
Os conselhos do livro são bons e estou convencida a tentar implementar esse método na minha vida. Só acho que um blogpost teria dado conta do recado, ao invés de um livro (que, por sinal, é bem pequeno).
October 26, 2017
This was a quick read, but it was very encouraging. I would recommend it to other writers that are looking for alternative methods to write. If you are looking to lessen the amount of stress and pressure that they put on themselves.
July 6, 2024
A quick and informative read
This is a quick and informative read. Offers tips on how to ease out of procrastination and into activating the writer in you.
This book has some decent tips and is worth the read.
This is a quick and informative read. Offers tips on how to ease out of procrastination and into activating the writer in you.
This book has some decent tips and is worth the read.
October 14, 2017
Good insights
I'm a big proponent of the pomadoro method. The intent here is in the same vein. Worth a try, right?
I'm a big proponent of the pomadoro method. The intent here is in the same vein. Worth a try, right?
June 10, 2019
It's a quick read on a quick write topic. I love the 15-minute concept, like the Pomodoro technique but faster. I'll be putting this into action .... soon.
January 15, 2023
Interesting
Food for thought to over come my writers block that I experience when I want to write but have too many distractions
Food for thought to over come my writers block that I experience when I want to write but have too many distractions
October 5, 2016
No surprises here
Full of common sense ideas and great for talking you out of your excuses if you really want to write. 15 minutes is so doable perfect for procrastinators.
Full of common sense ideas and great for talking you out of your excuses if you really want to write. 15 minutes is so doable perfect for procrastinators.
December 19, 2016
Good plans
Just not my favorite style of self help book, the advice is solid and passes the common sense test. A couple of chapters seemed dismissive, but in the overall place of the book they make sense.
Just not my favorite style of self help book, the advice is solid and passes the common sense test. A couple of chapters seemed dismissive, but in the overall place of the book they make sense.
January 13, 2017
What a tremendous ebook this was for me as a novice writer!
I belive this is answer for me in how long is long enough. Especially since a special dr. and a very good friend has told me that I was to be restricted in how much I could spend on a computer,etc. EACH day and was to shut down my devices by 8:30 or even by 8 pm each nite,see? So thanks for writing this ebook and making the price low enough to be able to buy it and keep it as a reminder textbook! Therefore, I recommend this for others who may fall into such limits too, no matter what their age may be. I received this ebook for free at first using KU, and not that I have read it through I wish to return an honest review. By Angela
I belive this is answer for me in how long is long enough. Especially since a special dr. and a very good friend has told me that I was to be restricted in how much I could spend on a computer,etc. EACH day and was to shut down my devices by 8:30 or even by 8 pm each nite,see? So thanks for writing this ebook and making the price low enough to be able to buy it and keep it as a reminder textbook! Therefore, I recommend this for others who may fall into such limits too, no matter what their age may be. I received this ebook for free at first using KU, and not that I have read it through I wish to return an honest review. By Angela
August 13, 2016
Just what I needed today!
What a find! I've been struggling with ideas of perfectionism and procrastination - both self-sabotaging behaviors which I've allowed to flood my mind with a barrage of negative self-talk. Actually I found the message in this book spoke to me in ways not only related to the writing process. I am a quilter with maybe a dozen quilts started but just sitting and waiting for me to carve out a large enough hunk of time to finish them. Now I no longer need to wait for enough time. I just have to make the commitment and stick to it!
What a find! I've been struggling with ideas of perfectionism and procrastination - both self-sabotaging behaviors which I've allowed to flood my mind with a barrage of negative self-talk. Actually I found the message in this book spoke to me in ways not only related to the writing process. I am a quilter with maybe a dozen quilts started but just sitting and waiting for me to carve out a large enough hunk of time to finish them. Now I no longer need to wait for enough time. I just have to make the commitment and stick to it!
August 26, 2016
I read this in 15 minutes increments and finished it in no time! There's some very good and practical advice in this book that anyone could follow. You don't even have to be a writer. Sometimes the simplest ideas aren't obvious until they're pointed out. This is one of those things - a simple method that changed my perspective on time management.
December 27, 2016
This isn't so much a how to as a "reasons why you should write your book in only 15 minutes a day" and really the reasons are obvious: because you'll actually make progress. Even if it's slow and steady, it's better than none. Not a very helpful book for aspiring authors. Just reiteration of common sense.
August 28, 2016
The 15 Minute Writer
This is a very good ebook on writing. I have had a time with it and I am going to keep up with the advice that the author shares with us readers. If you are wanting an ebook to get you started in writing then this is the one for you.
This is a very good ebook on writing. I have had a time with it and I am going to keep up with the advice that the author shares with us readers. If you are wanting an ebook to get you started in writing then this is the one for you.
September 11, 2016
Great for writers who have difficulty finding time and/or motivation to sit down and write. Quick read with simple, doable suggestions I have already put into action. I'm sure I'll be reading this again in the not-so-distant future.
October 22, 2016
Quick & Useful Guide
Well-written, straight forward with solid tips and ideas for getting your writing done. Highly recommend to any writer struggling to fit writing into a busy schedule.
Well-written, straight forward with solid tips and ideas for getting your writing done. Highly recommend to any writer struggling to fit writing into a busy schedule.
October 22, 2016
Good Guide to Productive Writing
I thought this was a concise and motivating book for those dragging their feet on writing due to lack of time. The author drops an F-bomb at the beginning of the book, which made me think there were more to come. There weren't.
I thought this was a concise and motivating book for those dragging their feet on writing due to lack of time. The author drops an F-bomb at the beginning of the book, which made me think there were more to come. There weren't.
July 13, 2016
Fantastic read
This is a fantastic short read for the busy writer. Try her idea of 15 minute bursts and watch your productivity soar.
This is a fantastic short read for the busy writer. Try her idea of 15 minute bursts and watch your productivity soar.
July 16, 2016
This is a great book for anyone who finds that they can't have the time to write their book. It's full of little tools to help you make the most of those 15 minutes.
August 9, 2016
A quick read full of useful and motivating information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews