10 Crazy Ways to Write a Book

About this video

Sponsored by Dibbly Create, the video offers ten unconventional methods to beat writer’s block and keep drafting. They are: (1) reverse outline — outline after the first draft, noting each paragraph’s topic and how it advances the point/arc to find gaps; (2) random word prompts, including asking Kip, Dibbly Create’s AI assistant, for a word or a prompt based on it; (3) location-based writing — coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, or a free Shut Up and Write group, which Dale says helped him accomplish a lot in a one-hour session; (4) collaborative writing/co-authoring for idea generation, accountability, and resources, or leaning on AI to unstick a passage without letting it do all the work; (5) time-boxed sprints, his self-described single most effective tool, using Pomodoro — 25 minutes writing, 5 minutes rest for four rounds, then a 15-minute rest if repeating; (6) character interviews, using a character profile and chatting with the character via Kip, with nonfiction writers interviewing themselves as the expert; (7) visual inspiration/mood boards with images, quotes, textures, actor references, and real settings/maps for consistency; (8) music to stimulate creativity, paired with sprints — he prefers lo-fi or brain.fm and avoids lyrics and heavy metal while writing; (9) writing out of order, drafting exciting scenes first and accepting structural chaos to fix in editing; and (10) genre mashup, blending genres that do not normally go together. The recurring message is to get words out first — you can edit a bad page but not a blank page.

Key takeaways

• Reverse-outline after drafting: note each paragraph’s topic and purpose to spot gaps and generate new ideas
• Use random word prompts, location changes, and groups like Shut Up and Write to restart inspiration instead of staring at the cursor
• Write in Pomodoro sprints — 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off for four rounds — which Dale calls his most effective tool for producing books fast
• Interview your characters (or yourself for nonfiction), build visual mood boards, and use music without lyrics to deepen focus and consistency
• Write out of order and try genre mashups to bypass blocks; a messy first draft can be edited, a blank page cannot

Episode details: published September 8, 2023 · 9:50 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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