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The Writer's Toolbox

Crank It Out!: The Surefire Way to Become a Super-Productive Writer


Want to become a successful author? If so, you’re going to have to crank out books. And not mediocre books but high-quality ones.

Why? Because that’s what readers expect and want.

Regardless of whether you write fiction or nonfiction, if you want to get established as an author, you need to be productive. Highly productive.

You can’t just write one terrific book and call it good, expecting that singular work to carry you atop the wave of success for years to come.

Studies show readers want 3-4 books a year from their favorite authors. And to build traction and a growing audience, authors need to deliver.

But how many writers have the time to write that many books?

In today’s busy world, amid distractions and demands, it’s hard to carve out time to write even one book a year.

But plenty of super-busy people find time to crank out numerous high-quality books. And in this in-depth look on the topic, you’ll learn the strategies that help them—and will help you—be super productive.

If you want to grow your readership, you need to write the best books you can—and that means strategizing to optimize every factor that impacts your writing.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn in Crank it Out!:

How to dig deep into the Productivity ABCs—attitude, biology, and choices—and analyze yourself to prepare to make the needed adjustments to be super productive How to spot destructive attitudes and rewire them to allow you to break through to success How to determine your biological prime time and identify your peak hours to write in order to get the most out of your writing time How to hack around your excuses, bad habits, and distractions that are blocking your way How to alter your sleeping, eating, and other behaviors to ensure peak performance How to thwart self-sabotage and perfectionism, which prevent you from becoming the super-productive writer you long to be

Plenty of people who work full-time, have heavy family responsibilities, or deal daily with chronic health issues or physical challenges find ways to crank out books. They do so because writing is important to them.

How badly do you want it?

Now’s the time to stop making excuses and start becoming proactive. Instead of complaining you have no time to write, take the challenge this book presents.

There’s a surefire way to becoming a super-productive writer, and it’s as simple as ABC.

142 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2017

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About the author

C.S. Lakin

30 books202 followers

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5 stars
61 (29%)
4 stars
84 (40%)
3 stars
48 (23%)
2 stars
9 (4%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Heidi Angell.
Author 12 books212 followers
March 29, 2017
First, I have to confess. I couldn't finish reading this book. I tried, I really did. For almost a MONTH! I read 70% religiously, despite the struggle, then scanned to 89% and honestly, I don't know if I will finish scanning the rest. Here's just a few reasons why:

ABC stands for Attitude, Behavior, and Choices. I get the desire to go with the ABCs, but for me, ABC mean "Airway, Breathing Compression" first and foremost, thanks CPR! And "Always Be Closing" thanks to years in sales. If the ABCs had been more specific to writing, it might have made a deeper impact. (I totally had to look up before writing the review. That's how little of an impact it made.)

Early on she talks about the importance of focusing on finding quality time to create quality work, but this book really struggled with organization and structure. Honestly, it felt like she just vomited words about all the tips she's learned over the years, and then tried to structure it after the fact. Combine that with the multiple glaring grammar and spelling errors, and that at 89% of the way through the book I didn't feel like I had learned anything new, I was just so done.

Perhaps the issue is that this is more designed for a new author, or someone who hasn't spent a ton of time on self-improvement and studying motivational speakers. That being said, if you are one of those people, you will get clearer and more actionable materials from Michael Hyatt, Jeff Goins (who specifically focuses on writing), and by studying the 90 day year by Todd Herman. Spend a couple of hours watching Tony Robbins on Youtube, and you will get better actionable materials.
Profile Image for Judith McNees.
Author 7 books71 followers
December 18, 2022
Useful for anyone, not just writers

In the ultimate of ironies, I used this book for the better part of a week to procrastinate the writing of my next novel. I see it among the writing community on social media all the time...the ways we love being a writer except for the part where we actually have to write. This book breaks down the different whys that happens and gives concrete ideas to help break through those walls.

The content of this book was aimed at writers, but most of the information could be used by anyone who has areas in their life they'd like to be more productive at. I'm sure that, like me, some of the reasons listed won't resonate with everyone, but there was enough that I did connect with to make this a worthwhile read.
Profile Image for Kristianne.
290 reviews33 followers
October 16, 2022
This book is packed full of practical tips and tricks (often backed by scientific studies) for increasing your productivity. It's inspired me to start tracking my most productive times and finding a way to increase my word count every week! After months of really lagging in my writing output, this book was just what I needed to start seriously putting in the work of changing my habits and mindsets.

One of my favorite chapters was the one on perfectionism and procrastination. It hit the nail right on the head and helped me dig into some of the fears behind my perfectionism.

All in all, a fantastic book for any writer that will inspire you to new heights of productivity!
Profile Image for Chelly.
248 reviews47 followers
March 29, 2017
3.5 stars

This book, while aimed at writers, could be applied to anyone wanted to simplify their lives in order to become more productive in general. That said, this book is more suitable for those who enjoy motivational insight and less suited for those looking for concrete, specific tips and tools to improve writing. There is a section that deals with ways to get unstuck, but aside from that there isn't a lot of technical instruction. Overall, well-written and easy to read. I'm not the target audience but do see how many people would find value here.

* I received an eARC of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Josiah DeGraaf.
Author 3 books479 followers
February 23, 2018
Decent book on writing. I already consider myself to be a fairly productive writer, so most of the stuff in here I already knew, but there were a couple useful tips I gleaned from, and for writers who are still learning how to be productive, I could see this being a helpful book.

Rating: 3 Stars (Fairly Good).
Profile Image for J.A. Alexsoo.
Author 2 books6 followers
March 28, 2017
I recommend this to any writer feeling down and out, or who wants to learn what can help increase energy, productivity, and happiness in general. It’s just the pep talk you need to get fired up. I loved the bits of humor slipped in, as well as the thorough research into each topic. I’m going to start adding lemon to my glass of water! The examples and stories supported the points well.

Crank It Out gets you thinking and suggests ways you can analyze yourself and your habits to be happy and motivated. Everyone is different, so the things that hold us back will vary. If you’re stuck, this can give you the foundation and guidance to find how you can move forward. Little by little. Don’t expect it to cure your bad habits, that’s up to you. Have an open mind for improvement, and this will benefit you greatly.

The book not only applies to writing but everyday life too! I loved it, and I’ll be going back to it again and again (especially for the food suggestions, ways to squash that inner critic, and supportive quotes).

The biggest takeaway is to take care of yourself first. Crank It Out will give you guidance as to how. Then it’ll be easier to tackle your writing and feel great while doing it.

Now, the first thing I’m going to work on is getting more sleep.

I volunteered to read the ARC of this book and received it from the author for an honest review.
Profile Image for Malcolm.
63 reviews
June 3, 2017
If you need encouragement and inspiration to write, or to take better care of yourself, or to sleep better, this little breezy book may be useful to you. I like reading self-help and inspirational books, and I particularly enjoyed this author's approach, which is full of practical suggestions for conquering life's inevitable roadblocks to productivity. Many authors tell readers to "just do it", make the time, take the plunge, leap and the net will appear, etc., but I've always found those words to be scary and unhelpful, that what they really were saying is that if you're not going to be a workaholic and maximize every second, you're a loser. Well, I'm not a workaholic, nor am I a loser, and Larkin seems to get that it's not as easy as merely admonishing readers to get their butts in gear and stop complaining. She has useful ideas for overcoming what ails you, and recognizes that not every person has every advantage to writing, that life is messy and getting it together may not be so easy for everyone.

I particularly like two of her hacks. One, to start a difficult writing passage in a new document while telling yourself you’re just messing around with it to see how it goes, and if you need to discard it, that’s fine. I can see how this technique would free up my mind and give me permission to write without anxiety about the product, while secretly getting something down instead of being paralyzed by whatever that is that paralyzes writers. I can see how that exercise could result in a passage that surprisingly becomes useful in the larger piece, just because the writer tried to get something down. I can’t wait to try it.

The second hack I found insightful and revealing of myself to myself, was the advice to stop thinking about writing and instead, write; that ideas left to simmer too long become dried out pemmican and unchewable. That’s my metaphor, not hers, but I have indeed experienced that diminution of desire without realizing that it was caused by overthinking instead of working, and that metaphor is appropriate to me. Ms. Larkin, thank you for telling me about myself. I hadn’t seen that before.

Not every self-help, inspirational book about life and writing is for everyone, but this is one I will refer to often in the years to come. It resonated.
Profile Image for John Bainbridge.
Author 23 books80 followers
April 1, 2017
Helpful and Inspiring.

A first-class guide on how to write more books while producing best-quality work. Can't see how a guide could be more comprehensive than this one. I've read several good ones and this delves deeper into the problems with many more useful hacks and solutions. Many of these can also be applied to other areas of life - such as general well-being. The author writes in an engaging style, like a supportive friend giving clear, achievable advice. As a lazy writer, overwhelmed by the daily to-do stuff and inclined to self-sabotage, this book has inspired me to change and achieve more – the easy way.
Profile Image for Mary.
Author 20 books120 followers
April 25, 2017
A good read for writers at every stage

A helpful review of staying physically and emotionally healthy to create your best work! This was a good read and I recommend it for all creatives.
Profile Image for Preethi Venugopala.
Author 35 books157 followers
September 24, 2017
This book gave me a push to become more productive as a writer. The techniques suggested are doable. The detailed analysis of what reduces our productivity and what can improve it, was of great help.
Author 22 books2 followers
August 20, 2020
This is a common-sense approach to what keeps us from being productive and valuable ways to use our time more effectively. It covers everything from nutrition to sleep patterns to social media traps. It's a quick read and outlines each section with bullet points.
Profile Image for Allynn Riggs.
Author 8 books22 followers
July 17, 2017
Sometimes you need a few nuggets of information and nudges from a third party (or a book) to make some changes that will help you become more productive - at whatever it is you want to do. Though this is aimed at writers much of it can be of use by anyone to crank it out!

Lakin realizes that "everyone is different, and what works for one writer may not work for you." And so she gives you well researched information (such as the section on "You Write What You Eat")and then a variety of "hacks" to inspire you to find ways to get around whatever it is that is blocking your productivity (use fruits and veggies as your snacking material - have them within reach - instead of the doughnut or bag of chips because "a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is related to greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. Other recommended snacks are walnuts, cashews, and . . . don't scream . . . wait for it . . . dark chocolate!") I do cut up carrots or a bag of those little already peeled bite size carrots along with walnuts, almonds, and dried cranberries (that's my one give in on sugar).

Another good idea is to declare one day a week as "airplane time" where you turn off the phone, and block email. I use this day to write by hand with pen and paper too. Doubling up the goodness by lessening the distractive pull of our gadgets and using a different part of my brain by getting words on to paper through physically constructing each word not jamming buttons. I often write more and better stuff on these "airplane" days than any other.

Lakin lays it all out in understandable language, though some of the stuff on how glucose affects our brain did get a bit technical. She sticks to the ABC's and then gives us free rein to create our own hacks. This book is full of ways for you to become more productive. And while we are all different you can definitely pick up a nugget or two. "So hack what you can. Use mental and emotional hacks to find a back door to being super productive."

I have a plan to crank out my third book by the end of the year and maybe even add in a monthly blog posting. What are you going to accomplish as you become more productive?


Profile Image for Ann Dudzinski.
363 reviews21 followers
March 30, 2022
I've been putting off working on my current novel for awhile - too many projects, other things taking precedent - to the extent my critique partners starting messaging me "wth is your next chapter?" So I pulled this off KU (months ago) and decided to see if it would help me get my ducks in a row.

There were some beneficial pointers in this book - a good reminder to get back on a writing schedule and to pay attention to my natural energy peaks and valleys. However, I'm not going to forego caffeine to figure that out, but I have started turning off my alarm when I can to get the amount of sleep I actually need.

My main thought on finishing the book is that the focus is on producing - not on editing. At some point these super-productive writers need to edit their work but I assume that's just something else to schedule in. Personally, I have no desire to crank out three or more novels a year but I'm also not an Indy author, where that's kind of a necessity (so my Indy author friends have told me).

However, it did help me whip my to-do list into something resembling a production schedule that's actually doable instead of being overwhelming and I have a better work schedule set up during the day - so there's definitely benefit in reading this one.
Profile Image for Cass.
89 reviews
June 17, 2017
Good Book, Usual Info

If you've read a writing book or two (or two dozen) in your time, or even dabbled in generic self-help/motivational books, the information in "Crank It Out" will likely be familiar to you. Attitude, Behavior, and Choices is the rule here, and Laskin touches on all the usual topics from carving out a time for writing to defeating perfectionism, making a nice detour mid book to discuss the importance of exercise and diet in a writer's life. That's not to say aspiring writers (or published authors looking to up productivity) shouldn't read this book. You should. Just like you should read every book you can get your hands on that will inspire you to put down the chocolate, sit down at your desk, and start writing (no worries, Laskin makes a strong case for chocolate. You'll be able to pick it up again).
"Crank It Out" is a productivity powehouse of a book that will remind you of those old familiar "hacks" (and maybe a few new ones) to help you write again. The best part? It's not a monster-sized book that will eat up your valuable time to read and digest.
Profile Image for Kate MacGuire.
Author 24 books2 followers
June 6, 2025
I'm still sort of in my debut stage as an author, but I have been a writer for a long time. I always gain something useful from reading craft and/or Writer's Life books.

Crank It Out! is a quick read, not an in-depth study of craft or productivity. But I appreciated how Larkin looked at this topic from a different angle. I hadn't thought about the physical demands of being a writer, but it's true. Creativity requires bouts of intense concentration and focus - something we have to train for and do off-page conditioning work to make sure we are up to the task.

My greatest takeaways so far have been honoring my need for sleep and using her laundry hack to tackle dreaded tasks, writing related or not!
Profile Image for Catherine Girard-Veilleux.
163 reviews49 followers
August 5, 2018
This is sincerely one of the best writing books I own! The author goes straight to the point without losing any motivational ability she has. Also, she clearly and precisely identifies our weaknesses and addresses them full-on so we can "re-train" our brains into becoming a superproductive writer. Honestly, it's immensely helpful! It made me realize negative patterns and pumped me enough to try and fix them. Thank you so very much for this gem!

I can't recommend this book enough! I've tried one of her tips and it works. It's fun and puts me in control of my writing.

I will also be on the lookout for her other books as well as new ones. :)
Profile Image for Sharon.
20 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2017
I found this book very useful. Some of the stuff I knew, but it is good to read everything in one book about how you can be more productive as a writer. I have taken on board a few of the tips, and they are working!

The tips that resonated with me personally are: best to stop multi-tasking, allow 3 x 10-15 minutes per day on social media - planned so it doesn't take over, productive and best use of time when researching, power-napping, and stopping self-sabotage habits.

I'm sure the book will be useful for all writers, though some more than others.

Enjoy!
Profile Image for Meredith.
154 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2017
For a book about beating procrastination and finding your focus, it sure was hard to make myself sit down and get through it. It addresses perfectionism, procrastination, distraction, fear, doubt, health, and motivation, all as it relates to productivity. But it's not really specific to writing. It could be applied to anything. Like your day job, or house work. (Which both coincidentally are presented in the book as distractions/interferences to writing productivity.)

Also, it's too long. Not too long for my attention span, but too long for the content it contains. Pretty repetitive.
Profile Image for Joseph Brewer.
Author 10 books39 followers
May 6, 2017
Take this book and read it.

Every writer needs, from time to time, to gauge how they are doing with getting their writing done. Accomplishing a lot? A little? Nothing at all? Lakin's book is full of tips and reminders in order to stay the course and be productive. Her easy writing style and end-of-chapter reviews help a writer digest a little or a lot. It's a book a writer can return to again and again.
Profile Image for Terri Wilson.
Author 53 books146 followers
May 29, 2017
Sometimes the most simple advice is the easiest to follow, but it is the hardest to remember. I cannot speak for all writers, but I need to hear things over and over before it sinks into my head. I liked the author's straightforward manner. She is honest and unlike some reviews, I enjoyed the personal anecdotes.
Profile Image for Melanie Wilson.
27 reviews15 followers
June 7, 2017
Excellent, no-nonsense book on productivity

I really enjoyed this book. I love how the author dispenses with your excuses immediately and touches on every aspect of writing productivity besides dictation. I've already read about that, so the book was just what I needed to get serious. I plan to reread the first part whenever I slow down.
Profile Image for Joanna Leona.
Author 3 books
July 11, 2017
Written by one of my favorite writing mentors, this book is the perfect cure for both procrastination and perfectionism. What was most useful for me was the extensive discussion about how the two overlap and are related to one another. Also helpful were the practical reminders about the effects of diet, rest, exercise, etc. on productivity. In all, this book is a practical and motivational read.
Profile Image for L.M. Milford.
Author 5 books4 followers
July 13, 2017
Very inspirational

I was concerned about the title that it would just be about writing fast and throwing out books at a rapid rate. Instead the writer is mindful of the fact that not everyone has the same amount of time to dedicate to writing but offers advice on making the most of the time you've got. Well worth reading.
Profile Image for John Ziegler.
4 reviews
March 16, 2018
Outstanding Treatment of What it Takes To Be A Writer!

Ms. Lakin addresses the issue of what it takes to be a productive writer, what are the potential roadblocks to being a productive writer, and gives some really good advice on how to overcome those roadblocks. Although she writes in a light and witty way, she doesn’t ‘spare the rod’. A really good book!
Profile Image for David.
Author 26 books189 followers
December 16, 2017
This should have been about practical tips on how to improve productivity (Scrivener, Dictation, timed writing, etc.) instead it was about a balanced diet, exercise, and new age spiritualism combined with self-help...not really of much value...but women should love it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars.
Profile Image for Erin Grey.
Author 3 books15 followers
October 9, 2021
Practical tips

While you may have heard many of these productivity tips before, I appreciated the writer-specific application and sections on overcoming perfectionism and procrastination.
Profile Image for Jery Schober.
193 reviews27 followers
May 13, 2017
I hate this book. Too many uncomfortable truths.
Sound advice, some "of course, why didn't I think of that" moments and the revelation of my core problem. Now I only have to stick to the advice...
Profile Image for Suz Jay.
1,079 reviews81 followers
May 15, 2017
Comprehensive look at writing productivity. Chapter summaries provide a quick go to reference guide. Lots of actionable tips and well-researched information. Short chapters make this an easy read.
Profile Image for Traci Ashbe.
90 reviews13 followers
September 6, 2017
Excellent motivator!

Great way to get yourself to focus and be able to write more. I especially like the ending where she talks about things that may hold you back.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews