How to Write a Book in a Pandemic

Productivity Amidst a Pandemic

Jakub Ferencik
10 min readDec 31, 2020

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For most of us, the end of the year is a time to reflect on what we did throughout the year and where we can improve for the next year. Here, I want to share how I managed to write a book in 2020 and what key strategies you can enact in 2021 to finish your book or achieve any other goal!

Here’s to a fulfilling year!

This year was a difficult one for most. We encountered severe change at unprecedented levels. No one could have imagined what early reports of a virus might look like for the world.

It has been months of “debate” over stimulus checks in many countries in the world; many businesses have gone out of business; and more relationships have ended than at any other point in recent memory.

I mean… my life has drastically changed. But I consider myself among the lucky ones.

Yes. I did lose my job in April. I was working as a barista during my university studies. I was planning to make some more money during the summer. That obviously didn’t happen.

What happened instead is that I finally had time (that precious unachievable thing) to finish my book, Up in the Air: Christianity, Atheism & the Global Problems of the 21st Century, which I was researching for more than 2 years.

I utilized a few important tools in achieving this goal. Let me tell you more.

No one could have imagined what early reports of a virus might look like for the world.

2020: January to April

My January to April of 2020 was a time of almost sole focus on school and work. I had a very difficult course load and needed high grades because I was planning to apply to Oxford and London School of Economics in the Fall semester (I actually did already apply! — wish me luck).

Thus, I managed to write approximately 40,000 words during this period.

How?

Well, most writers know that deadlines are a serious motive for getting writing done.

Some may say that 40,000 words is not that much. Well, I was also balancing work, a…

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Jakub Ferencik

Author of “Up in the Air,” “Beyond Reason,” & "Surprised by Uncertainty" on AMAZON | MA McGill Uni | RA for EUROPEUM Prague | 700+ articles with 1+ mil. views