How Anthony Trollope’s 15-Minute Writing Routine Can Help You Beat Procrastination

The 15-Minute Routine Anthony Trollope Can Help You Beat Procrastination

Beginning with his first novel in 1847, Anthony Trollope maintained an incredible writing pace. Over the next 38 years, he published 47 novels, 18 works of non-fiction, 12 short stories, 2 plays, and numerous articles and letters.

His secret? A disciplined 15-minute writing routine.

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Trollope’s method is highlighted in Mason Currey’s book Daily Rituals:

“It had at this time become my custom,—and is still my custom, though of late I have become a little lenient of myself—to write with my watch before me, and to require of myself 250 words every quarter of an hour…

This division of time allowed me to produce over ten pages of an ordinary novel volume a day, and if kept up through ten months, would have given as its results three novels of three volumes each in the year…”

At first glance, this seems like a simple technique, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Let’s explore why this strategy worked so well and how we can apply it to stop procrastination and be more productive.

The Challenge of Big Projects

One of the biggest struggles in productivity is tackling large projects. The best strategy is to rank tasks by priority and tackle the most important ones first. However, this approach has a downside:

When the most important task is a big project, it can be overwhelming. Spending hours or even days on a single task without completing it can lead to frustration and a sense of stagnation.

For instance, if you start a task knowing it will take two full days, you might feel demotivated by mid-afternoon when you see little visible progress. Even though you’re working efficiently, the feeling of an unfinished task can drain motivation and encourage procrastination.

Anthony Trollope found a way around this problem.

The Power of Tiny Milestones

Writing a book is a massive project. Even completing a chapter in a day can be unrealistic. Instead of measuring his progress by chapters or completed books, Trollope focused on 15-minute increments, setting a small goal of 250 words per session.

Why is this powerful?

1. Small wins keep momentum going – Quick accomplishments keep motivation high and prevent procrastination.

2. Early success builds a productive mindset – Finishing a small, meaningful task early in the day creates momentum for a productive day.

Fast Feedback Loops Fuel Progress

Trollope didn’t have to wait months to feel accomplished. Every 15 minutes, he could check off a small milestone. This rapid feedback reinforced progress and made a daunting task feel manageable.

This principle applies beyond writing. Sales professional Trent Dyrsmid, for example, tracked progress by moving a paper clip for each completed sales call. This simple, immediate feedback kept him engaged and motivated.

Applying Trollope’s Strategy to Manage Procrastination

If you struggle with procrastination, break tasks into smaller, timed blocks:

• Set a timer for 15 minutes.

• Focus solely on the task during that time.

• Track progress in small increments.

• Celebrate small wins to stay motivated.

By working toward long-term goals while measuring short-term progress, you can beat procrastination and boost productivity—just like Anthony Trollope.