Tom Hanks Harnesses Powerful Productivity Method In Writing First Book: Here's How You Can Use The Same Tool

Since 1980, actor Tom Hanks has been a staple of the worlds of television and film. The two-time Academy Award winner continues to act and has a deal signed with Apple Inc AAPL for its streaming platform.

In 2023, the actor made a foray into the world of writing, and despite his demanding schedule, he adopted a productivity technique to pen his first book.

What Happened: While many people around the world recognize Hanks from his acting roles like in the 1994 film “Forrest Gump,” many saw his writing skills put to the test for the first this year.

Hanks released his debut novel, “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” in May 2023.

In this 448-page book, Hanks takes readers through “the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film…and the humble comic books that inspired it.”

The book released by Penguin Random House became a New York Times bestseller after its release.

Given his busy schedule and lack of professional writing experience, Hanks utilized a production method known as the Pomodoro Technique to complete the novel.

Hanks said in an interview with The Atlantic that he utilized the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management and productivity tool, to complete his novel.

Related Link: The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence In Movies, How Tom Hanks Is Involved 

What is the Pomodoro Method and How You Can Use It: Developed in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Method is one of many productivity tools that people can use when writing, studying or seeking to complete a task.

According to Todoist, the steps of the Pomodoro Method are:

1. Write a to-do list and get a timer
2. Set the timer for 25 minutes and focus on a single task until the timer runs out
3. When the timer runs out, mark off a pomodoro and record what was completed
4. Take a five-minute break

After four pomodoros and breaks (2 hours), take a 15-minute to 30-minute break.

Although the Pomodoro Technique is typically applied to shorter tasks, it's also beneficial in breaking down larger projects like book writing into more manageable segments.

According to the Pomodoro Technique's guidelines, a user must remain focused on the designated tasks for the entire 25-minute duration. This commitment includes refraining from distractions such as checking emails or text messages.

The twenty-five-minute intervals are called “pomodoros,” named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo used.

Along with using the Pomodoro Method to write his novel, Hanks also used the same productivity strategy to write the fictional script of “Motion Picture Masterpiece,” which is used in the plot of the book.

Hanks told The Atlantic that he wanted to write his novel as a way to give himself another creative outlet.

“I just do writing,” Hanks said. “I write because I’ve got too many f***ing stories in my head. And it’s fun.”

On IMDb, Hanks has 96 acting roles, 62 producer roles, seven writer roles, and seven director roles listed from his decades of film experience.

If the Pomodoro Method is good enough for a legendary actor like Hanks, it might be worth trying for others struggling to focus or get tasks done in specific time requirements.

Read Next: You've Got A Friend In Me: Woody Supports Best Friend Buzz Lightyear In Tom Hanks Interview 

This story is part of a series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.

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