I wrote another 2,600 words today. Definitely was short of my goal, however…even though Josh is coming over tomorrow for some TG1T recording, I have enough time before that to whip out 1,400 before he gets here, which will put me at my goal for the three days.
That’s the new strategy for now: 4K on Monday and Tuesday, a day “off” on Wednesday, which will just be cleanup on whatever I fall short from, or a quick 500 words or so (ie- sticking with no days off. That stays. Forever, I think), then 4K on Thursdays and Fridays, and then the weekend “off” just like Wednesdays; some mop-up work, and/or bang out half a scene or so.
That would equal around 16,000 words a week. Incredible, if I can pull it off. That would be *absolutely* incredible. I could write six books a year at that pace. More, if I didn’t need to do any heavy rewrites (though, to be honest, I’m not really sure I’m *ever* going to reach that mark).
And here’s the thing: right now, I feel fried, and I feel like this section of the book is flying by way, waaayyy too fast, BUT…I know I can do that. It’ll take me time to get used to it, sure, but I *can* do it.
What a turnaround this past month+ has been. And, it all started with the epiphany of “write every day.” It’s weird to call it an “epiphany,” because I have heard that from so, sooo many other writers before, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t wrap my head around what that really meant.
Well, I have now. And, it means write every day. What it doesn’t mean is make every day a “work” day. That’s what I think I misunderstood. It means just sit down with your manuscript every single day for at least [insert time frame here], and work on it. Have your binge days where do you so much more, or your 9-5-type days where the bulk of the work gets done, but even in the off-days, always sit down and work for at least a little while. That way, and here’s the real “epiphany,” I guess, you’re never too far from your work to be able to just dive right back in where you left off and crank it out to meet a deadline. It’s always fresh, and the brain is always working on it. I find, personally, that I don’t have to warm up into the work, I can really just go.
So…yeah. It’s amazing. I’m happy with where I’m at. The manuscript still scares the shit out of me, and I think I may still have to re-do an entire section…but I’m happy with where my work ethic is, and my process.
Onward!