I’ve written eight thousand words on my rewrite in the past two days. TWO DAYS. It’s a minor miracle. No, it’s a major one. I could not have DREAMED of doing this even…two months ago. For context, that’s about 32 pages, or 1/10th of a full-length novel. In two days. Ten sets of that 2 days’ of output, and I’ve written an entire novel.
Writing a novel in a month is very, very doable. At least the first draft 😛
So, what changed: first of all, this rewrite was the correct decision. I’m so much more invested in the story. What felt static and bland before is moving and exploding with color.
But, really, all of that was only possible because I just stuck with it. I stuck with writing through all my frustrations and my self doubts (of which there will be sooo much more to come, I am sure 😛 )…and I just kept writing.
I’ve written pretty much every day now for…a month? Two months? That was another giant breakthrough: write every day. That doesn’t mean write full-time every day like I did for the past two days, it just means take out the manuscript and work on it every day for some time, even if it’s a little. The benefits of that cannot be understated: not only does it follow the mantra of “do less more often,” but it means that my manuscript remembers me. I don’t forget about it. I don’t have to warm up to it. I never lose touch with it. And that saves me sooooo muuuucchhh tiiiimmmeeee.
The 4,000 words on Monday were tough, at least the last leg. The 4,000 words today weren’t as bad. That surprised me. But, I know why: I’m taking the day off tomorrow. THAT’S the benefit for me of doing such hight-output days of writing: I get to take time off in between. And I love that.
It’s me at my best with my work. Work in sprints, then take time off. Repeat. That’s how I worked with video editing the best, when I was the happiest and most productive…and I can apply that to my writing.
I really, really feel like I’m turning a corner, you guys, on this writing thing. The words were good today, too. I can feel that I’m going to keep them. It’s exciting.
That’s all I have for you tonight. Red Tower Pt1 is 32,000 words old. By Friday, I hope to be at 40,000. Almost halfway done.
Crazy.
Night!