Wordcount Mini-Goals
August 15th 2010 20:18
I wrote about daily wordcount goals yesterday. Today I'll tell you how I manage to write 2,000 words and more in a day.
One of the reasons why NaNoWriMo works for so many writers is the deadline: 50k words, 30 days. Deadlines seem to have a beneficial effect on creativity. So the trick is to give yourself mini-deadlines.
Set yourself a time: 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour. During that time, don't do anything but write. If you want to increase the pressure, set a minimum wordcount that you want to reach in that time, say 250 words in 15 minutes. Don't stop writing until the time is up and if you haven't reached your wordcount goal yet, keep on typing until you get there.
During this writing time, anything that isn't writing is taboo. Forget about emails, Facebook or researching that thing that you have to look up (in case that happens, make a note in the manuscript to remind you you have to look it up and continue writing). If you lack the discipline to keep the words flowing, try Dr Wicked's Write or Die. I discovered Write or Die last year and used it when I felt particularly reluctant to get on with my story - it's simple but effective.
When you made your mini-deadline, treat yourself to a cookie, check your emails or tweet your current wordcount. Limit your non-writing time to 10 or 15 minutes before you sit down to reach your next mini-goal.
One of the reasons why NaNoWriMo works for so many writers is the deadline: 50k words, 30 days. Deadlines seem to have a beneficial effect on creativity. So the trick is to give yourself mini-deadlines.
Set yourself a time: 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour. During that time, don't do anything but write. If you want to increase the pressure, set a minimum wordcount that you want to reach in that time, say 250 words in 15 minutes. Don't stop writing until the time is up and if you haven't reached your wordcount goal yet, keep on typing until you get there.
During this writing time, anything that isn't writing is taboo. Forget about emails, Facebook or researching that thing that you have to look up (in case that happens, make a note in the manuscript to remind you you have to look it up and continue writing). If you lack the discipline to keep the words flowing, try Dr Wicked's Write or Die. I discovered Write or Die last year and used it when I felt particularly reluctant to get on with my story - it's simple but effective.
When you made your mini-deadline, treat yourself to a cookie, check your emails or tweet your current wordcount. Limit your non-writing time to 10 or 15 minutes before you sit down to reach your next mini-goal.
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