Photo Credit: Shift Writing
I’ve been pretty vocal about my opposition to writers having to write everyday. And also to word count goals and a million things that other writers seem to think are necessary to be able to call yourself a writer. All because I managed to write a book by doing it my way. Well, my way hasn’t worked the second time around and I’m about sick of it. I still don’t believe in this whole write everyday business or word counts or any of that stuff, but I’m in need of a change of pace. Right now.
People tell me that not writing for nearly two months is nothing. But these people don’t realize that I wrote my first book in less than three months total. So again, it doesn’t matter if two months of not writing isn’t a long time to you, it’s more like an eternity to me. This is the longest I’ve been away from my characters since I created them. Not any more.
I’m not going to set any goals for myself in the coming days or weeks because this whole thing may prove useless. But I’m going to give it a shot. If I fail, then so be it. I need to at least try to get some writing done.
I know a number of you write everyday or most days or whatever it may be, but I don’t want to hear about it. What I do want to know is whether you’ve ever changed any part of your writing process. If yes, how did it go? Major failure. Success. What?
Yes and no. Both good and bad. I’ve tried a number of different strategies to increase my writing productivity, but none of them last very long. I don’t know if I’m ADD or what. I’ve had great success with switching things up a bit, and massive nothings. I never hold myself to word counts or goals because then it feels like I’m forcing myself to do something that doesn’t want to come naturally. That probably doesn’t help at all. But I switch it up every now and then to help me get out of a rut. Most of the time it works.
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Not helpful. Hahaha 😉
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Well, jeez. I guess I haven’t lived up to my nickname lately, have I? Did I not understand the question?
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You did. But you said you’ve had great success and massive nothings. Haha should have just left out the nothings. Lol
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Well then if it didn’t work for you, I’d get blamed for getting your hopes up. Am I right? 😉
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I’ll always blame you for something. 😉
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Oh well. Everyone needs a fall guy. Go ahead. I can take it.
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Perfect.
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Okay, seriously. Can I PLEASE ask you something about Houston? Google only goes so far.
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No.
Okay yes.
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Thank you!
I need a neighborhood on the westish side of Houston that’s middle class and fairly safe. That’s on the way to River Oaks. Is that clear as mud? The original location I was going to use was shot down by someone who used to live in Houston.
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Not gonna happen. I only know Sugar Land/Missouri City neighborhoods. I’ll have to ask my dad. But he probably won’t know either. I asked him this same thing during my book. He gave me nothing. So I went with Bellaire and left out the name of the neighborhood.
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Well any help would be great! Doesn’t have to be a neighborhood, just a city in that general area. And if that’s not possible, what about the other parts of the city or suburbs? And if you ask your dad, thank him for me, please.
Thanks, Wordsmith!
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I’ll see. But I don’t think I’ll have anything for you. Just fly down after work today and we’ll go figure it out. Haha
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Haha!! That’d be cool. Based on how work stuff is going, if I travel around the country working, it won’t start until the winter. And I’d rather work somewhere warmer in the winter. I’m sure not going to Texas in the summer.
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It’s not even hot. Only like 95° everyday. No biggie.
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Blech. That’s too hot for me. I’m a heat wimp.
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Fine. I didn’t want to show you the city anyway.
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Wow. Harsh.
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Whoops. Forgot this 😉 at the end of that.
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Oh okay. Thanks. 🙂 See? It happened again?? Jeez, how will I ever learn?
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Probably never. It’s okay. 🙂
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Great. I’m doomed.
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Oh don’t be overdramatic. 😉
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😛 The only place I overdramatize is here and in my writing. I’m fairly boring and calm in person.
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Eh. Then don’t come here. No point if you’re boring. 😉
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Heh. I’ll just get somebody else to show me around. Then they can hear all my weird stories. And laugh at me when I take them seriously.
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No. I’m your designated tour guide.
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Okay. Then you’ll have to put up with me. Poor you. 🙂
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Then I’ll convince you to wed.
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Not in the heat of Texas, you won’t.
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I changed my writing process many times, I started writing my first novel without any goals or guidelines and it worked well at the time because I was determined to finish my first ever manuscript but it didn’t work with my next novels because once I did it once I didn’t care about finishing just as much and started to struggle to keep focus in the middle. I started planning out times to write, setting goals and thinking about word count more which really help keep me focused. I also outline way more with every novel. Once I started hitting my goals writing became fun again.
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We’ve lived the same life. I’m taking all your advice from now on.
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I’ve gone probably a whole year without touching my book/characters. If I’m not feeling it, it doesn’t happen
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WHAT!? How?
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I have the weirdest writing process ever lol. I either write like crazy, or I don’t write at all. There is no in between, and if I’m not feeling like writing, I just cannot do it
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But that’s SO long! Is the book I have the start of a series or standalone? Cause what happens if I read and love it and then you have nothing for me after? I’ll be angry.
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So you haven’t started it yet?? And it could go either way. If there is one after it, it’ll be from another character’s POV
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No. I slept away my weekend. I’m only 100 pages into the book I’m reading. Hmm. I won’t read it unless you start writing. Something. Just kidding. I will. This week I’ll start it.
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Okay well I’m reallllly looking forward to your thoughts on it
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Well I’m reallllly looking forward to reading it. 🙂
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🙂
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My mentor tells me to write when I feel like it. I haven’t written my novel or screenplay in about two weeks. I’m going through a personal matter and I’m not focused on writing. But, I can write a blog every other day, sometimes every day. I guess it’s just time management. Sometimes writing the same time when you feel like writing helps. But, once you start, you get lost in the words and can’t stop. I know how you feel. I’m in the same boat.
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Hm. Well I’m not currently dealing with anything. I just don’t write because I don’t want to. Which is why I think a chance is in order.
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Me too! I’m in the same boat. I have some kind of block inside of me right now.
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Yep. I just have no motivation.
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I write a minimum of 500 words every single day. Usually it’s closer to 1,000. I would never have finished most of my projects if I hadn’t given myself that challenge, and by now it really feels more like a lifestyle than a challenge. It works really well for getting me around blocks, etc, because the words do not have to be anything GOOD, they just have to BE, and that really helps to just get everything on paper without worrying about quality immediately.
My other stipulation is that I refuse to edit while I am writing, and I’ve found that to be really helpful as well.
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Well I’m not going to set a goal. But if I sit down to write, I’m very rarely below like 800 words. Most times not below 1500.
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That is impressive… It’s a stretch for me to write more than 1200-ish.
I think it’s a good thing that you don’t feel the need to define your work into numbers though.
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I tend to write chapters in two sittings. My chapters are typically between 2500-3500. So that’s how I’ve come to write however much I do at a given time.
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Mine are about that long as well, but it usually takes me three sittings!
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Just preference.
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Interesting discussion. I’ve set writing goals for myself and time and time again miss the boat. One thing or another tends to pull me away or distract me…but the bottom line is, every once in a while I add to my work in progress and, guess what, I make progress. Weird.
I read somewhere it takes 10 days of repetitive effort to establish a routine..something like that. Establishing an exercise routine is a good example. But, first things first, show up. Sit down at the same time every day and write, or don’t write, but at least show up. That’s routine no. 1. Then, the more you sit, the more you might actually start to write. That’s my theory and I’m going to stick to it.
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I’ve never had a writing routine. But maybe it could help.
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Good luck to you! Sitting down and doing it is the hardest part!
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Especially since I’d rather lie down and sleep instead. Haha
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Sleeping is a lovely hobby.
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And my favorite. I mean, what kind of crazy must you be to not love sleep? Writing, everyone hates that.
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I do some of my best plotting when I’m asleep. 🙂
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Personally, I try to keep it all flexible. Different books, I’ve found, have different requirement. My first book took years to finish, the final draft alone took 15 months (near 600 pages). The second book popped out in 9 months (560 pages). I felt sure that 12 months would be plenty for book 3. That’s due next month and I’m not going to make it. I’ve extended it by 3 months.
Sometimes I write every day – I try to – and other times I take time away, otherwise you burn out. So it depends on the difficulty setting and how much strain you’re under.
In my opinion, there is no right way. I would suggest experiment, let whatever work, and when it stops working, change to something else, a different rhythm.
I don’t know if that helps or not. Good luck, whatever you do.
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Hm. Well I’m not under any strain or anything. I just don’t write
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I get like that. Usually reading what I have so far kicks me off, but sometimes it’s a big push to read it, too. 🙂
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When it comes to writing, the best approach is the one you’re most comfortable with. If I sit down to write and find I’m struggling, I get up and walk away. If I only write 200 words–great! It’s still something. Sometimes, I take a hit-and-run approach. If I’m messing about the house and a sentence or phrase comes to mind, I’ll run upstairs and write it down. Then I call it quits. Writing, although hard work, should be an enjoyable experience.
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I really do not have a writing process–I simply write when I have the time and for the length of time I am willing or inspired to. I too do not worry about word counts–when I feel the story is done, then its done. I guess the only goals I set for myself is a proposed end date of when I would like to finish a story, such as by the end of the year, March, etc.
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You sound exactly like me. Exactly.
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I can’t write unless I feel that thing – you know it? That writing inspiration BUZZ that overtakes your mind and you just have to pick up a pen or a stub of a pencil or write it in your mind and remember it so that you can put it to text at another time? I wish I could write every day, that I had that discipline … I might be a better (read: more productive) writer, if I could.
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I think I know what you’re talking about. I guess I just haven’t experienced that in a long time. Hmm.
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I hear you. Maybe you need a change of pace or routine?
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Definitely do. But eh. It’ll happen when it does.
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[…] On this day in 2014 I published Writing Everyday. […]
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