I can be talkative. I can be detailed. I can be wordy. And I'm really counting on that as I implement a new system to increase both discipline and output.
As of late last week, I'll be allowing myself internet access only after meeting a word count of 1000 words each day. No e-mail, no Facebook, no blogs. Writing first.
Thursday, my first day, had me off to a good start with 1200 words. Friday saw 1900! The weekend was a busy bust like weekends often are, but today is a new day, a new week. (I should be launching into today's production soon after this post publishes.)
I'm excited, I'm hopeful, I'm ready to get this rough draft done. By Christmas.
It can be done, I think. Because words and me? We're likethis.
***
What do your goals look like for the next little bit?
Do you have a system for your writing, and how does it break down?
Showing posts with label word count. Show all posts
Showing posts with label word count. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
As For Today...
I'm pleased to post that today things are much clearer. Has that ever happened to you? You express your thoughts and concerns to others and then, perhaps because you've laid things on the table and can get a full look at them, from every angle, the answer becomes as plain as day? Things just click?
Yesterday afternoon it was impressed upon me that I should proceed with my non-fiction proposal. I will pursue agents who represent narratives, and simply see where it leads.
And then, after having read yesterday's post (scroll down one), a writing buddy pointed me to the site of a well-known imprint. They publish romance and women's fiction (among other things) with an inspirational focus, and writers can submit directly to them. One of the best parts, though I've inadvertantly met nearly every one of their guidelines (because of my style and themes and personal morals), is that they take novels with as little as 55,000 words. This means, my dear friends, that if I take another looksee at Bliss Lake and flesh things out with just 4000+ words more, I can meet their requirement. And submit. And see what happens. And create (I hope) a longer manuscript in the meantime. THIS is what I needed to push me; a specific goal, with an outcome I could shoot for. I love that!
Now from (recent) past experiences, I've learned not to get my hopes up. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, for who knows what my plan holds. I sure don't. But I'm confident, as I've mentioned before, that each step I take gets me closer to my ultimate destination.
And I know I keep coming back to the metaphor of direction and signs and the path before me... but I'm going to step out in faith on that path. I'll see where this last set of directions takes me, and pray for guidance along the way.
How do you make your way?
Yesterday afternoon it was impressed upon me that I should proceed with my non-fiction proposal. I will pursue agents who represent narratives, and simply see where it leads.
And then, after having read yesterday's post (scroll down one), a writing buddy pointed me to the site of a well-known imprint. They publish romance and women's fiction (among other things) with an inspirational focus, and writers can submit directly to them. One of the best parts, though I've inadvertantly met nearly every one of their guidelines (because of my style and themes and personal morals), is that they take novels with as little as 55,000 words. This means, my dear friends, that if I take another looksee at Bliss Lake and flesh things out with just 4000+ words more, I can meet their requirement. And submit. And see what happens. And create (I hope) a longer manuscript in the meantime. THIS is what I needed to push me; a specific goal, with an outcome I could shoot for. I love that!
Now from (recent) past experiences, I've learned not to get my hopes up. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, for who knows what my plan holds. I sure don't. But I'm confident, as I've mentioned before, that each step I take gets me closer to my ultimate destination.
And I know I keep coming back to the metaphor of direction and signs and the path before me... but I'm going to step out in faith on that path. I'll see where this last set of directions takes me, and pray for guidance along the way.
How do you make your way?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
As (sorta) Promised
A simple post...
Ran across this site the other day. I can see both benefits and potential downfalls but, still, it looks pretty darn cool. What do you think?
Word Count Journal
Ran across this site the other day. I can see both benefits and potential downfalls but, still, it looks pretty darn cool. What do you think?
Word Count Journal
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