Comments on: Boot camp for writers

By: D.C. DaCosta

D.C. DaCosta — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 01:07:37 +0000

First, thanks to James and Kristin, above, for their comments, which are especially useful. I prefer to write with the wireless turned OFF so as not to be tempted to check email, etc..
I try to aim for two full hours a day, but working by the clock isn’t really my style. And I’d rather go for 12 hours straight, but “life” intervenes.
I’ve thought about doing it a la P.G. Wodehouse, who sat at the typewriter from 9:00 until about 4:00 nearly every day, as if at a paying job. (Of course, in his case it WAS a paying job.) He wrote to an outline, though, which I find limiting, although I have achieved a word count of 1,000 per hour when using an outline. It just seems to suck the life out of the process, though…

By: Kellie Lovegrove

Kellie Lovegrove — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:55:48 +0000

Wow, everyone has such good strategies. I feel like a slacker. Honestly, I don’t have a set amount of time or a word count goal. My goal is to simply make the time to write everyday. If I have the time to write, I sit down and do it. I can’t count the times that I’ve stayed up until 1 or 2 in the morning because I didn’t have the time before midnight to get anything done. Even if I don’t feel inspired to create something new I go back and edit scenes I’ve already written.

I should really crack down on myself and set an actual word count goal, I think I like that one better than the kitchen timer. That’s it, I’ve put it out there for the entire world to see. No turning back now.

By: James Fabris

James Fabris — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:40:08 +0000

For me, 1000 words of fiction is a good writing day. 500 words is not bad either. I find if have a good idea, I can do 500 words in a couple of hours. Then I can go about the rest of my day and do whatever it is I have to do to earn a buck or to get my daughter to her ballet class.

If you have a family and work, and not a lot of time, it is better to consistently write 500 words a day, or even 250, than it is to sit down and try to write 10 or 15 pages all in one shot. Months could go by before you have the time to write that much in one sitting again. By then you will have forgotten where you were, so you will have a hard time getting started again.

If you stop after 500 words, and you still have more to say, you can sit down the next day, and it will still be fresh. The words will flow.

By: Joelle

Joelle — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:50:15 +0000

About three years ago, I finally got my dream desk…a treadmill desk! Now I write and walk at the same time. What I discovered is how little actual writing I do in a day! The timer on the treadmill does not lie. Usually, it’s only about 60-120 minutes a day, even though it takes me most of the day to do it! Even after 3 years I can’t quite figure that out. I reckon it’s the food breaks because the treadmill makes me hungry. Yeah, that’s it. Still, if I walk/write somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2-4 miles (at 2mph), then I’ve had very good writing day.

By: Michael Peck

Michael Peck — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:37:33 +0000

I, too, do word count over time spent writing. Scrivener, which is an absolute godsend to writers (and no, I have no financial interest in the software), allows you to keep a window open with your goals for the overall project and your current session, and colored bars turn from red to green as you make progress.

I’ve found that an odd mental trick works with word count, too. My real goal is at least 1000 words, but I set the session goal at only 500. So rather than glancing at the colored bar and feeling the pressure to make it turn green, it does so when I’m halfway through, and the rest flows more easily because it’s all gravy from there, so I’m looser. As a result, I average more like 1500 words per session.

All’s fair in hitting your goals, I find, even if involves duping yourself. Whatever moves things forward.

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:35:28 +0000

I don’t quantify the amount of time I spend writing, just the number of words. A good day is 1000 words. A really good day is much more than that. I feel like if I timed it, I’d end up punishing myself if I spent less time one day, even if my word count was phenomenal.

I have in the past timed the amount of time I spend doing leisure activities, if I feel they’re getting out of hand. It’s much easier for me to change my habit if I can look down and say, “I’ve spent HOW LONG fooling around on the Internet/watching TV/whatever?!”