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Writing to Deadline--Easy!
Mar. 19th, 2016 08:49 amI have a new project, complete with deadline. (I'm still not sure if I'm able to give specifics, but watch this space.) 80,000 words by June 1.
At first, this seemed impossible. Then I did some math. I already have the synopsis done, so I know exactly what's going to happen. There are almost 80 days between now and June 1. If I give myself the last ten days for rewrites (and rewrites always go quickly for me), that gives me 70 days to write. That's 1,150 words per day, with a 500 word cushion.
1,150 words is a smidgen over three pages in Times New Roman font, depending on how much dialogue I use. I can do three pages in a day!
I also figured that once I've met my daily word count goal, I can let myself stop for the day. See, this is one of my problems when I write--I can't stop. I tend to say, "But there's more to write! The book's not done! Must . . . write . . . more . . . " And I write until I'm exhausted and my brain is leaking out of my ears and my children forget what I look like. It's not good for me.
With a set goal per day, I can write, then stop and do other things, like run or watch actual TV or read other people's books or spend time with my children. Imagine! What a delightful, stress-free way to write! And the book will be done in three months!
In fact, this is turning out to be the case. I do 1,150 words in about two and a half hours. Then I walk away from the computer. It's been easier to do it this way than when I have a book with a longer deadline.
Cool!
At first, this seemed impossible. Then I did some math. I already have the synopsis done, so I know exactly what's going to happen. There are almost 80 days between now and June 1. If I give myself the last ten days for rewrites (and rewrites always go quickly for me), that gives me 70 days to write. That's 1,150 words per day, with a 500 word cushion.
1,150 words is a smidgen over three pages in Times New Roman font, depending on how much dialogue I use. I can do three pages in a day!
I also figured that once I've met my daily word count goal, I can let myself stop for the day. See, this is one of my problems when I write--I can't stop. I tend to say, "But there's more to write! The book's not done! Must . . . write . . . more . . . " And I write until I'm exhausted and my brain is leaking out of my ears and my children forget what I look like. It's not good for me.
With a set goal per day, I can write, then stop and do other things, like run or watch actual TV or read other people's books or spend time with my children. Imagine! What a delightful, stress-free way to write! And the book will be done in three months!
In fact, this is turning out to be the case. I do 1,150 words in about two and a half hours. Then I walk away from the computer. It's been easier to do it this way than when I have a book with a longer deadline.
Cool!
