Month: November 2013
The secret to writing 50,000 words in 30 days
Want to know how to write 50,000 words fast? Throw some of them away.
I’m not joking. The essence of writing 50,000 words in a month for National Novel Writing Month – or of writing 2000 words to a features editor deadline, or indeed of writing anything to time, is not getting stuck. And the biggest trap for writers – the biggest sink-hole for productivity – is when you end up wrestling with a recalcitrant passage. It just doesn’t flow right and nothing you do seems to unsnag it. But it’s a thousand words and that’s part of your word count.
My advice – throw the duff text away and start again. You won’t regret it. One of the biggest traps when re-casting is revising older text. It always frames and shapes what you are trying to do. Better to re-start with a blank page. An hour spent writing fresh…
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NaNoWriMo
It’s here! National Novel Writing Month. This year I’ve signed up as a participant, and I’m very excited. Originally I was going to meet with my writing club every Saturday during the month of November, but I got scheduled to work so I’m on my own. This really stinks because it’s the 3rd, and I haven’t written any words yet. The goal is 2000 a day. I’ve never attempted anything like this, but I think that it will force me to put fingers to keyboard and get this book written that I’ve thought about doing for almost three years. And thinking is about all I’ve done for it. I’m excited and nervous at the same time because it is so easy to just think about doing it. So much easier than actually sitting down and making myself do it. However, that time has come and gone. It’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty, shed my fears, and just do it. Wish me luck!
If you’re interested in signing up, here is the link: National Novel Writing Month
Good luck to you too if you take the challenge!
Overcoming My Ink Monster 