Last year, I joined a few Yeovil Creative Writers on a challenge to write 1,000 words a day. No rules, write whatever you like as long as you reach 1,000 words by bedtime. In my mind before I took the challenge I thought that it would be a doddle. 'I mean,' I'd say, 'I do near enough 1,000 a day anyway.' No, I was wrong. It took a while to get a 1,000 words a day but at the end of it I had around 29,000 to 33,000 words done I think. And now, I've accepted the challenge again!
We chose February, it's less days than the others so a few days easier. Still bloody hard to achieve! Now, I like to think I've come a long way with writing since 2013, I know what to expect of myself and I understand that there will come those days when I won't feel like writing at all. That's usually when I decide to read or spend a few hours in Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto V but they don't happen as often these days. This used to bug me, loads. I used to get furious with myself when I didn't feel like writing because I felt as though I had let myself down. 'Oh, there you go! You've wasted another day, try again!' I'm not like that anymore. Writing is hard and most of the time I have to wind down watching YouTube videos and listen to music before I can get started. We all have ways that help us.
So, getting those 1,000 words down. For me it helps to know I have a project underway. I'm writing something new, something sci-fi and that's what my creative mind thinks about these days so I can knock out a good thousand for it. However, when I have nothing going, starting to write is harder than ever. I'm not somebody who can conjure up a short story instantly, writing blind isn't easy for me but I try anyway. Sometimes I can do it but most of the time I can't. I usually do have something I can work on anyway which is great, I always try and keep my writing self busy.
It's probably a good time to mention that a routine is worth keeping when writing. I tend to write in the mornings (usually after an hour of doing nothing online) and then later in the afternoon I'll write some more (again after doing nothing online) and maybe I'll write a bit more in the evening. Usually, I'm done in the afternoon. I don't tend to try and stick to a word count every day, mind. Although, I have to for the challenge. I used to always try for 1,000 words EVERY day and got really angry if I failed. Now, though, I find it far more important to forget about a word count every day and just jot the freaking story down! Authors will always say different things so it's difficult to decide who is right and wrong but I believe nobody is. I like to look at these so-called rules more as guidelines. Isn't anything creative supposed to be free? None the less, when writing (out of challenges) I just stick to getting the story down but in the back of my mind I have those pesky 1K words fighting for attention. But, I do expect a minimum of 500 words a day. Some people may say 'OH! That's nothing!' and I say good for you. I'll work how I want to and what works for me.
To sum up, don't listen to anyone, not even me. If you want to achieve 2,000 words a day, go right for it. 500? Go right ahead. None of us work the same, I'm not coffee mad like loads of people (although, I do like coffee a lot) and I'm not keen on shutting out the curtains and working in darkness. I work in natural light, with a messy desk, music in the background (when not writing most of the time) and my mind on other stuff. I get the bad days like everybody else. Find a way that works for you and if it creates results, stick to it.
We chose February, it's less days than the others so a few days easier. Still bloody hard to achieve! Now, I like to think I've come a long way with writing since 2013, I know what to expect of myself and I understand that there will come those days when I won't feel like writing at all. That's usually when I decide to read or spend a few hours in Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto V but they don't happen as often these days. This used to bug me, loads. I used to get furious with myself when I didn't feel like writing because I felt as though I had let myself down. 'Oh, there you go! You've wasted another day, try again!' I'm not like that anymore. Writing is hard and most of the time I have to wind down watching YouTube videos and listen to music before I can get started. We all have ways that help us.
So, getting those 1,000 words down. For me it helps to know I have a project underway. I'm writing something new, something sci-fi and that's what my creative mind thinks about these days so I can knock out a good thousand for it. However, when I have nothing going, starting to write is harder than ever. I'm not somebody who can conjure up a short story instantly, writing blind isn't easy for me but I try anyway. Sometimes I can do it but most of the time I can't. I usually do have something I can work on anyway which is great, I always try and keep my writing self busy.
It's probably a good time to mention that a routine is worth keeping when writing. I tend to write in the mornings (usually after an hour of doing nothing online) and then later in the afternoon I'll write some more (again after doing nothing online) and maybe I'll write a bit more in the evening. Usually, I'm done in the afternoon. I don't tend to try and stick to a word count every day, mind. Although, I have to for the challenge. I used to always try for 1,000 words EVERY day and got really angry if I failed. Now, though, I find it far more important to forget about a word count every day and just jot the freaking story down! Authors will always say different things so it's difficult to decide who is right and wrong but I believe nobody is. I like to look at these so-called rules more as guidelines. Isn't anything creative supposed to be free? None the less, when writing (out of challenges) I just stick to getting the story down but in the back of my mind I have those pesky 1K words fighting for attention. But, I do expect a minimum of 500 words a day. Some people may say 'OH! That's nothing!' and I say good for you. I'll work how I want to and what works for me.
To sum up, don't listen to anyone, not even me. If you want to achieve 2,000 words a day, go right for it. 500? Go right ahead. None of us work the same, I'm not coffee mad like loads of people (although, I do like coffee a lot) and I'm not keen on shutting out the curtains and working in darkness. I work in natural light, with a messy desk, music in the background (when not writing most of the time) and my mind on other stuff. I get the bad days like everybody else. Find a way that works for you and if it creates results, stick to it.