WHAT I DID TO WRITE 4000 WORDS TODAY
Posted on August 30, 2018
Here's a little rundown of what goes into writing 4,000 words in a day.
It starts with a little procrastination, but I generally begin writing by 10:30.
I usually jot down my goals for the word counts on an index card, breaking it down so that every other chapter is given two hours. Here's what I'm attempting today. Notice I expect a 6:00 finish.
I like listening to music as I write. That means firing up the radio or, with today, listening to CDs. I made it through six. The stacks will stay for tomorrow and next week. Lots of Midnight Oil and Judybats to flavor my days. Hoping Guadalcanal Diaries is in there, too.
And these ancient music storage devices get played on what us old folks call a boom box. This sucker has served me well. Notice it plays cassettes, of which I still have many.
On display is my energy boost for the day next to the binder open to the chapter outline. During the course of today also meant pulling up the last few chapters of the third book as a pivotal scene needed to revisit that moving sequence. I'm very happy with how cleverly this remembrance scene advances the plot.
I stuck to the schedule very well. The pressure washing company came by around 1:00 and stayed for two hours to clean our siding and driveway. That didn't slow me down. Although, it did result in my golden retriever hiding under my desk with his head on my feet for the afternoon. Excellent canine company, even when he's slightly trembling.
I wrapped up work on the 4,000 words at 5:00, an hour early.
I then spent a half hour creating this post.
Later tonight, I'll reread what I've written and make initial fixes. That'll have the story fresh in my head for tomorrow.
The last three days in the studio are going to be fun. I'm aiming for 5,000 words each day. We'll see how it goes. I think it should go smoothly as Irving 4 is at a point where the action and adventure are fast and furious. Those chapters are always breeze by for me.
Man, you're structured. Writing a note of your word count targets and putting check boxes next to them ready to tick off... Nope. I just start writing and stop when I stop. My goal is simple: Write some words. But, what I have done today? A couple of paragraphs. :-(
When I'm teaching for those nine weeks, I edit and revise my writing (and help Keith with his novels). I could squeeze in some writing, but I never feel that it achieves the same degree of momentum and unbridled creativity as what I write during those welcome three-week sessions.
I'm very lucky to have this schedule. I don't think I would get nearly as much writing done if I had a typical twelve-week summer.