One thousand words a day.
That’s what I’ve agreed to do with some friends over on Twitter. A thousand words a day or five thousand words a week. It leaves a little wriggle room for busy times or just plain old tired times.
I know you’ve heard this before. I came on and said I was doing NaNoWriMo and failed. Then I said I was writing 100k with a Facebook group and I failed at that too. This time however, the time is right. I’m feeling it. You know that dieting thing where you can only do it if you’re in the right head space. My committing to continued writing is a bit like that. I am as equally bad at diets I will admit.
April and the A to Z challenge started me off well, setting me into a routine. Now I’m about to send novel number one, Shallow Waters, out to someone for final revisions so I need to get cracking on novel number two. Currently untitled.
I have obviously started number two, as it is now fondly known. I’ve been plotting and planning and making chapter notes and killing people and figuring out how my characters are dealing with events from Shallow Waters. I hit a brick wall though. For all the planning, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why people were being killed.
Shallow Waters wasย writtenย as a pantser. I sat down and typed. I thought I’d try the planning way but it’s just ย not working for me, so I need to take the notes I’ve made so far and start typing, and that way, hopefully, things will work themselves out.
So, I’m now committed to typing one thousand words a day (or at least five a week). So if you’re on Twitter, shout up with the hashtag #1kaday if you fancy joining us and I’ll add you to the Twitter list and we’ll motivate each other to continue!
Plotter or pantser? Word counter or not?
DJ Kirkby says
I’m a pantser and I have about eleventymillion writing projects (3 actually) that are going to gang up on me pretty much all at once so as long as I don’t have to be working on just one WIP I would like to join in please. How long are we doing it for?
Rebecca Bradley says
I’m so glad you’re joining Denyse! We are doing it as long as it takes I presume. I know a couple of us are starting projects from scratch, so as long as the first drafts take us, so at 5k a week, 4-5 months-ish? more or less depending on how good or bad we are at sticking to it. I do hope to get the first draft of novel two down though, but know I’ll be back working on novel one by mid June.
Linda King says
Good luck with the challenge! At least it gives you two days out of 5 to not write or to write less. I’m a ‘thongster’ – check out my recent blogpost! http://excusemewhileinotethatdown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/just-thought.html
Rebecca Bradley says
I loved your blog post! It’s funny how we all work differently though. I know writers who have to plot meticulously, which I suppose is just writing it out longhand really.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – I think it’s great hat you’re taking on this challenge. I know you’ll do a terrific job with it too! Please keep us posted about your progress.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s Margot. I’m sure you’ll hear me moaning I’m not keeping up at some point! Actually, I’m really hoping to do this and get the first draft of novel two down by the start of Autumn. That’s the plan anyway. All good plans and all that…
nancyrae4 says
Awesome plan, Rebecca! I’ll join you in spirit since I have yet to tweet anything to anyone. BTW, I’m a plotter and a counter.
Rebecca Bradley says
I wish I could be a plotter. I tried. I just couldn’t work it out without being immersed in it. We do all work so differently though don’t we?
We need to get you Tweeting. Eventually you won’t know how you lived without it!
Peter Domican says
Writing flash doesn’t work in the same way but 1K seems an achievable target. Good luck.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Peter. I do hope to be disciplined this time around. Novel two is important to me and it’s important the first draft comes out and gets written down and now is the right time for that.
Patricia (@patricialynne07) says
Good luck! You can do it. *shakes pompoms*
Rebecca Bradley says
I love some good pompom shaking! ๐ Thanks Patricia xx
jadereyner says
Sounds like a brilliant idea – I am on book two as well and am stuck in one scene at the moment and can’t work out how to move them on. They are not being very co-operative. I think may shout out on Twitter and join you! ๐
D.A.Cairns says
I’m pressing on with the story, but I want to connect two of my characters in a plausible way and I can’t figure it out yet. I’m just going to press on until it comes to me even though I may have to go back and rewrite some parts to make it work
jadereyner says
Sounds like the best way forward. It’s frustrating isn’t it – when you know where you want them to go, what you want them to do and where things are going to end up but you just can’t make it happen in a way that is acceptable for you and the reader. I have been staring at the same scene for so long it’s ridiculous! Good luck with pressing on with yours.!
Rebecca Bradley says
We’d absolutely love you on there! Though I haven’t really been there today. I was held hostage in the garden by the sunshine and a man wielding a BBQ!
Can you skip that scene and leave some **** in it’s place and go back to it when you’ve moved on a bit and then when you go back, you may figure out what should have been there.
jadereyner says
Thanks for the advice – fortunately it came to me whilst in the shower and they have now moved out of the kitchen – phew! Managed my 1k today so very pleased!!
D.A.Cairns says
I’m a plotter and a pantser, and I don’t like to count but I have a release date in mind for my WIP so I’m roughly shooting at 5-6K words a week. I agree about the A-Z Challenge. It was very helpful in showing me what I could do if I got fair dinkum about it. I’ve added around 8K words to my WIP since Thursday.
Rebecca Bradley says
The A to Z was great wasn’t it. I need to keep that momentum up, though I do need to pull back a tad on the blogging, which to be honest, I am loath to do as I love it so much. I will either pull back, or just drive myself into the ground trying to do it all. We’ll soon see! ๐
Your word count seems to be going incredibly well. Keep it up!
diannegray says
I’m definitely a pantser, Rebecca. Best of luck with the challenge! ๐
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Dianne. It would seem I am, with maybe some odd note taking thrown in, as a respectful show for plotting ๐
Very Tessa Tangent says
Moderation is best for me, I’ve realised. I do need some idea before I start. E.g. story, characters, settings, theme/s and a rough road map. So it’s a bit of plotting, then get stuck in for me. Good luck with the latest challenge!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Heather. That’s what has happened for me this time. A bit of plotting. Now it’s going to be spaghetti junction in there!
Very Tessa Tangent says
I’m in! I’m glad you mentioned it. I’m through with recuperating and ready to go! It’s doable so let’s enjoy it! ๐ x
Rebecca Bradley says
Brilliant! I love how everyone gets together on things like this. Here’s to manuscripts being written! ๐
Vikki Thompson says
Good luck honey! You can do it ๐
Xx
Rebecca Bradley says
I love your enthusiasm and support Vikki. Thank you! xx
Vikki Thompson says
I just love to see my fellow writing/blogging pals doing well ๐
Xx
Cynthia Reed says
Mmmm, I really think I should throw my hat in this ring…lovely idea and sounds like really nice discipline, too. Many smaller projects would suit for me. Thinking, thinking. Thank you for the lead!