Keep Writing!

Writing your first novel-Some things you should know

writingJust recently I received a ‘like’ on this blog and I reread it. I needed a reminder myself to keep writing.

You would think with the coronavirus and shelter in place order, I would have plenty of time to write. Fact is, as many of you probably know, the news and everything else going on is consuming my waking hours. I need to recalibrate.

Maybe all those tips about writing every day and setting quotas was right. Not to say that you can’t take time off to enjoy a special evening or life, but you have to stay motivated or you will lose the desire, momentum, will to write.untitled

  • So I find myself going through articles on how to motivate yourself to write. Not sure why.  I already know most of the tips by heart. I guess I’m hoping to find something new, a magic pill maybe.  Well If there is one, I haven’t found it. So I guess I just have to fall back on the tried and true. Make a date with yourself to show up and write on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to be great. You just need to write.
  • Choose the time of day that works best for you. In the morning after that first cup of coffee works best for me.
  • Share your goals and dreams with family and friends. They will ask how it’s going and keep you in line.
  • Cut off all electronics. This one is a given and to be honest, I have allowed myself to get sucked back into Facebook and other social media outlets over the last month. They are mind-numbing and can take precious time away from what is important. If you use them to communicate with family in other states, like myself, you need to schedule in time and watch the clock.
  • Set a daily quota. To be honest I’ve never done that one. I do set a weekly quota. It allows me time for life to happen and is more realistic. Point is you need a goal, something to work towards to keep you moving.
  • Record and keep up with your word count. It will serve as a timesheet and a reward system to praise yourself.
  • Allow yourself to write badly. At least for early drafts be gentle on yourself. If you stop to judge, edit, delete and rewrite, you will be spending all your time playing reader or critic, not writer.

Something to think about

-Jan R

Keep Writing!

6 thoughts on “Keep Writing!”

  2. I absolutely agree that writing should be a regularly scheduled thing. I wish I’d gotten into the habit of writing on a daily basis much sooner. It took me years to form that habit.
    As for turning off all electronics, I actually work better with lots of noise around me. I feel like it takes the pressure off me. I’m not just staring at a blank page. I write with the tv going in the background. I take frequent breaks to scroll reddit. I keep multiple tabs open. It doesn’t hamper me. It keeps me writing longer. And then my writing time is just mixed in with all my other down time. It doesn’t feel like work.
    A lot of people probably do need to shut off all distractions, but I guess I work better with a lot of noise and hopping around from one thing to another. I average 1-3k words a day, so I’d say it works.

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  3. Good tips, and thanks for the encouragement! I don’t set a word count quota, but I do aim for time at the keyboard. I’m one of those people who likes to think-n-write. The words DON’T just spill out. Some days my word counts are up, some days down, but I celebrate forward progress no matter how fast or slow because that keeps writing fun and interesting.

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