250 words a day
Yesterday, I posted an article on StrangeWords about consistently writing a smaller number of words a day over perhaps being overwhelmed by National Novel Writing Month (NaNoMo). I read a post or two promoting this idea. I encouraged my friend who starting to hear the writing call to do this. So I decided to “walk the walk”.
On Monday, I committed to writing 250-500 NEW fiction words every day 5 days a week. So far I’m 4/4 days. My Day Job requires me to write many 200-300 word posts a day, so I know I can do 250-500 during lunch with plenty of time for online stuff and actually eating.
I liken this to the slow diet changes over fad diets. I’m getting the habit in my muscle memory. And by leaving it at such a “small” chunk, I use the rest of my daily writing times to finish editing my “Plan” stuff, writing some non-0fiction typing, being distractable on line. That sort of thing.
It’s been working for four days. I still have about 3 more weeks to go until this is a total habit. Here’s hoping this is one wagon I don’t fall off of. Though even on “low creative” days, it’s still only 250 words, and they don’t have to be brilliant words ON THAT DAY. I have permission to NOT BE PERFECT OR BRILLIANT EVERY DAY as long as I stay consistent.
And let me tell ya, the new story I’m working on? I’m having a BALL with it. I can’t wait to see where it goes. Ah, there’s the mental warning… back to the Day Job.