novel_in_90 sitrep

[lagilman]

As some of you know, and some of you don't, matociquala started a community called "Novel in 90" wherein the goal is to take small but steady bites out of the novel-writing business. Call it the anti-NaNoWriMo. 750 words a day. That's all.

I joined as a way to make sure that I got going on Retrievers5 (aka DOWN INTO DARKNESS), even as I was plowing through on the Nocturne. I wake up in the morning and, while the caffeine makes itself ready, I write. I don't try to force myself past the 750 word goal: it's enough to keep moving, page by page.

So. A week in, and I report my progress: 5,900 words, out of a projected 100,000.

Seems like nothing, doesn't it? I'm averaging 843 words a day. Small, steady bites. If I keep this up, I'll reach draft by April (contract due date is 1 April). Once TNS is handed in, though, I'll probably be able to double my count for most days. The trick is not to falter. Slow and steady.

We'll see how it continues.


(in the meanwhile, I have a short story that's due and tapping its foot impatiently at me...)

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I'm finding this the most manageable writing goal I've ever had --- much more manageable, oddly, than "write every day". I think it's the closed-endedness that makes all the difference.

[lagilman]

Exactly. As I said over in the comm, "write until you fall over" is a deadly trap, and one that will make you dread opening the file. Even a thousand words a day is somewhat daunting.

But 750? 750 is manageable. 750 is a reasonable number that even the most harried of multiple-job-juggler can do, without breaking their brain.


(Yes, it's hard. This whole writing thing is hard. It's not going to be any less hard if you write a hundred, or a hundred thousand words. The operative phrase here isn't 'easy' but 'manageable.')

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

A certain amount of time is spent Not Thinking About The Suck, yes.

[windrose.livejournal.com]

You know, this sounds quite reasonable. I may have to give the comm a look. Thanks for the pointer.

[moschus.livejournal.com]

good lord I so want to join this

[lagilman]

if you don't produce, tho, you get Mocked... ;-D

[moschus.livejournal.com]

yes, but would I get Mocked with wit and elan?

every now and then one could use a good Mocking

[mt-yvr.livejournal.com]

I've been hiding from my writing for at least a year. I knew I had to get back into it, I knew I needed something. I'm using the goal of 750 or more words a day as a kickstart. I'm not really taking part, but I'm using the method to crowbar my butt back into the seat.

So far I've averaged 900 a day, except the one day I missed. For me to have actually gone a week and only one day missed...? It's a huge, massive step up. It's writing at all.

For me I know my own faults. I get caught in the big projects as being too big. If I just settle on two easy goals, I can do it. 750 or more a day and it has to be in the same piece of work. That's all. I also don't keep writing until it's all out. I just do my little piece, keeping myself on track and not falling into the habit of running and running and running and falling down.

Slow, steady, no big goals to swamp my brain with and I think it'll be the pattern I need to establish.

ayuh

[lagilman]

see above response about "managable" being the magic word...

Re: ayuh

[mt-yvr.livejournal.com]

My trap was I got into the habit of just writing every day. It worked, but it started to be a problem that I felt I needed to complete a scene or whatever, keep writing. Now, I realize I need to focus on small steps and keep at it. (shrug)

I'm finding it much easier to manage this time around. The biggest management issue has been getting myself to believe I need to write what I need to write and worry later. As in : I keep thinking "aren't we out of this room yet? isn't this moving a little slow?" It's an outgrowth of the push push push mentality.

As for the writing issues, I'm happy to say there are many. Dialogue still sucks (I'm not giving up on multiple voices being easily told apart, but I'm also not imagining it's happening yet). But I'm better than I was. Pacing is an issue, but nowhere near what it was. The info dump line is being given MUCH wider berth...

And I'm thinking again. About the writing. Most of all, I like that.

[onalark.livejournal.com]

Having blown my writing brains out in April 2005 spitting out a book in 30 days while still holding down the dayjob, I too am now trying the 90 day formula to see if it Works For Me.

The big problem is I have a very, very demanding career (that I love) and that doesn't take kindly to me pounding out 3000-5000 words a night (which I also love). Being a rutabaga at work was okay a year or two ago, but ever since the bastards made me a manager, it's hard to skate by that way :P

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Cool. I am doing something along those lines. Must write every day and do Tai Chi every day. Then we will see what happens.