Tracking progress and discipline.

[Coragem]

Hi there:

To all you effortlessly productive people, damn you. But read on because I'll take help from wherever I can get it.

Basically, although I'm super-motivated to write I find it hard to maintain (1) consistent progress and (2) consistent hours – 1 and 2 being related but not quite the same.

I think I mostly know what I'm missing: something of what most of us get in a work place, hours we HAVE TO keep to and strict productivity targets. I just haven't yet been able to find an effective way to impose that on my writing.

Any tips? Observations?

Coragem.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I have to admit that my progress is not consistent - I'm a binge writer, so I tend to power through a draft and then take a break. I suspect this won't work for you, though!

However you work, you need to set yourself targets and deadlines - be your own boss, literally. When I was working on revising The Alchemist of Souls in early 2010, I gave myself until mid-September to have it done and out the door so that I could go to FantasyCon without feeling guilty.

I've also used techniques like marking off milestones on my wall calendar:

http://www.annelyle.com/blog/news-about-my-books/the-merchant-of-dreams-is-handed-in/

Or you could join a writing group (on- or offline) where you're obliged to contribute a sample of work every n weeks.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yeah, writing groups are good because you haveto produce your bit on time. I try to write something every day, but I think mostly I sort of treat it as if it is part of my job and put my head down and get on with it the same way. I think waiting for the muse to hit and what not is a bit hit and miss and I churn it out - something - even if I have to grit my teeth. At the moment work- work is busy so while the kids are at school I work, but when they get home I write. I am lucky, though, that I can write through chaos!

I set targets, but the opposite way - i would burn myself out if I didn't limit myself. At the moment I am aiming for 20 pages a day editing/ rewriting, although I have been doing about double that. (I set a low target for me.)

Edit - i do sometimes wonder if it is because I have been self-employed for years, with a home office, and am used to the discipline of working even though the house needs tidied and the kids are painting something they shouldn't....

 

[Anne Lyle]

Edit - i do sometimes wonder if it is because I have been self-employed for years, with a home office, and am used to the discipline of working even though the house needs tidied and the kids are painting something they shouldn't....

Could be! I'm not self-employed but I'm basically a project manager, so I have to set deadlines and targets for my staff if we're to deliver on time.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Basically, although I'm super-motivated to write I find it hard to maintain (1) consistent progress and (2) consistent hours

I think setting a consistent time is very helpful - I'm a night person so I work well at night, so have 9:30pm onwards (Sun-Thurs) set aside for any writing work.

Even if I write/rewrite/edit during the day, I still set that time aside as a constant.

In the event that I'm really not into it, I read a novel or a writing book and count that as time still well used.

Keeping a daily wordcount is very hard, but there are constructive alternatives such as editing and reading to ensure time set aside is still used constructively.

 

[Gumboot]

I find the only way I can be productive is by setting targets and making the commitment to write every day. I find that tracking my progress makes an enormous difference, and developed an Excel spreadsheet for this purpose. I simply log in the word count I achieve each day, with notes of what I wrote, and it tracks my progress, providing an enormous range of analysis and showing me whether I am on track to my target.

I only find this useful for first drafts or total rewrites, as once I am into revision and editing it's a little harder to measure word count meaningfully.

 

[Boneman]

It's a common problem*. I once set myself a reasonable target of 1,000 words a day and congratulated myself on achieving it with ease for some time. Then came a day when, for all sorts of reasons I didn't. 'No problem I'll do more tomorrow'... (you can see where this is going, can't you?) the muse decided to have a well-earned day off, and it took me three days to get back on target. After I repeated varying scenarios of the same problem, I realised I was putting pressure on myself to get back on target, which actually hampered my creativeness, and I almost started to dislike writing.

Now I have no targets, but do something every day - occasionally I'lll edit all day, and change hundreds of words, singly, here and there. Sometimes I'll write a couple of paragraphs and then read for ages, because my muse is demanding entertainment. Some days I do 6,000 words (those are usually the ones that need editing very closely!).

We all have distractions - life, usually. Peter Brett* at FantasyCon told how he'll sit down to work, struggle to get going and then "ooh, Twitter!!" and be distracted for ages. Other times he has to be dragged from the room still trying to reach his keyboard to type those last few words.

I think as long as you're progressing (you're doing a marathon, after all, not a sprint) then don't be hard on yourself. But: set yourself say, 8pm-10pm weekdays, and see if it works. Tell everyone concerned this is what you're doing and your mobile will be switched off, etc, but don't set a word count. That 2 hours might be spent researching how far horses can carry two men without a break, or some such, and everything you do in those hours will help move the book along, I promise.

 

[LittleStar]

I would agree, a large part of it is setting targets, and being disciplined enough to stick to them. I'm usually really good when once I actually start, but i do have a habit of procrastinating (usually online) and finding distractions to not write. But once i start i hit about 3k words in a couple of hours...
As I am a student, currently on doing nothing for the whole summer, you'd think I would churn 10-15k a day at that rate. But something tells me if I did then I would burn out quickly, or get bored of the story or characters; like springs above I guess. So I stop after this little rush or work and count myself as having a productive day in the writing department.
This amount I think stems probably from my attemt at a kind of NaNoWriMo, I managed about 65k and it's been sitting there untouched for two years now, but I've had other projects and uni concerns to deal with. I did enjoy the story, though it was a really quick think (unlike my my others which have had hours invested before pen touches paper) but if I'm being honest as well, i think most of the motivation and dedication was because I was very much trying to show off to a new partner.

I think the right kind of motivation is key, you need a healthy mix or professional and personal ones, whether they are showing off, proving to yourself that you can do it or just getting the story out of your head so you can start to think about other things.

 

[Boneman]

Just to Correct: 'Twas Brent Weekes, not Peter Brett...

 

[Anne Lyle]

I usually find that procrastination is often a symptom of something being wrong with the story that I haven't been able to pinpoint - when the writing is going well, I have zero problem ignoring Twitter etc.

At that point, the best solution is to go for a walk, have a bath, or do something else well away from the screen that doesn't take active concentration.

 

[Dozmonic]

Set yourself stakes. Can you afford to give a hundred quid to charity every month you don't hit a word target? Give that many to a friend and tell them to donate unless you hit it. If you can afford a hundred, try a thousand. You'll get work done pretty quick

 

[Coragem]

Thanks all.

I think one very important factor for me is a gut deep sense that:

Aspiring writers have no chance unless the work is pristine.

That's why I don't set word count targets. If I'm interpreting my gut sense correctly, the logic is that there's little point pushing for 500 bad words when 300 of my best words is more likely to impress an agent one sun-shiny-happy-day. For me personally, novice that I am, taking lots and lots of time almost always produces a tighter, better result.

That said, my writing is getting a lot better so maybe I need to reach a point where I have the confidence to up the pace and actually focus on getting something finished.

In terms of setting hours, I never ever choose not to write because I'm lazy or would just rather do something else. It's always a case of things that seem to "need" to be done (shopping, cooking, getting some exercise) getting in the way.

BTW, I very much agree that procrastination often coincides with the story going in slightly the wrong direction. I.e., another sort of "gut sense", a gut compass telling us to think again.

I also find what I'm reading makes a very big difference. If the prose rhythm in what I'm reading tallies with my own, I speed up. If I feel excited and energised and challenged by my reading, I speed up.

Coragem.

 

[Bowler1]

For me, not yet being a professional (remains to be seen if that will ever happen!), I’m enjoying that fact that writing is for fun. I don’t have to produce to deadlines or quotas, which is nice. I do try and work three or four nights a week, even if it’s only for an hour, because let’s face it – the job that does pay the bills can leave you tired sometimes! Word count is a good measure if not one that might reflect effort, as editing and correcting also has to be done with very little effect on word court, but a big effect on word quality! It depends on what you want, but set achievable goals, either time put aside or low word counts that can be achieved on a regular basis. Anything above this will of course be a plus.

I like to be aiming for a book a year, a nice big target, but one that still requires 2k to 3k work count a week which is big. I achieve my word counts in fits and starts, but managed it for my old WIP, but the new project is slower to get started. I still have my word count, but I’ve switched to a short for a little while.

All of the above will have to be weighed up against learning and developing your writing style, that comes first I think. But a regular habit of writing can’t be beaten for learning. So what I’m trying to say, is keep it regular, and keep at it and you’ll get there in the end.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks all.

I think one very important factor for me is a gut deep sense that:

Aspiring writers have no chance unless the work is pristine.

Coragem.

I don't think this is entirely borne out. Certainly, some agent interviews I've read indicate the marketability of the story, and the general readability/subject matter/storytelling, is their biggest driver in accepting new writers. That and a sense that they have longevity -- John Berlyne has said before that he would never try to pitch a one book deal -- and will complete/produce more work. I honestly think getting to the end is the key in the first place, in reasonable nick, and then editing can be the honing experience where it's got ready for the agent.

Incidentally, even when editing I try to have some sort of target in mind, even though it might be looser.

 

[Brian G Turner]

If I'm interpreting my gut sense correctly, the logic is that there's little point pushing for 500 bad words when 300 of my best words is more likely to impress an agent one sun-shiny-happy-day.

I do agree - BUT getting those 300 best words often depends on having 1000 bad words run through rewrite and editing drafts.

I consider the process as akin to sculpting stone - you're not going to create your best detail immediately - you have to chisel down to create rough shapes and then chip more until the detail you want comes through.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I think one very important factor for me is a gut deep sense that:

Aspiring writers have no chance unless the work is pristine.

That's why I don't set word count targets. If I'm interpreting my gut sense correctly, the logic is that there's little point pushing for 500 bad words when 300 of my best words is more likely to impress an agent one sun-shiny-happy-day. For me personally, novice that I am, taking lots and lots of time almost always produces a tighter, better result.

Yes, but - you don't have to get it right first time.

My first draft of The Alchemist of Souls, written for NaNoWriMo, was frankly utterly unpublishable - full of plot holes, for one thing. But I'd never finished a novel-length work before, and getting the story down on paper was more important to me than the prose itself. Afterwards, of course, I went back and rewrote it and revised it and polished it until it was of a quality to snag an agent.

But I would never have got to that stage if I'd fussed over every paragraph.

Sounds to me like you've got a nasty case of Internal Editor going on. If you're happy to push away at 300 words a day, that's fine - if you manage that every single day it adds up to over 100k a year, which is a decent-length novel. In the long term, that's not going to be fast enough for a commercial publishing career, but you will get faster as you get more practice. It took me 4 years (on-and-off) of rewrites to get AoS up to scratch, but I wrote the sequels in a year each

 

[Bowler1]

I do agree - BUT getting those 300 best words often depends on having 1000 bad words run through rewrite and editing drafts.

I consider the process as akin to sculpting stone - you're not going to create your best detail immediately - you have to chisel down to create rough shapes and then chip more until the detail you want comes through.

I write slowly so I do less chipping (we're all a little different), but even still I will edit away at least 25% and usually about a third. But I'll re-read every few weeks and go over each section a number of times and at least hit double figures of re-reading before I'm happy. But, the re-reading and a little editing warms up my muse, gets me into the flow. I can't just start writing. So have you tried starting like I do, re-reading and editing maybe the prior two sections and then pushing forward?

 

[Venusian Broon]

But, the re-reading and a little editing warms up my muse, gets me into the flow. I can't just start writing. So have you tried starting like I do, re-reading and editing maybe the prior two sections and then pushing forward?

Of course each to their own, and whatever way works for you but:

When I tried it this way I found that it was a big struggle to actually get to the point when I would be writing something new. i.e. If I give myself an hour a day, and if I went back and edited or re-drafted passages I'd written before, I'd find that I'd be onto new territory only at about minute 55. So it drastically cut down my word count accumulation

So the only way I could make progress was to write the best I could, but sail on regardless till I hit the end. Editing comes when I've got a complete body of work, which is more sensible for me 'cause I know of whole passages already that I should just junk and cut out rather than go to the effort of re-writing!

 

[Bowler1]

Each to their own as you say, VB. I find it keep reminds me of the plot and my thought process from when I was last writing, but the faffing and shuffling of words while editing is a clear and present danger. However, when I'm finished I usually have a good draft (that's not to say there won't be plot holes etc.), which suits my way of writing.

 

[Venusian Broon]

I should add though Bowler - that practice makes perfect. My 'techniques', such as they are, are in place because I've still got a lot to learn. I know I'll be back to correct mistakes and write better.

Ultimately I can imagine there might be a time when worthy prose flows off the tips of my fingers via the plastic keyboard and into the document and it stays there because it is already 'pristine'.

It's something to aim for, although I fear it may take many decades of practice before I get close to that state!

I'm a massive fan of Dickens and I'm awestruck seeing some of the first drafts of his novels that still exist - all written in long hand with barely a correction on them (and of course he was writing to a tight deadline, publishing each new part once a month.)