by
Scott D. Parker
On
Tuesday evening, as I finished my daily writing with 2,419 words for
that day, I entered that figure in my spreadsheet. Once the formulas did
their thing, I realized I crossed the 100,000-word mark in this renewed
writing initiative.
For
someone who has barely put together 10,000 words over a year, to see
the numbers add up to 100, 919 on that was a great experience for me.
For readers who have followed my progress since May, that’s still only 3
total stories: 2 shorter pieces and the 1 novel. As for the novel and
it’s “new word” count (I had a few chapters already written when I
picked it up again in June), Tuesday also marked the day I crossed
75,000 new words on the novel. And Sunday marked my highest one-day
writing total: 6,108.
Why
do I focus so much on numbers when I’m writing words? Because they feed
on each other. They are daily reminders of Progress Being Made. The
more I’ve focused on that spreadsheet each day, the more pride I have in
my writing and in myself as a writer. I love seeing my May monthly
total (13,017) stacked up to my June total (34,000) and my to-date July
total (57,381). I love seeing, in numbers, what I am capable of doing
after so many years of self doubt and self denial. It’s exhilarating and
a little intoxicating.
In
fact, I’ve been telling another writer friend of mine to keep a
spreadsheet of his daily totals, too. He’s taking baby steps after a
bunch of things got in his way, too. As much as I extol the virtues of
keeping a spreadsheet, I got an assist by another source this week.Back
in June, Nik Morton published Write a Western in 30 Days: With Plenty of Bullet-Points and
I downloaded it and read through it. In there, he also tells
prospective writers to keep a spreadsheet of daily writing. The only
difference with his version is he does it by subtracting the daily word
count from the total number of words for a typical western (45,000).
Yes, you can get down to zero, but I love the addition version where you
can go as high as you want. Like last Sunday. I knew I had written a
lot, but I was very proud of myself for laying down 6,100 words. It’s
like a last little gift at the end of the day.
So,
after years--Years!--of not writing, I’ve managed to write more words
in less time than ever before. I say that not to be immodest, but as
encouragement to those of y’all out there who read this blog, see most
of us getting published, and wished you could do it. I’m here to say
that the writing part is doable.That's the significance of 100,000 words
for me this week. A tangible, positive reminder that yes! I can do
this. Here's how it's worked for me.
1. Decide to do it. ←- The hardest part and the part that gave me the most trouble for YEARS!
2. Start.
3. Keep Track.
Do any of you keep track of daily word counts?
1 comment:
I don't track my daily word counts, but I do have a minimum amount of work that must be accomplished before I can quit every day. For first drafts, it's one single spaced page on work days, two a day on weekends. I can do more, but I can't do less. Once I start editing, it depends what I'm working on, but I have a minimum in mind when sit down.
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