GET YOUR WORDS OUT... the game plan for 300,000 words in a year

[paragraphs]

Word Count:

I calculate that to accomplish my goal of 300,000 words by December 31, 2009, I will need to write 6,000 words a week. I will not set down 'so many words a day' because my brain doesn't work that way. Instead, I will set down 'a chapter a week.' The two years I wrote well over 400,000 each, I wrote from 8-10k a week. Random checking of several chapters of Red put each chapter in that general vicinity. I know there were weeks I skipped, and at the end, I took a month or so off before getting back to it again (because I'd written myself into a wall by making my POV character unconscious! OH NOES!!!!). It took me 9 months to write Red, which was almost 300,000 by itself. Therefore, I know that a goal of 6,000 words/a chapter a week is absolutely doable.

There will be two weeks that I will not be writing--when I am visiting Nick. I will not take my laptop. No need and I refuse to tote one around. Besides, I'll be staying in Kiel at his flat and he'll have the burnt-one back and I can use that. So for those two weeks, well, I will just have to make them up on down the road somewhere.

The Stories:

1. Wolfhunter (working title). Contemporary fantasy. Can't call it urban, frankly, because it is not set in an urban environment but in the mountains of Colorado. (Second choice for location--Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory...a friend lives there, could provide a great deal of marvelous info...the photos from her home are just absolutely stunning. But, unlike Durango area, I've never been there, and it is unlikely I will ever get there. So, maybe. Quite possibly will end up creating fictional town anyway...) I am 11,000 into the story at this point. Probably will add to the count before hitting January 1, and that is fine...will count from that point forward. Goal: 120,000 words

2. Vampire kit (working title). This idea refuses to leave me alone, so I am succumbing to it. Still no plot, but am reading The Vampire Omnibus which is helping me prepare. I do know the basic premise, but beyond that, I don't know. This may be a sequel to 1. Probably smart to do that. My first inclination was to set in the 1850's, but I am wary of writing a historical. I think it far smarter to continue with these characters. Goal: 120,000 words

3. _________. Undecided. Lee's story? Maybe. Depends, I think, on what happens with WU which my editor has now, and the story I am buffing up a bit. If both sell, then yes, likely 3. will be Lee's story. If something goes awry, and 1. and 2. come through as solid stories that I am happy with, 3. may be a third installment, storyline unknown. Regardless, 120,000 words.

That's a hell of a lot of writing. But, for me, these stories are must-do's. I am so disappointed in what I've accomplished--or rather not--these last few years. I had reached the point of not being sure I even wanted to continue writing. My skills have deteriorated. It is hard, very hard to stomach this truth, but it should be no surprise, either. I am rusty, horribly rusty. I have lost a lot of quickness and drive. Cleverness is dulled, and my passion for writing is tainted by a cynicism that, if I let it, could completely destroy any chance I might have to bring my writing and creativity up to par once again.

GWYO is the chance to get back on track. A solid year of solid writing...by the end of it, maybe, just maybe, I'll feel like a writer again, that my work is worth sending out again. My goal would be for 2010 to be the year of the agent hunt--to have 2-3 in one series would be ideal indeed.

To fail to reach my goal will be a clear sign to me that I should perhaps consider other things besides writing.

C

Comments

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

I have lost a lot of quickness and drive. Cleverness is dulled, and my passion for writing is tainted by a cynicism that, if I let it, could completely destroy any chance I might have to bring my writing and creativity up to par once again.

It will come back. Trust me.

I think you are setting an incredibly ambitious program and I wish you much luck. But please be flexible. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that might be unrealistic. Above all else, enjoy what you're doing. Really. THAT'S the goal you should set for yourself.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's ambitious but remember--I have no life here to speak of. I work, play with my dogs, occasionally do things with the kids. My friends are all online and many of them (including Nick) are doing this to...it's for a challenge here on LJ that a friend is running.

I have been so unfocused for so many years that I need a hard-core commitment. I do write fast when I have the right story--and I have the right story at last. Last week, I easily did 5k in just 3 nights at B&N...which was so awesome! And this was 1.5 per night, while Kelly was at driver's ed. So 6k in a week is very doable. I can't do the 'daily word count' thing because I know me...there will be nights I won't feel like writing.

Enjoying the story is huge...which is why everything else, all the other ideas I have, have fallen to the side in favor of this. I am finally writing something that makes me happy--I've loved this story for years!

I hope it comes back. I read some of the things that friends are writing--including Nick--and I am just in awe.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

Let me ask you one question: why do you want to write a specific number of words? I find, every time, that if my process isn't working, I don't get the words - and sometimes, in order to get a working process, I need to slow down. That's part of learning, I think.

I should perhaps consider other things besides writing

You should. You should consider doing things that you enjoy, doing things that feed your imagination, doing things that let you look at the world in a different manner and that give your backbrain more to work with.

I find that instead of slowing me down, they give me more to work with, and many activities - exercising, taking a camera for a walk, for instance - allow plenty of time for plotnoodling and playing out scenes, so I return to the computer and write them up faster.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

It is a crazy challenge here on LJ, getyourwordsout that inspired the word count. 6k a week is not hard IF I have the right story. I have the right story. (See comment to Pir8 above :).

And don't worry--I do things I enjoy. But...I am very much alone here in FW, my b/f and partner cruentum lives in Germany, was here much of this last year (heaven!) but is now back home working on his thesis and doing this challenge too...I don't like doing things alone quite so much as I did before. But I have my puppies, and I have a friend I go to movies with...and a long commute--lol that's where I do most of my thinking.

Dang it, I am late getting ready, speaking of commuting. This is going to be a dull, dull week. Argh. Thanks for the comments -- :)

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good plan!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Still looks insane, but I am so happy with the way WH is going, I have to believe that this will work. Flexible--no set word counts a day--but a goal of a chapter a week. That's livable for me.

And now I must shower lest I be late! No wait, I will still be late. Oh well.

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I wish I knew how to split what I'm writing into chapters before it's done; it'd make it a lot easier to come up with a non-wordcount word goal, you know?

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Do a page count then? For example's sake, if you wrote in Courier New (which I don't) and wrote double-space, that would be roughly 250 words per page, every 100 pages=25,000 words. I write in single space, so that is roughly 500 per page (still pretending to use Courier--I like to write in Estrangelo Edessa for some reason). 20 pages then would be 10,000 words. That's an awful lot for a week... so maybe 15 pages, 7,500 words... aim for a page count a week rather than the words.

Do you work in scenes, then figure out later how to break?

OH SHIT I am TRULY late for work now! YIKES! I better shut up!

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's not a bad idea! :D :D :D :D

I work in scenes, yeah, and then figure out how to break later. For some reason, my brain just doesn't think in chapters. And since the scenes are all such variable lengths, a weekly scene count doesn't really work. I tried that once for NaNo and realized that I was two weeks behind, come week four.

But page count should be excellent! Thanks!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

YAY! I am glad to have helped you--that makes me happy. I write in scenes too...but tend to go ahead and break into chapters as I go. Whatever works!

Lots of people work by so many pages a day, but understanding how the word count works per page helps. Then you can plan accordingly. :)

[velvetcure.livejournal.com]

haven't been commenting much [too much work/holiday/snow :P] but i've been reading your journal. i just have to say, i really know how you feel when you say you feel disappointed by your lack of writing. i think in 2008, the only writing i've done was a piece here and there from a prompt table and then mini_nanowrimo.

i checked out that community you listed but i honestly don't think i'm capable of doing it. i would love to finally finish working on my holly novel [so i can title it for one thing! haha] but honestly, i've never published anything like that and i have no contact in the business... i'm stuck after i finish it. i think that's why i procrastinate and let the writing get stagnate.

also: i am have paused reading 'red' while i am working so much but i'm itching to get back to it. i love it just as much as i remembered from the first time. :)

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

VELVETKINS!!! Okay that is okay--I know though, it sucks...I love your writing, and Holly...you just never know, you know. What would you call her story? Urban fantasy snuck up on me when I wasn't looking...and now it seems that is basically what I am writing. I'm going to write some closed posts during the year...can I stick you on there?

And thanks so much about Red. I will always adore that story--sigh--mayhap too much? Probably. (lol the guys DO inspire two of the secondary characters in WH though--that makes me grin)

[velvetcure.livejournal.com]

I'm going to write some closed posts during the year...can I stick you on there?
oh totally, i'd love that.

i kind of love how much you love 'red'. i adore my holly novel but it's different. i think because i'm having such internal drama with it and it spoils the love. i'll always love it because it was The First but i'm still waiting for my 'red', so to speak.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for my second red-like experience. ARTS, marvy acronym that it is, was just the best writing experience ever...I better find another!!! I just sat down and magic happened, I don't know why--but I think outlining the last few attempts at novels, rather than trusted the seat-of-pants method, ruined those novels. THIS time, I am letting it go, and just flow.

Am all shopped out, and I hardly got anything.

Time to bathe puppy feet--I love that boy but he gets so filthy so fast!

[momebie.livejournal.com]

Contacts in publishing are pretty easy to make if you go through the right channels. For the most part the industry is full of lovely people who are forthright and will let you know if they don't have time or aren't looking for what you have, but will pass it on to someone who does or is. ♥ At least, that's my experience from the inside. I've not tried to get anything of my own published yet.

[velvetcure.livejournal.com]

ah yes, but where are my right channels? haha.

[momebie.livejournal.com]

To fail to reach my goal will be a clear sign to me that I should perhaps consider other things besides writing.

I think it would mostly just be a sign that you let yourself get distracted by other things and that you need to work on your discipline. Which is a hilarious thing for me to say, being the poster child for ADD. >.>

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOL. The only thing to distract me is Nick, and okay probably the puppies...

This IS the 'work on discipline year.' FOCUS! I have a long history of starting work on one project then dropping it in favor of another. If i'd just stopped doing that, I might have something done by now. It is stupid. ONE project at a time. I think I finally have found what I really want to write...but my goal for this year is more 'fall in love with writing again and improve writing skills' than anything. I am so stale, I am mortified. I suck!!!!!!! I haven't felt 'beauty with words' in too long.

[momebie.livejournal.com]

Oh god. I have so, so many documents C. So many short stories that I should just finish and get over with and try to have published so I know if I can do this at all. Instead I just let myself get distracted because it's easier than possible rejection. Logic has no home here, seriously. >.>

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I didn't forget this I swear--just overwhelmed by nothingness today. It is horrible to be at work, NOTHING to do, but hands tied re: filling the time writing because of course, we can't do that at work.

On the other hand, I am damn grateful for 'not' working today--a company across the way from us got their walking papers today. 64 people lost their jobs, two fucking days before Christmas. BAM.

That has been my problem--too many ideas in my head. I have finally committed to one story, Wolfhunter (working title), and it is a strange and wonderful thing. It has taken me several years to get to this point--three years to be exact, since I finished my last ms.

You and Em are in the right place with your steampunk story...I haven't seen any story, no, but I love the preliminary work you've done. Now that N is in Switzerland, my evenings are totally horribly scarily empty--so I will be filling them with pulling that aspect of WH together.

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

Of course you should make up your own city/town. That way you can pull into it what you like from any of the cities/towns in the area. :)

And you don't have to worry about someone saying 'that's not there' or whatever. ;)

Good luck!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Yes, and what I am doing...though damn, I love Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. My friend who lives there shares alot about life there, and lol today I discovered only 1k would get me there and back. Grin. I'm going to talk to her, ask her if she would help me out re: life there. It is brrr chilly up there right now! Minus 30 today...and of course she was at work. That's just life there.

Dang.

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

Yup. It is. Longjohns, mukluks, bunny boots, parkas, 'gauntlets'. Oh, and battery blankets and engine warmers. :)

That's what gets you around up there this time of year. :)

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Just remember, whatever happens with my writing in 2009 ... it's all YOUR fault.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I WILL BLAME YOU TOO, DUDE!

SO THERE!

HA HA HA!

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah ... is that supposed to be some kind of threat? *grin*

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Yup.

Be afraid, Anthony Cardno, be very afraid.

(C was going to write something here about polishing something, but was afraid it would be misconstrued as, well, Dominatrix in nature)

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Now I AM afraid!