How to commit to writing?

[moderntimes]

Good post!

You hint at something which I emphasize -- rewriting and editing is essential, and an integral part of the writing process, and not a separate thing which is tacked onto the end.

[cdoudz]

What I find is that if I sit down and review something I've written, I find that just reading thru it helps motivate me toward more.

While I've been focusing on my private detective novels, I neglected another book, a supernatural horror thriller novel which I'd poked around with a couple years ago. I dusted it off (figuratively -- everything I write goes straight to MS Word), and found renewed interest in the novel. So I began by revising some of the older chapters, tweaking them a little, and I soon found that I was "into" the story and wrote 2 more new chapters as a result.

Incidentally, you can read a couple of early chapters from this book. I've posted in the short story section under writing, since the forum doesn't have a section for posting chapters from your in-progress novel. HINT HINT TO SCOTT, ha ha.

My recommendation is to write SOMETHING or even review what you'd previously written, and this will generally spark your creativity to write more.

But as was said, if you're just writing to kill time or as a casual hobby, so what if you write more or don't? Nobody will ever read it anyway, right?

However if you'd like to actually write something which others might read and enjoy, then it's necessary to generate a bit of self discipline and get onto it.

I think that's what I need to do. Do you do any scheduling? Would it be wise to invest in a planner or calendar where I can keep track of what I need to do and when I need to do it? I know that eventually I want people to read it so I think it's time I really discipline myself like you're saying. Thanks for your advice!!

-- 19 Feb 2016, 15:57 --

A desk, some paper and pencil (or computer), a sturdy chain, and some manacles are a winning formula to commit to writing.

Haha! Seems simple enough. I think a block on all the websites I go on will also really help because I can't tell you how easily I get distracted!

-- 19 Feb 2016, 16:02 --

Im a writer and have two books in the process of being published and honestly, it was the easiest decision to make and the hardest task to complete. For me the only way to dedicate myself to writing cohesive and comprehensible stories is to have real and emotional relationships with the characters. I listen to a lot of music when I write. I spend a lot of time alone with my thoughts. Writing 6 days a week and taking one day off to reflect on yourself is also a good trick to keep that flame alive with your works. When I take the day off, I use that time to figure out who I am. I don't even think about my book. I will also allow myself to wander off in directions I know will go nowhere. A lot of time is spent writing nonsense and garbage. But its important to go through that because one spark of inspiration is worth so much more than sitting in one spot and beating yourself up over the fact that you cant commit. And lastly, read what you write when you're comfortable reading it and edit and revise it as necessary to suit you. I do a lot of editing and rewriting as I go and that helps me get a finished product closer to where I want it to be. Good luck! I hope any of that helps!

Hello! Congratulations first off! Thanks for your advice! I've been compiling playlists of my own and from different streaming websites to fit certain moods (which is annoyingly taking up more time) but I think it might help. I met Pierce Brown last night and he said the same thing - music is a big part in character traits or development and they can also help move the story along. So you're definitely onto something! You mentioned editing and rewriting as you go which is something I've always had a problem with for myself. I have had so many people advise me to do it at the end - do you disagree?

[moderntimes]

If setting a firm schedule helps you get going, by all means do this. I myself have no set time or schedule but I find time most every day to do some writing or reviewing. As long as you write a little most days this should be sufficient in getting the energy to continue. But if you work better under a more strict timeline, yeah.

[cdoudz]

If setting a firm schedule helps you get going, by all means do this. I myself have no set time or schedule but I find time most every day to do some writing or reviewing. As long as you write a little most days this should be sufficient in getting the energy to continue. But if you work better under a more strict timeline, yeah.

I did a little bit of digging and I think a monthly word count goal might be the ticket to really getting down to starting this! I'm excited but nervous - but I guess anyone would be. Thanks again for the advice I really appreciate it.

[moderntimes]

Some people stick to a word count, which may tend to push them to write just junk so that they meet the quota. And more important, if you set a quota and don't meet it, you may become frustrated and hang it up, incorrectly telling yourself that you should be able to write a certain word count per writing session or you're no good. Wrong.

Better, I think, to just write from the personal perspective that you're trying to write good stuff. For example, many days when I'm "writing" I am not actually putting down new words, but I'm revising earlier chapters or maybe researching a topic, or planning some plot tweaks.

Now the late Robert B. Parker (creator of Spenser) set for himself a goal of 5 complete typed pages per "work day" which is a pretty good target.

I would not however recommend any specific word count. Each writer has ups and down, days when the words just pour onto the page (or for me, the screen) and some days when they're reflecting on earlier chapters, revising, editing. The process of creating something publishable is a complex process and is not just based on words per day.

No publisher or agent is gonna contract with you if you just say "My book is 89,400 words." but instead, they'll want to see what those words are. If you have a specific word-per-day target you may trick yourself into considering quantity over quality, and just write chaff.

Bottom line, as I see it -- I'm coming from the standpoint of someone who's finished 3 mystery novels and sold all of them, plus lots of magazine articles, numerous book & movie reviews, etc -- is that you set a more generalized goal, so that with each writing session (daily or whenever -- we all have other things to do) that in each session you do SOMETHING productive which advances your novel or story. Progress might not be a certain number of words, but might be the feeling that you've gone back into the past 6 chapters and carefully revised them to make them sing.

But it's all based on your eventual goal. If you're just writing for the fun of it, for a hobby, like collecting beer bottles, then it really doesn't matter if you write 5 or 5000 words or, more important, whether those words are any good. Writing without a goal for that piece is like what the ancient Romans called "selling smoke" -- it has no substance.

This is why I urge new writers to focus on the potential goal of actually selling your novel to a publisher and seeing it in print. Not that this is a requisite which all new writers will achieve, but it's the mindset which matters. Even if you're writing a book for your family and friends to read, and it will never really see the actual light of day, aside from your going down to the OfficeMax and getting a dozen copies run off on 8-1/2x11, putting them into a ring binder, and handing them to friends, if you have in mind a "professional" goal, your writing will be the best.

That pervasive mental image of seeing your book in print on the shelf of the local bookstore -- and believe me, that feeling is terrific -- is a view which will generate all sorts of good creative juices for you. Even if, as I say, that you don't actually pursue selling the book professionally, it's the focus which makes the difference. And that focus to creating a good book, a fine readable and entertaining novel, isn't based on an artificial goal of words per day, but quality output per day, regardless of the word count.

Just my 2 cents.

[cdoudz]

Some people stick to a word count, which may tend to push them to write just junk so that they meet the quota. And more important, if you set a quota and don't meet it, you may become frustrated and hang it up, incorrectly telling yourself that you should be able to write a certain word count per writing session or you're no good. Wrong.

Better, I think, to just write from the personal perspective that you're trying to write good stuff. For example, many days when I'm "writing" I am not actually putting down new words, but I'm revising earlier chapters or maybe researching a topic, or planning some plot tweaks.

Now the late Robert B. Parker (creator of Spenser) set for himself a goal of 5 complete typed pages per "work day" which is a pretty good target.

I would not however recommend any specific word count. Each writer has ups and down, days when the words just pour onto the page (or for me, the screen) and some days when they're reflecting on earlier chapters, revising, editing. The process of creating something publishable is a complex process and is not just based on words per day.

No publisher or agent is gonna contract with you if you just say "My book is 89,400 words." but instead, they'll want to see what those words are. If you have a specific word-per-day target you may trick yourself into considering quantity over quality, and just write chaff.

Bottom line, as I see it -- I'm coming from the standpoint of someone who's finished 3 mystery novels and sold all of them, plus lots of magazine articles, numerous book & movie reviews, etc -- is that you set a more generalized goal, so that with each writing session (daily or whenever -- we all have other things to do) that in each session you do SOMETHING productive which advances your novel or story. Progress might not be a certain number of words, but might be the feeling that you've gone back into the past 6 chapters and carefully revised them to make them sing.

But it's all based on your eventual goal. If you're just writing for the fun of it, for a hobby, like collecting beer bottles, then it really doesn't matter if you write 5 or 5000 words or, more important, whether those words are any good. Writing without a goal for that piece is like what the ancient Romans called "selling smoke" -- it has no substance.

This is why I urge new writers to focus on the potential goal of actually selling your novel to a publisher and seeing it in print. Not that this is a requisite which all new writers will achieve, but it's the mindset which matters. Even if you're writing a book for your family and friends to read, and it will never really see the actual light of day, aside from your going down to the OfficeMax and getting a dozen copies run off on 8-1/2x11, putting them into a ring binder, and handing them to friends, if you have in mind a "professional" goal, your writing will be the best.

That pervasive mental image of seeing your book in print on the shelf of the local bookstore -- and believe me, that feeling is terrific -- is a view which will generate all sorts of good creative juices for you. Even if, as I say, that you don't actually pursue selling the book professionally, it's the focus which makes the difference. And that focus to creating a good book, a fine readable and entertaining novel, isn't based on an artificial goal of words per day, but quality output per day, regardless of the word count.

Just my 2 cents.

You're absolutely right. Congratulations on selling so well, that's great! I think that's a pretty good mindset to have, and it's one I hope for. I'm going to sit down this week or this weekend and get started. Maybe just a few fun things like book reviews or I'll start up a blog and have some kind of weekly commitment that I can get going with. I just need to get used to not quitting when I hit writer's block or anything discouraging for that matter. But I will scrap the idea of a word count - that sounded better originally but once you've put it into perspective I'm not too sure if that would ever be beneficial to me.

I think I'm just going to stay away from any kind of goal for now and just freely write. I don't want to rush into getting to my page goal or any kind of goal and producing crap rather than something substantial. Your advice really made me think a lot of my mentality going into this and I think that's where I need the most work at the moment!

[moderntimes]

Well, my books were professionally sold, but to a very small "boutique" publisher and so the actual sales are very modest as yet. With the 3rd book being pushed a bit, this should improve. But thanks.

Understand, if a word per session goal suits you, fine, go for it. But artificially imposed goals may get you locked into either writing smoke or getting frustrated.

Maybe better to set a non-statistical goal of "writing a couple or three good chapters" or "revising those last 5 chapters" or similar.

If you're focusing first on book reviews, good, there are quite a few very good threads in this forum about such. I recommend the one I started, "What constitutes an unfair book review?" because there are many excellent posts which discuss the technique and pitfalls.

Keep us all posted and good luck.

[P_hernandez]

I agree with not keeping a stringent word count. Early on I tried that (and i do stick to it during NaNoWriMo) but in my serious every day work I find that a word count has the similar effect of "quitting time" and writing becomes something I drudge through just to hit that mark. Just my experince I love that you're finding all these great ways to keep the creative juices flowing and busting through writers block! Keep at it!

[cdoudz]

Well, my books were professionally sold, but to a very small "boutique" publisher and so the actual sales are very modest as yet. With the 3rd book being pushed a bit, this should improve. But thanks.

Understand, if a word per session goal suits you, fine, go for it. But artificially imposed goals may get you locked into either writing smoke or getting frustrated.

Maybe better to set a non-statistical goal of "writing a couple or three good chapters" or "revising those last 5 chapters" or similar.

If you're focusing first on book reviews, good, there are quite a few very good threads in this forum about such. I recommend the one I started, "What constitutes an unfair book review?" because there are many excellent posts which discuss the technique and pitfalls.

Keep us all posted and good luck.

I'll be sure to! It'll be a challenging, new experience for me but one I'm excited for! I think I'll try your methods first just because I do see myself seeing writing as being a tedious thing when I have a certain goal for the day/week/month. I will definitely go check out that thread when I get the chance. You've been a great help! Thanks a bunch

-- 23 Feb 2016, 03:14 --

I agree with not keeping a stringent word count. Early on I tried that (and i do stick to it during NaNoWriMo) but in my serious every day work I find that a word count has the similar effect of "quitting time" and writing becomes something I drudge through just to hit that mark. Just my experince I love that you're finding all these great ways to keep the creative juices flowing and busting through writers block! Keep at it!

That's what had actually given me the idea to do word counts. I had seen people participating in NaNoWriMo recently and I decided to check it out and that's what started it all. I gave it some thought and I think I'd end up falling into the same situation as you. I'm just going to write when I'm feeling inspired and when I'm not I'll figure something else out! Everyone has been very helpful in giving me different opinions. I've been taking them all into account and making the right notes, so now I just have to get started! Thanks so much! I hope I can stick to it this time around.

[moderntimes]

By all means, if having a word count or other specific goal per "session" (not necessarily per day -- most of us have lives outside our writing) help you, so be it.

I generally focus on doing SOMETHING productive without a tagged or specific goal. I may spend a couple days revising a few earlier chapters and that's time well spent.

I don't do the NaNo thing because, hey, I'm on a very good bent to write my 4th novel, a supernatural thriller, and I'm making decent progress all on my little lonesome. For me, the artificial NaNo is an imposition.

But for others, fine! Question -- how many of these NaNo novels get sold to publishers? Just sayin'

[P_hernandez]

To me NaNo is just a fun side thing to do. Once in awhile a short story will result from it. But typically, I just do it for fun.

[moderntimes]

I thought that NaNo was about writing a novel. Didn't know it was for short stories too.

Fun, maybe, but if I'm gonna be writing thousands of words, I want them directed toward my novels which I'm working on. Those are already in progress.

[P_hernandez]

For most people, yes. That is what NaNo is about. But me going into it knowing that it's just for fun, I'm a little more lax in my attempts at greatness. Plus it's usually an incredibly busy time for me in the year anyway, as it is for so many others. So I'm not as serious as I am about my other works that I'm dedicated to regularly. Plus, I have this knack for being long winded so where other people struggle to make the word counts, I struggle to keep it short lol.

[sonipat]

1 Join one of yhe twitter writings chats.
2 Check out the I am writing or am writing hashtags on twitter.
3 Commit to writing every day

[moderntimes]

I don't see how teeny short messages filled with hashtags benefits my effort to write the 4th and 5th novel now in progress. But I've never been a fan of Twitter anyway, too many misspellings and abrupt truncated English.

I think my time is better spent on my novels.