So I did an experiment, an exercise in
avoiding procrastination. I decided that for ten days I'd write 500 words a
day. It doesn't sound much but actually it can be a bit daunting, especially if
you have to fit your writing around family and paid jobs (three jobs in my
case). I always find that I'm OK once I've got going, it starting that can be
the problem. So how was it?
Day 1. I had a long train journey and
I took nothing else to do – not a book, not a newspaper, not a Kindle. I wrote
617 words of the WIP in longhand. A good start. Encouraged by this, I jotted
some ideas for a new story. Word count: 617 plus new story notes.
Day 2. I did everything I could think
of not to write. I made a playlist of Kate Bush songs that matched the set list
of the show I went to the previous night. I spent a lot of time on Facebook. In
the end, knowing I would only be letting myself down if I didn't knuckle under,
I wrote 599 words. They were quite useful words as they showed a little gap in
the backstory that I need to think about. Word count: 599 plus back story
notes.
Day 3. I had to force myself to write
but I did so before I started anything else. It was easier today. Perhaps I'm
getting used to it. Word count: 595 words to finish the chapter.
Day 4. Not much time today as I was
out all day and into the evening too. So I wrote 604 words outlining the rest
of the story. I am nearly at the end. Actually looked forward to the writing
today, and the miracle is that I wrote the words before I did anything else. So
I have now proved to myself that I can get up in the morning and go straight to
my writing. Word count: 604 word outline.
Day 5. Really didn't want to write
today but having done everything else I could have possibly done – apart from
housework, obviously – I wrote 560 words of chapter 20. Doing the outline
yesterday helped. I'm beginning to see that writing first thing is the best way
for me. Too bad I didn't go down that route this morning! Word count: 560 words
of a new chapter.
Day 6. OK, so much for writing first
thing. That's what I was going to do today. I had the best intentions, really I
did. But instead I faffed about on the internet, bought a very nice shirt, and
then it was time to go to work. But I did write later on. I have to admit that
I wasn't in the mood, but I wrote 557 words of the end of the story, which was
quite useful because it gave me an insight into a problem I'm having with the
current chapter. Word count: 557 words of the end.
Day 7. Wasn't really getting the
chapter I was working on so I avoided it. I didn't want to give up on the word
experiment though so I ended up writing the rest of the end. It feels quite odd
having written the final word, especially as I've not actually finished. Word
count: 580 of the end.
Day 8. The marvel that is a lovely
book! Sadly not the one that I'm writing but the one that I'm reading. So I
wrote nothing on my long train journey but instead read and read and read. (The
Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud, in case anyone's interested. Second book
in the marvellous Lockwood & Co series.) BUT I got home and wrote a section
of the current chapter, so all was not lost. Could a habit be forming? Word
count: 538 words of chapter 20.
Day 9. I had a very busy day so had no
writing time. But when it came to bedtime I just couldn't NOT do it. I made
lots of excuses to myself as to why it was OK to leave it today but it just
felt wrong. So I wrote a detailed outline for a new story. Word count: 509
words of a new story.
Day 10. Last day! Word count…nil. I
know. I let myself down on the very last day. In my defence. I was out all day
– London zoo for four hours! Then an exhibition at the V&A. Too exhausted
to do anything but sit in front of the TV with fish & chips. Still, I have
to admit to being disappointed.
Day 11. An additional day in lieu of
yesterday's non-starter, and actually it turned out rather well! Finished
chapter 20, and wrote chapter 21. I am one chapter away, I think, of finishing
this first draft. Who'd have thought it? Word count: a marvellous 2,311 words!
So was my experiment a success? I
think so. It got me writing. Whether it's created a permanent habit, I don't
know. I'll probably have to stick at it for more than ten days for that to
happen. But, I have got 7,470 words more than I may not have got without the
challenge. And I've also proved to myself that I don't need to be in the mood
to write, or in the right place; I can write at any time and anywhere! That's
probably the biggest success of all.
PS on Day 12 I completed my novel. I
wrote 3,588 words. 11,058 words in twelve days. The experiment worked after
all!
