Word Count: 50000, even.
That is all.
Monday, November 30, 2009
And then there are sparks, I guess
I'm back at school, and I met my minimum goal for the day! Hooray! Unfortunately, I wanted to have a minimal number of words left for tomorrow, but it's pretty much a full load. I've got an Edlab shift during which I should be able to crank out 2-3K, but it's really going to come down to the wire. I'll probably be skipping House to make absolute sure I make the midnight cutoff.
Happily, I've got more than enough material to get me through tomorrow. I might even skip to the end, if that accelerates my writing. I estimate that the completed first draft of Kavanagh will be around 75,000 words, which is more than I thought at first. I was under the impression that I'd be struggling to find plot events to hit 50K, but it turns out that my outline was juicy enough to get me most of the way there.
I'm not sure why, but the thing I'm most anticipating is going over the printed version of the first draft with a red pen and going nuts. It's probably because I've been subduing my internal editor, and he's screaming to get out. I've read a few paragraphs over to make sure they're at least 10% coherent, but besides that I have no idea what to expect when I sit down and read the hard copy. Plenty of uncaught spelling and grammatical mistakes and misplaced punctuation abound, sure, but I'm no doubt going to cringe over some of the sentences. Urgh. Still looking forward to it.
I can't believe I'm actually going to win.
Word Count: 45441
Happily, I've got more than enough material to get me through tomorrow. I might even skip to the end, if that accelerates my writing. I estimate that the completed first draft of Kavanagh will be around 75,000 words, which is more than I thought at first. I was under the impression that I'd be struggling to find plot events to hit 50K, but it turns out that my outline was juicy enough to get me most of the way there.
I'm not sure why, but the thing I'm most anticipating is going over the printed version of the first draft with a red pen and going nuts. It's probably because I've been subduing my internal editor, and he's screaming to get out. I've read a few paragraphs over to make sure they're at least 10% coherent, but besides that I have no idea what to expect when I sit down and read the hard copy. Plenty of uncaught spelling and grammatical mistakes and misplaced punctuation abound, sure, but I'm no doubt going to cringe over some of the sentences. Urgh. Still looking forward to it.
I can't believe I'm actually going to win.
Word Count: 45441
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Where the rim hits the road
Holy hell am I tired, but--! I HIT 40K TODAY! That elusive 50K is within my grasp now, and I've got all day tomorrow and most of my waking hours on Monday to get to it. I'm going to win; I feel it now. I had some serious doubts yesterday, especially when I couldn't will myself to stop procrastinating for hours on end, but I feel it now. I'm going to win. Speaking of self-motivation, today's ~6000 words were completed with two techniques. One of these you might be familiar with, and the other is a little more unusual.
1. Write or Die! I've heard mixed reviews of this tool. Some people say that it gives them the kick in the ass they need to keep writing, and other people say it just gives them an anxiety attack. I can see both sides of the argument, but it definitely helps me. I use it in Kamikaze mode because frankly, the other two modes are a little silly. For me to be motivated, I either need a real reward or a real punishment, and having my words erased before my eyes is a very real punishment indeed. I actually did 1,000 words in 40 minutes today, and I didn't even have an idea what I was going to type going in. Exhilarating.
2. M&Ms! "What?" Yeah, I know, this one's a little childish, but bear with me. I simple took a "Fun Size" pack of M&Ms, dumped it onto the table, and looked at them for a while. I told myself I could eat one for every 100 words -- a readily attainable goal for a tiny treat. Classic positive reinforcement, Pavlov-style. I wrote 1500 words tonight from 3-4:30 AM using precisely this technique.
Some of what I wrote today was total garbage, which is to be expected, which made me feel like this was more of an exercise of what plot points to not include in Kavanagh. Other sections left me feeling really good about the day. I was able to tie together strings I had never fathomed tying, and I now have a clearer vision of how the final plot is going to unfold. I'm going to need to have a lengthy sitdown with my plot advisor Mr. Anthony F once all is said and done.
Bus ride tomorrow, and at least 5K. Hoo boy. I'm so tired, I'm not even going to skim over this post before I submit. Click.
Word Count: 40367
1. Write or Die! I've heard mixed reviews of this tool. Some people say that it gives them the kick in the ass they need to keep writing, and other people say it just gives them an anxiety attack. I can see both sides of the argument, but it definitely helps me. I use it in Kamikaze mode because frankly, the other two modes are a little silly. For me to be motivated, I either need a real reward or a real punishment, and having my words erased before my eyes is a very real punishment indeed. I actually did 1,000 words in 40 minutes today, and I didn't even have an idea what I was going to type going in. Exhilarating.
2. M&Ms! "What?" Yeah, I know, this one's a little childish, but bear with me. I simple took a "Fun Size" pack of M&Ms, dumped it onto the table, and looked at them for a while. I told myself I could eat one for every 100 words -- a readily attainable goal for a tiny treat. Classic positive reinforcement, Pavlov-style. I wrote 1500 words tonight from 3-4:30 AM using precisely this technique.
Some of what I wrote today was total garbage, which is to be expected, which made me feel like this was more of an exercise of what plot points to not include in Kavanagh. Other sections left me feeling really good about the day. I was able to tie together strings I had never fathomed tying, and I now have a clearer vision of how the final plot is going to unfold. I'm going to need to have a lengthy sitdown with my plot advisor Mr. Anthony F once all is said and done.
Bus ride tomorrow, and at least 5K. Hoo boy. I'm so tired, I'm not even going to skim over this post before I submit. Click.
Word Count: 40367
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Where the rubber meets the road
Oh, you thought I wasn't going to finish? Ha! Ridiculous! I mean, I'm only... 15,000 words away... and I've got... three days? Two and a half?
No matter! I had foolishly made plans for tomorrow, but luckily they fell through at the last minute, leaving me wide open to write all day. Good thing, too, because I'm going to need at least 5K, and I'd like a good deal more than that. 6K would be nice; 7K would be even better... Monday the 30th is going to be a rough day for me, so I'd like to have as little as possible to mop up before midnight and verify.
Okay, it's bedtime. I'm going to need plenty of rest for tomorrow, when I'll be writing in excess of 5,000 words -- 10,000 words, perhaps?!
Word Count: 34933
No matter! I had foolishly made plans for tomorrow, but luckily they fell through at the last minute, leaving me wide open to write all day. Good thing, too, because I'm going to need at least 5K, and I'd like a good deal more than that. 6K would be nice; 7K would be even better... Monday the 30th is going to be a rough day for me, so I'd like to have as little as possible to mop up before midnight and verify.
Okay, it's bedtime. I'm going to need plenty of rest for tomorrow, when I'll be writing in excess of 5,000 words -- 10,000 words, perhaps?!
Word Count: 34933
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Lower, lower, lower
Another 500 words more in the hole today. Not much else to discuss, unfortunately. I'm happy with what I did manage to write, but I'm painfully aware of the fact that I need to write more, not better. I'd love to be able to settle for 2000 words of drivel a night, but I hold myself to... a higher standard. Just kidding, I'm not an egomaniac.
Word Count: 31183
Word Count: 31183
Saturday, November 21, 2009
...and going down
Looking back, I see it's been far too many days since I hit 25K. Only today did I finally hit the 30K mark, and fatigue is really starting to set in. I have the next two chapters outlined, but... something is slowing me down. Not sure what.
I've been feeling rather unmotivated recently: again, not sure why. Hopefully my motivation will start to return in the coming week, because I'm 3,000 words behind at the moment. That's just a good day's worth of writing, sure, but my schedule is awful crowded for the foreseeable future. Luckily, I've just gotten word that my replacement got in today, which I'll pick up on Monday in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving break. I need to get my school projects done ASAP, and keep my break free to write like a crazy person.
Word Count: 30083
I've been feeling rather unmotivated recently: again, not sure why. Hopefully my motivation will start to return in the coming week, because I'm 3,000 words behind at the moment. That's just a good day's worth of writing, sure, but my schedule is awful crowded for the foreseeable future. Luckily, I've just gotten word that my replacement got in today, which I'll pick up on Monday in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving break. I need to get my school projects done ASAP, and keep my break free to write like a crazy person.
Word Count: 30083
Friday, November 20, 2009
Going up
It is way too late, so I'll keep this short. I closed the gap a bit today, even if I stayed up past my bedtime to do it. Late first class tomorrow, which is nice, but my weekend is looking quite hectic. I need to finish one project and make substantial progress on another, which still means ignoring a third, longer-term one. Urgh.
I'm just a bit over 2K behind, now. The gap will be closed, and what a sound it will make when it finally slams shut.
Word Count: 29498
EDIT: Important! My flash drive's global word count has finally passed 100,000!!! Ahhhhhhh!!! (Also, 600KB of text.)
I'm just a bit over 2K behind, now. The gap will be closed, and what a sound it will make when it finally slams shut.
Word Count: 29498
EDIT: Important! My flash drive's global word count has finally passed 100,000!!! Ahhhhhhh!!! (Also, 600KB of text.)
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