Since I've been invited to join a super cool blog chain, I'll be posting for that tomorrow. But I wanted to share something I discovered to help me with my procrastination issues. Now maybe I'm a little slow and all of you are already doing this. Feel free to shake your heads and walk away. :)
For the last WIP report I posted, I set a goal to write 1000 words a day. Which of course didn't happen, because I'm too distracted and not very good at following through on my goals in general. So over the last week I set some restrictions for myself to make sure I get my writing done first thing in the morning, and I started a log. Being such a numbers freak, you'd think I could've come up with this idea sooner. Apparently not. Always before, I just kept a rough idea of my progress in my head.
My log is very simple. Everyday, when I'm done writing, I write down my total word count. Then I subtract the previous day's total to figure out how many new words I wrote. It's a little ridiculous how excited I get over those numbers, especially when they're over 2000, but it's working, so that's all that matters.
Since my last WIP post, I've added close to 13,000 words--most of them in the last week. :)
What about you? Do you keep a log? Am I the last one to figure this out?
I keep a word count log, too! It really helps me. I'm glad you're getting the words in!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. Keep it going. I did not keep a log as I wrote I just checked the word count.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
go go go...that is GOOD! I try to keep track of word counts - just to see what I managed to accomplish.
ReplyDeletei don't keep a log, per se (unless it's during nano) but i do like to check how many words i wrote for the day
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Abby!
ReplyDeleteI'm don't keep a log either, but I definitely keep track of how much I've written each day.
Yay! I keep one too. I have a daily goal and if I don't meet it then the next day my goal doubles...yeah I'm a little masochistic that way ;o)
ReplyDeleteVisit My Kingdom Anytime
I'm editing right now, so I don't keep a count log. When I write a first draft, I compare how I did to the day before (but don't write it down). Great if I write 1000 words on Tuesday and only 600 on Monday. Not so great if it's the other way round. Then it's depressing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so obsessed with word count that I'm constantly going through and looking to see how many words I've written. With my current WiP I'm typing it out into the computer first off, rather than writing longhand then putting it into the computer. So I tend to go back through and highlight what I've added and look at the little word count down there at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteWorks better when I haven't gone in and added stuff to what's been written before writing the new stuff.
Congrats on the awesome word count total for the week!
I definitely fail at keeping a log, and I can't seem to keep on schedule at all. My creativity (who I like to call Gertrude) pops up at random occassions and is a little bi-polar. Kudos to you for the 13K words. I'm jealous. ;)
ReplyDeleteNope. I don't keep a log, but you've inspired me to try it.
ReplyDeleteI just keep track of pages. For some reason, watching the number of pages creep up excites me, but word counts don't.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time maintaining 1,000 words a day too. I shoot for 500 and when I hit 1,000 or more I feel extra proud.
I don't use a log. When I'm writing a new book I usually set the goal of a chapter a day. I'm glad you've found what works for you. Now nothing can stop ya. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I keep a log too and it keeps me not only excited, but on task as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! It's been forever since I was rough-drafting, but I'm going to try it when I'm ready to start a new project. :)
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