I have written a considerable amount of longer fiction over the last year. But I have never been one for word counts or keeping track of the count, although some of my writing friends do. I normally write a chapter at a time and try to keep moving along in the limited time I have to write.
But I'm starting to get the value of the word count. If a novel is defined as a work of fiction starting at 50,000 words and you are planning on writing something you would like to call a novel, it's good to know how many words you have written, especially if that matters to publishers.
Today, I am happy to say my current work in progress is 10% of a novel. I have four chapters totalling just over 5,000 words. That makes me feel good. I feel like I have made a solid bit of progress. I have the characters, setting, and plot completely planned out. All I have to do is write the words.
I think I will set mini-goals for myself of 5,000 words. When I get to that point, I will treat myself in some small way - or just brag about it here. I also divided my novel up into sections. I'm almost done with section one. I see no harm in overlapping treats for myself - a treat for every 5K and another for completion of a section (there are 5 sections in this one). I think the treats will be in the form of lattes or maybe cookies. If I time it just right, maybe I can have both together.
I hope the words are flowing for you all too. For the fiction writers out there, how do you keep yourself motivated when writing longer stories? I am particularly interested in motivation techniques that don't add on pounds - all I can imagine is food treats (yes, I was a pudgy kid).
Treats are good. Pat yourself on the back. A job well done.
ReplyDeleteMy motivations are usually silly ones, like, watching a television episode on hulu or netflix. Sometimes when the writing isn't flowing, I set smaller goals so I can reach them more quickly.
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