Tag Archives: motivation

Why I don’t set daily word count goals.

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Forever, like just about every writer I know, I set a daily word count goal and a project goal.

I thought I had to do that.

I use Scrivener to write with. It allows me to set a word count goal for the project and it calculates what my daily goal should be based up one where I’ve set my deadline, which is usually three months out.

But after struggling to write since finishing the book in December, I decided to use the writing formula I had for that one.

For that book, I created a playlist, which gained a few followers on Spotify, wrote for 25 minute sprints, with 5 minute breaks.

I’ve tried doing that since but I always got distracted by the internet.

On Saturday , I created a new playlist on Spotify, keeping it secret, and busted out 2916 words in the four sprints.

I took away the project goal, which when I took took away the deadline in the program eliminated the daily word count goal. I still have a deadline for the end of July, but taking that off the program increased my focus, which was my goal of following the formula.

I wrote 86k on the December project in that month, I’m not sure I’ll replicate that, but it would be great to write like that again.

I changed how I write because I felt stymied by what I was doing. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t putting words on the page but after changing things I believe I’ll be crushing my word count for this project.

I don’t have a daily word count goal, I write until my four sprints are over, then I look at my word count. But I don’t have goal in mind before I start writing. I only want to get clean, truthful words on the page. With this formula, that’s what I’ll be doing.

How is your writing going? Are you having the same issues as I have?

Try changing your music, where you write, or event what you drink or have beforehand. Those little things can change everything.

Have a good Monday and happy writing!

Why you must write for yourself.

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I’ve ventured into this conversation before but this time feels different. I’m a different writer than I was the last time I posted a blog with this time of theme.

I’d link to it but I can’t remember how long ago I wrote it. So let’s just dig into why I’m writing this.

Throughout my life there have been things I’ve jumped into and failed. They failed for many reasons; some of them more to do with my work ethic and how much I cared about the topic at the time.

I used to get bored of things easily. I believe that came from immaturity on my part.

But I’d do something then quit when it either got to difficult or I got bored, sometimes both.

With writing, it’s never felt that way. I remember writing in middle school and high school and completely loving every moment of it.

I never thought writing as an avenue I could pursue as a career. This thought was influenced by my biological father’s feelings growing up.

Now that I have someone who supports my writing(thanks Anita)I feel more confident and comfortable doing what I enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been difficult chasing this writing thing, but worth it.

I write every day, unless there is something planned with my wife and kids.

Writing doesn’t feel like those past failures. It feels like something I’m supposed to do.

I learned a lot about myself, and others, from those failures. But the one thing that became life altering, was that whatever your goals, you have to chase them for yourself. Not your spouse, partner, parents, siblings or anyone else who may have an opinion on your life.

Ultimately, it’s your life and you have see yourself in the mirror every day. Would you rather see yourself happy or doing what someone else believes you should do?

The decision is yours but you have to live with that decision, no one else.

Do what you enjoy because it’s your future, your sanity, and your choice.

Happy writing and get some shit done today, and have a great weekend.

Don’t work for free.

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Let me start this post by saying, welcome to all the new followers.

Okay, that’s done, now down to what I want to say.

This past weekend I let it be known I was probably going to publish a book on Amazon soon. I wrote about this decision on Monday’s post.

I’ve been debating this decision with myself and I’ve talked it over with my wife. We decided the book will not get any better than its current iteration and that I should publish, now back to the point.

One of my friends thought I’d give him a feee signed copy of the book when it’s released. I truly care about this person but they don’t write or doing anything creative, that I’m aware of.

This being the case, they don’t understand how hard it is to be a creative.

There are only two people who would get those signed copies, for free; my wife and my mom.

They have been my biggest supporters throughout my writing journey.

I have a date selected for publication and I’ll be going over the draft leading up to that date.

I’ll let all of you know when that will be in the coming weeks.

Happy writing and don’t work for free.

Sometimes you have to jump!

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Over the last six months I’ve been going through edits, revisions, and story changes.

It is the reason I took a break from the blog for a while.

I’ve been debating what to do with this book. Should I send it to an agent and cross my fingers or do I publish it on KU(Kindle Unlimited)?

I’ve decided to publish it on KU.

This is the first book I’ve published and I understand there’s a learning curve with publishing. I also know it will only be as good as I’m able to make it.

My wife and I aren’t able to afford a good editor so we’re making do with ourselves.

I know this may bring the quality down but I like this book and believe it’s the best work I’d done to the point when I wrote it last summer.

The debate on this went on all last week inside my head, I believe Friday’s post shows that.

Now that I’ve made this decision, I won’t be backing off the blog or my other writing.

Over the summer I’ll be submitting the novel I wrote in December to my writing group as well as working on the second book in that series.

I know this may catch some of my constant readers off guard but sometimes you have to jump.

I’m jumping this July. I’ll keep you up to date on anything further.

Happy writing.

Changing direction.

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It’s become clear to me that my fiction writing and my blog writing should interact somehow. I’ve been working through how to do that in my head and came up with a solution.

I realized in order for them to interact, I should discuss what I’m working on, how I came to choose that project, and what my intent is for the project..i.e. publishing on Amazon, regular publishing, etc.

What I will not do it post excerpts from a work-in-progress(WiP). This causes too many issues with my work and how I maintain my writing schedule.

For the foreseeable future, I will be publishing blog articles Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I know this is a big change and will take time for me to get used to it, and it may change as I query novels during the summer.

For now, I will be publishing on those days. My writing will be focused on story, and not my daily life, for that, check out my Instagram.

On occasion, when I’m dealing with a recurrence of depression related issues, I will talk about them. I won’t hold that back, not ever. If you’re a longtime reader, you’ll understand my reasoning for that. For now, the blog will be focused on writing, with rare exceptions.

Happy writing and welcome to the blog.