HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WRITE?



http://www.capecodography.com/

Recently a friend of mine, who is interested in writing his first novel, asked me if he should write only when he feels like it.

I had to chuckle. The first time I considered writing a novel, which was over 10 years ago, I thought the same thing. Since fiction writing is creative, how can an author do otherwise than to write when the urge strikes or when creative juices are flowing?

But now I look at the process differently. I’ve had to learn what works best for me, and what works best for me may be suffocating for another. Every writer has to figure out their own timetable—whether it’s writing daily, several times a week, or sporadically. However, if you’re under a deadline or a contract, then you’ve certainly got to discipline yourself in order to complete your work on time.

As for me, I can’t afford to rely solely upon inspiration to write. I’ve got to establish a writing schedule. Like Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration!” Since writing a novel is such a long-term project, one of enormous perseverance, if I leave it to my moods and emotions I’ll never make it past chapter one.

Although this may sound mechanical or stifling, I develop a wrtiting schedule based on a few basic calculations. For example, if I want to finish my first draft in six months then I will follow this formula:

• One double-spaced page is approximately 300 words
• An average novel is at least 70,000 words
• 70,000 words divided by 300 equals 233 pages total
• Six months of writing equals approximately 120 days (weekends off)
• 233 pages divided by120 equals 1.95 or two pages per day

Two pages a day—now that’s doable! Like many, I have to squeeze my writing in around a full-time job. It’s a lot more stressful to think about finding long blocks of free time to write than to think about producing just two pages a day. And if I’m feeling inspired, I’ll certainly go beyond that; but two pages is a must.

I typically keep this schedule in my head, but some may find it more motivating to cross off the dates on a calendar so they have a visual of their progress and productivity.

Again, setting a writing schedule is not for everybody, but it has seen me through three completed novels, and so far I’ve never struggled with writer’s block (knock on wood!).

Little by little, one travels far. – J.R.R. Tolkien