What keeps me writing
Recently I passed 60% on my way to my 100,000-word target. I started writing the novel a few months ago and I know I won’t finish the book until mid-January. Usually, if I look at that a project this big I become intimidated but I am over half way now. and want to think about how I am handling this process.
I have built a consistent daily writing habit now and I have added to the novel every day for the last five or so months. I used to use a tool called the magic spreadsheet When I wrote my first horrific attempt at a novel. Now I am using a bullet journal to track how I am doing. I’m using it to track a lot of things my weight, yoga sessions, new habits and appointments. It’s turning into an essential tool for me.
When it comes to the writing I track my daily word count.I set a target at the start of the month, usually around 10,000 words. Which is quite small I hit 13,000-14000 all the time. I am choosing not to put pressure on myself to finish faster. I smash that target. On average I write between 500-600 words before leaving for work. this only takes about half an hour. and could sometimes be one of the most enjoyable parts of my day.
Its become part of my morning ritual along with breakfast a shower and meditation. its one of the things that I do now out of habit. writing and tracking it comes with a sense of accomplishment. Every day I get that one step closer to my target. So at the moment what is keeping me writing is habit and enjoyment. I try not to worry about what I am doing. How I am writing I am telling myself a story.
Part of me is afraid of finishing because then I have to edit the behemoth book. Editing isn’t something I have experience with. so I am researching what to do now. It will be a case of breaking up the manuscript and working at it a little at a time. I plan on tracking it like I do with writing now.