Comments on: Resolution Made; Now, Can I Keep It?

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:05:22 +0000

1500 is a very good day, Mikaela. And yeah, I remember back in the Bronze Age, when I was in college, exams were a pain….

By: Mikaela

Mikaela — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:22:53 +0000

When I am not busy with exams (sigh), I jump into the Word War room that C.E Murphy have started. It really helps. I get 500 words on a bad day, and 1500 on a good day

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:42:19 +0000

Hey Doug! Great to see you here. I like the idea of using the journal to establish a new writing pace. You’re right — looking at page or word counts over a longer time span can be enormously helpful, and can help writers avoid feeling that they’d “failed” in some way simply because they had an off day or two. Best of luck with the planning and the writing!

By: Doug Hulick

Doug Hulick — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:50:14 +0000

I have a book due in just about a year, and I’m also a slow writer. With that in mind, I am trying to double my daily word output this year. Rather than focus on hitting the precise count every day, though, I am keeping a daily log and looking at the average over a longer term. So, if I am under some days but over others, as long as I am hitting my target overall, I’m good.

I managed to double my daily average the second half of last year without using a journal; I’m hoping the journal will get me over this next hump and leave a little extra time to spare for some other projects before the contracted deadline hits.

Of course, like David, I’m still in the planning/plotting stage, so I can’t say if it is working yet. Still, I think the journal will help keep me honest with myself and act as as motivator when the time comes.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:22:55 +0000

Many thanks, Elias. It was a fun challenge for the most part. Definitely a learning experience.

By: Elias McClellan

Elias McClellan — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:07:54 +0000

@9. I am remiss! Please add my congratulations to the list of others for your accomplishment. That you reconciled your work to the script is, to me, a Hurculean task at least equal meeting the goal within the deadline.

Yeah, I’m in the lower, the much, much lower end of the range you cite. I can only aspire to Mr. Parker’s output or income. Your example is a guidepost to what is possible once determination is target locked.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:11:52 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Elias. “Commitment to craft.” Terrific phrase, and really the point in the end. Whether we write five hundred words in a day or five thousand, our goal should be to write every day, and to make whatever words we get down on the page as good as they can be. Again, thanks for commenting.

By: Elias McClellan

Elias McClellan — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:54:29 +0000

Frost said, ‘love and need must be one.’

RIP Robert B. Parker, who introduced a 10th grade drop-out to Robert Frost and countless other writers. Mr. Parker also produced 2500 to 3000 words per day. If it was not all masterpiece-quality, it is at least a fine example of what is possible under a dedicated, disciplined, commitment to craft.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:43:27 +0000

Wow! Three rewrites in 100 days. That’s ambitious. Best of luck with it, Leah. And yeah, I can see where the alarm would work well. I give myself breaks at word count milestones; but sometimes I still sit and stare…..

By: Will Mallette

Will Mallette — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:42:09 +0000

I know what you mean about writing more than you thought possible. When I wrote my fantasy trilogy, I wrote part one and two, in three weeks each. I think it comes in spurts. I welcome you to check out my latest book, The Magic of Fuller, book one, “Keeper of the Stone”. http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheMagicofFullerBookOne-KeeperoftheStone.html