Welcome to Day 1 of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge here at Reading on the F Train. Today's topic is Accountability!
I think I've mentioned this plan here and there in passing, but I don't think I've blogged about it yet (if I have...I'm sorry. I'm losing my marbles.)
For the last few weeks, Jaime and I have been holding each other accountable for writing 300 words a day, 6 days a week. Because this is a job, we also accrue one sick/personal day a month to accommodate the unexpected.
Now, if you are a writer, think about this. Be honest with yourself. How long does it take you to write 300 first-drafty words? I average between 15 min (in a real, focused hurry) and an hour (if I let the internet distract me or give myself brain breaks, usually playing Dominion online.) I sometimes write a hundred words, do something else, and come back. A hundred words--I'll bet you can knock that out in five or ten minutes (and certainly with practice you can.)
The real trick is making yourself look for that time in your day. And that's where accountability has been so great. Are my words perfect? Of course not. Is 300 words a day a huge number? Nope. But I'm reliably writing every day, because I know that Jaime is waiting to see what I've written! (I should add that at this stage, there's no critiquing--it's just an exchange of first draft words, to prove we've written.)
And it really adds up! In the last three weeks, I've written just under 7600 words--compare that with around 15K of total writing in the months of December through mid-March. I'm on track to write in six weeks as much as I wrote in three and a half months!
So my question to any writers reading this is: how do you hold yourselves accountable? Do you have a writing group or partner, or do you have a self-motivating system?
This arrangement we have has been working out wonderfully! It's challenging, not gonna lie, but it's exactly what I needed to stay on track with finishing this draft. I've also really enjoyed reading the chunks you've been sending me. All in all, a pretty great idea. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely helping me build writing in as part of my daily routine, too--way more than NaNo did, because that pace was really unsustainable.
DeleteAccountability is key and having to check in with someone is a great motivator. Great job and lots of luck to keep it going. ~~EmmlyJane
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm hoping this blog challenge will have a similar effect on my blogging :)
DeleteLoved this topic for today :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm largely self-motivated, though there are times when a little external motivation can help (e.g., NaNoWriMo). One thing I try to do is set a goal, or remind myself of what I'm wanting to accomplish. Walking down the aisle of a bookstore and seeing rows of books by a prolific author, thinking to myself, "You've probably had as many ideas as this person--the difference is, they're writing theirs. What are you doing with yours?"--that can slap me upside the head. Also reminding myself that the only rules about how and what I write are the rules I impose upon myself--and I can break them if I want. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best with A-to-Z this year, Jess! :)
I really like that line about prolific authors--great point!
DeleteI love this idea of an accountability partner. Perhaps I need to hunt one down. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty good about spending at least a solid hour or two on writing a day (whether that be researching, character sketches, drafting, or revising) but in all honesty, I should really devote more time because you're right: this is a job. Thanks for the reminder, and for the inspiration to really buckle down in the coming months.
It's all about finding what works for you: what makes you feel productive but doesn't bog you down, what pace is sustainable, what fits with the rest of your life. An hour or two a day sounds pretty good to me!
DeleteThis is really a great idea! I know I haven't been meeting 300 words/day lately, and I can plead extenuating circumstances (e.g. moving), but you bring up a good point--how long does 300 words really take, if I am focused? Not that long. I'm going to try to follow this plan the next time I'm drafting.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 300 words is sort of the sweet spot--enough to get me into the scene and entice me to keep going, but manageable even on really busy days.
DeleteI always make resolutions to have "writer's office hours," but never very successfully. So I make sure to attend at least one writing 'marathon' a week (Sunday or Saturday, at Shut UP & Write MeetUp, in San Francisco. There are others elsewhere, too)
ReplyDeleteAnd I sign up for things like Camp Nano. Even a voluntary external deadline seems to help me keep up the pace.
When I'm 'fast-drafting' my average is about 300 words in 15 min. For me the important thing is to get it all out there, and then I have something to play with in re-writing and editing.
Good luck with the A to Z!
DMac
Creative Fog
[#1513 currently, tho that # changes as people drop out]
http://dmaccreativefog.wordpress.com/
I did NaNo in November, and made my goal, but I like being able to set my own goals. If I didn't have a writing partner, I probably would have done Camp NaNo for that very reason!
DeleteI really need to start setting smaller more manageable writing goals for myself. I've found that it's so easy to get caught up in all the nitty gritty manuscript editing and querying prep and then neglect real writing. Three hundred words a day is pretty reasonable though, and I should be able to balance that with everything else. I don't send Jaime my writing on a daily basis, but I run all my ideas past her while I'm drafting and then she reads the finished product. That's why we end up having 10 hour phone calls. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it sounds like you guys have a pretty great creative partnership going on! It's awesome that you're such great sounding boards for each other.
DeleteBeing accountable is really hard. Sounds like it's working really well for you. The biggest thing I've found that helps with my personal accountability is remembering what my end goal is. Every time I do that, it's so much easier to sit down and make the words fly.
ReplyDeleteHi there. I enjoyed reading your blog today. This challenge is the thing keeping me writing at the moment. Good luck for the rest of the challenge.
ReplyDeleteOh, boy, I need to print this out and hang it on my wall. Hell, I need to tattoo it on my freaking arm. I spend SO MUCH TIME feeling bad about the stuff I don't get done, ESPECIALLY the stuff (like writing) that doesn't carry its own natural "or else" consequence for not doing it. It sounds like you have a terrific system set up - I am going to have to try that!
ReplyDeleteNaNoWriMo really helps but I get distracted easily. I'm doing the a-to-z challenge too!
ReplyDeleteLeigh
Little Book Star
Very true! Accountability works for lots of things. My dad expects to see new blog posts, so I write. My kids expect to eat, so I cook. It is wonderful that you found a like-minded accountability partner for your writing. Breaking the end goal into little parts is a great idea, too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z challenge!