Agreed. I can never force myself to write, because then it doesn't feel enjoyable or fun like it should. It feels like a chore or a job or just another thing to accomplish, and it makes it feel empty and unfulfilling to write.
To some point I can agree with you, but on the other hand, if someone want's to become a professional writer (im not saying everyone does, but those who do) you will have to get used to that sooner or later, because you will have people around you waiting for you to deliver and you better come up with a way of finding that creativity inside of you even when you don't feel inspired. It's better to create a habit of writing something every day because if/when you will ever get there it will be a lot easier for you if you can exercise some discipline about your writing.
I have a 500 words a day thing and I still enjoy writing. There are days were I don't make that amount, but I don't force myself. If I'm not feeling it, I leave it. Even with the quota, every word I write makes sense, not random words for the sake of meeting it.
Yes, I'm with you on that. I think it's perfectly healthy to set targets, which are slightly different from deadlines.
When I write, I set a goal for myself of a certain number of words or pages. My brain is goal-oriented, so it helps.
Thank you for all the responses (which were quick, by the way,) but I really want to write a book in five months. That's possible only when I did the math. I just want to stick to my "calculations," I guess. I shouldn't rush myself so much, but I do want to write as fast as I can possibly manage. I realize this may not be the "best" option. Hmm. Maybe I should get more involved in my story. Unlike my other attempts, I haven't been playing it in my head all that much. But I do enjoy writing my book. Most days I'm really into it, other days... I think it's a matter of scenes. I'm writing one chapter one day, another the next. Do you think it's wise to skip ahead and write other parts of my book, instead of in order? I've been dying to write them.
Personally, I never write in order, I write what comes to me and put it in order after. I find it hard to begin at the beginning of a story. I usually start halfway through, sometimes with the climax of the story, and work backwords and forwards from there. Mostly, if I don't write something down when it comes to me, I forget it, so in that way not writing in order works best for me. It's really how you personally work best, I guess.
When you say "write a book in 5 months" do you mean finish the first draft or completing the entire work? Why such a rush? What are your plans for it after that? will you try and have it published? Is it the first novel you are writing?
Well, I have my personal reasons for wanting to do so. It is my first novel. And I' like to at least finish the first draft by that time.
For some reason, I don't often pay attention to my word count, but I feel that I write very few words per day. My arms easily becomes fatique as my mind becomes blank. That's why I typically get to my story about once per week, which is not good.
750words.com helps me a lot -- keeps me motivated and is an easy way to know when you reach your goal or whatnot. Plus, it keeps updating your word count, so you can easily keep going to 800 or 900 or whatever. Also, for me, outlining the work before I write it helps -- that way, I can just write quickly and don't have to worry about thinking about the plot and such as I've already done that.
I don't know if you guys have this problem but I get distracted easily and then I lose track of whatever I'm writing altogether. I really do like wiring though. How can I turn writing into a daily habit?
Write in big bunches. 1000-3000 words a time. And when you finish, leave the last sentence cut in half. That way you can start writing right away. The only other thing is organizing your self in folders.
I guess the thing is discipline. Write, no matter what excuse you have not to. Turn the internet off, close all games and entertaining programs, I suppose...? I can only write when I'm multitasking, so I don't really know how it's like to have your problem. Even so, avoiding distraction and having discipline seem to be most obvious solution.
I agree entirely with Kingzilla, except I'd tended to keep the amount I write small. I'm aiming for between 500 and 1000 words a day, everyday. Usually it doesn't take a lot of time to knock that out, and I always feel like I've accomplished something. But yeah, not finishing sentences is a fantastic suggestion.
The same way you make anything a daily habit. You set aside a time slot for it, and you stick to it, whether or not you feel like it that day.
What is weird is I write when other's are preoccupied with other activities. I try to write at least once or twice a week. Sometimes on my way to my job I will write on my train commute. Music helps a lot to keep me motivated.
Well, I'd say that writing, and keeping track of what you're writing, are separate issues. For now, just focus on sitting down and typing or scribbling every single day, and don't worry about the quality or cohesiveness of the product. If all you can think of to write about is your lunchtime sandwich, so be it. When the habit of writing every day is formed, move on to some small improvement, keep at it until it's a habit, and move on to the next one.
When I start writing, I can't stop until I'm completely overwhelmed and fall asleep or until the last sentence is written. Usually I write 100-200 pages. I think that it depends on style of your speech. I like writing horrors and erotics, maybe some other genres won't make me so hard working.
