Ok then, another round of writing in public. This time, a little different: I won’t be writing continuous posts on a weekly basis, but rather writing them daily (unless there’s a good reason not to). Even better — I won’t be writing new posts at all. I’ll be updating this one, which I’ll keep pinned. Reason? Don’t want to spam people’s inboxes with daily digits. But you’re free to come here if you want to see how I’m doing.
Goal: 2k words a day … with a full time job. Yeah. Tall order. I’ll try to make up any words I miss during the week on the weekends. I’ll post word counts sometime between 6pm and midnight EST.
So what’s all this about? Well, I’m trying to write 3 books in a row, between 60-80k each. A separate project from Hell’s Children, as I’m in much need of a break after all that YA violence. Afterward, I hope to polish off Hell’s-3 and then go on to pursue a career in interpretive break dancing.
July 19, 2017 — 1000 words: Considering the day I had, I’m happy. Hopefully I’ll make up the difference by Saturday.
July 20, 2017 — 1733 words: I’m getting there. What a bad week to start this, but a worse week is next week. Because it’s always next week when there’s work to do, isn’t there?
July 21, 2017 — 200? — Don’t laugh. I still have my day job. This is probably going to happen a lot. Hopefully can catch up this weekend (looking forward to it, actually).
July 22, 2017 — 1500 — Getting there.
July 23, 2017 — 1044 — think I may be doing some rewrites early. Not sure yet, we’ll see.
July 24, 2017 — 1300 — Decided to rewrite chapter 1. I think it’s better now, though not quite done…
July 25, 2017 — 1091
July 26, 2017 — 500? — Lots of rewriting today. And a feeling like I want to start this fractal on a good foot, so yeah, taking my time here.
July 27, 2017 — 498
July 28, 2017 — Very few words today, not even gonna count. What writing I did was rewriting this and that. Still waiting for my groove. But still showing up at the keyboard every day.
July 29, 2017 — 1200 — Received a great email from a reader today saying they loved Hell’s Children, and particularly Lisa. I needed that email. Thank you kindly.
July 30, 2017 — 1000 (+/-). Good day for writing, all considered. Interesting that most of the 1k took place in about 30 mins, because I felt rushed. Might be something to that …
July 31, 2017 — 0. Mom-in-law in hospital for pneumonia. She’s fine, no worries. They’re keeping her overnight. She’s weak, a little chest pain, etc., but expected to be fine. Need to make sure I get my writing in every morning and not hold out for the evening…
August 1, 2017 — 1500! — Good stuff, too.
August 2, 2017 — 1200 — more good stuff. Still not 2k a day, but not too bummed. Quality over quantity. I’m just happy to know what I’m writing vs. spending a lot of time waiting for inspiration, which never goes well.
August 3, 2017 — 1500! — Oh yeah….
August 4, 2017 — 650 — Oh no…
August 5, 2017 — 1350 — Happy dance.
August 6, 2017 — 2900 — Great day for writing. The muse must have been bored today.
August 7, 2017 — 1400
August 8, 2017 — 1000 — I’ll take it.
August 9, 2017 — 1100 — first real fight scene. woot.
August 10, 2017 — 500 — yikes?
August 11, 2017 — 500 (again). Lots of planning today, though. Probably another 100 words of outlining various secret things (shh).
August 12, 2017 — 1600 — moving right along….
August 13, 2017 — 570
August 14, 2017 — 780
August 15, 2017 — 1000 — slow and steady
August 16, 2017 — 1400 — good stuff today. counts are meaningless when the writing is good.
August 17, 2017 — 0 — I was afraid I’d write the next great American Novel, make billions of dollars, and take over the world if I wrote today. By waiting till tomorrow, I’ll have saved my soul. So that’s why zero.
August 18, 2017 — 493 — just being extra careful about a spurious rush to popularity. Look what happened to Johnny Depp.
August 19, 2017 — 1300 — fun stuff.
August 20, 2017 — 1700 — nothing bad can happen now.
August 21, 2017 — 200 — I’d be embarrassed if anyone was reading this 🙂 But pretty sure it’s just me, haha.
August 22, 2017 — 1300
August 23, 2017 — 1000
August 24, 2017 — 400
August 25, 2017 — 3000 werds. Who’s your daddy? Me. That’s who.
August 26, 2017 — 1277. Ok, so despite all the word counts you see above, the real number for the current manuscript is (I’m sure) a bit different. I deleted a few thousand words here and there and put in new words. So, if you’re curious, here is the word count of the entire manuscript: 34,000 words. I hope to finish between 60 and 80k words, then move onto book 2, then 3.
August 27, 2017 — 3000. Great day.
August 28, 2017 — 1100
August 29, 2017 — 0 — Too much awesome too close together finally caught up with me.
August 30, 2017 — 0 — Still recovering from all the awesome.
August 31, 2017 — 1000
Sep 1, 2017 — 630
Sep 2, 2017 – 850
Sep 3, 2017 — 800
Sep 4, 2017 — 850
Sep 5, 2017 — 1000
Sep 6, 2017 — 377 (painful, miserable words, haha)
Sep 7, 2017 — 0 — and I think I need to delete about 500 words.
Sep 8, 2017 — 0 — Hopefully this weekend will yield some nuggets.
Sep 9, 2017 — 0 — no nuggets yet.
Sep 10, 2017 — 788 — better!
Sep 11, 2017 — 800 — 12 better than better.
Sep 12, 2017 — 200
Sep 13, 2017 — 300!
Sep 14, 2017 — 0 — Need to buckle down. I think the issue is I’m in an important part and I’m being cautious.
Sep 15, 2017 — 0
Sep 16, 2017 — 403 — Oh, yeah….
Sep 17, 2017 — 1500
Sep 18, 2017 — 549
Sep 19, 2017 — 261
Sep 20, 2017 — 700
Sep 21, 2017 — 0
Sep 22, 2017 — 500
Sep 23, 2017 — 700
Sep 24, 2017 — 0 — I may get 0 again for the 25th (busy day). But I finally nailed a “good ending.” I have to put it in, that’s all. Then I can move on to book 2. Thought I’d be done a little earlier, but that’s fine.
Sep 25, 2017 — 870
Sep 26, 2017 — 0
Sep 27, 2017 — 515
Sep 28, 2017 — 255
Sep 29, 2017 — 466
Sep 30, 2017 — 754
Oct 1, 2017 — 0 — very close to end of book 1, taking it in stride (the only way I know how).
Oct 2, 2017 — 0
Oct 3, 2017 — 1100
Oct 4, 2017 — 1300
Oct 5, 2017 — 1000
Oct 6, 2017 — 628 (so close)
Oct 7, 2017 — 788 (little closer)
Oct 8, 2017 — DONE. Yep, done with book 1. I mean, I gotta do some rewrites and edits, but the book is done, start to finish. Very satisfying. Now I have to write the other two and publish.
John L. Monk 
Definitely go for the dancing-you can squeeze it in.
I try 🙂
I’ll be watching, except maybe for the break dancing. If it becomes too strenuous, just relabel it as brake dancing. You just stand there without moving while claiming to dance. The audience must interpret your thoughts and meanings.
Sort of like writing a book.
Have fun!
Hah, I like your take on it. It will be strenuous though. Which is the point. Too easy to not sit down and do the work, you know? And I do like the work. I just don’t like sitting down and facing the blank page with nothing but good intentions 🙂