I take the number of pages I'd like to accomplish over a given period of time (400 pages in 4 months, etc.) then break it down into a daily page goal based on writing five days a week. That way if I write an extra day, I can get ahead or have a day or two to catch up if I fall behind.
I'd love to hear what the rest of you do.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Goals
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I try long term then break it down like you but it doesn't work out. So I go project my project day by day. Smaller goals for me is better.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a Words-divided-by-days kind of gal.
ReplyDeleteGoals? What are these goals you speak of?
ReplyDeleteLately I stare at the screen, sigh heavily, then check out my Twitter feed.
94K written, 6K to go, people asking when the book's gonna be finished, and I can't seem to do anything.
That sounds like a good way to do it. My normal method while writing a rough draft is 1000 words a day.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't have a goal for revisions. Judging by my slowness, maybe I should....
I do pretty much what you do: I set a final finishing date, and then divide out how many pages I need to write each week. I then figure out how many pages/day that works out to, and aim for that, but most of my writing days I either far exceed expectations or don't get a single word written, so the weekly goal works well for me. I have an Excel spreadsheet that another writer shared with me, and that helps keep me on track and honest.
ReplyDeleteI belong to Amy Atwell's goal setting group GIAMx3 each week we post what we want to accomplish during our writing for that week and also whether or not we reach our goals for the previous week and why. I always set too many goals for myself, and since I'm in my editing phase for my ms right now I have only 60 more pages to edit for first round edits and a couple scenes to finish that i've decided to add. I promised myself that once I finished my first round edits I could start writing my new wip rough draft for a few weeks before I start second round edits lol. When it comes to writing the wip I have no problems I wrote my MS in 3 months and that included vacations etc, but I've been editing since last July lol. I found this printable chart at catauniversity that allows you to put the name of your wip and then certain points in your novel across thet op, much like a kids chore chart and each time you hit a certain point you get to put a gold star up. I have it tape to my desk at home and it's really insprirational.
ReplyDeleteI have monthly goals, but I break everything down into my daily word count. I have an excel spreadsheet I got from one of the members of my local chapter (for a 100 day challenge) and I've been using it ever since. If I can keep a strict account of my daily word count, it keeps me focused.
ReplyDeleteI used to go by page count but have recently switched to word count, which is way better for me. Page count psyched me out, for some reason, and I ended up producing a lot less per day than I could've been.
ReplyDeleteI decided how long I wanted to write my last book and then just figured how many words a week and did it--some weeks more--thought not always the same.
ReplyDeleteIs that how you do it?!
ReplyDeleteDang, I have to play catch up!
I usually go by page count of 2+ per day (Using MS Word/single space) for a good rythym. Now to get them finished...whole other beast.
ReplyDeleteI tend to binge write.
ReplyDeleteNano always works well for me, but I haven't had any actual goals that I have to meet. Thus far, its just been big fun!
I used to have a goal to spend an hour on something writerly every day, but this year that hasn't gone so well. Last night I made myself a new goal. I figured if I write 1500 words a day, I can get this new story out of my head before it drives me nuts.
ReplyDelete