@JaneEyreZH I've heard a handful of people say 500 words a day no matter what.

Some add the addendum of not a sentence more than the 500

It doesn't need to be perfect (you can edit it later) but find that 15-30 minutes to get 500 words down and you'll have a novel's worth of text in half a year.

@JaneEyreZH Right now I don't, but I need and want all those things. A writing group (online) I was in a few years ago has drifted apart and I haven't had anything since. I miss it. Just being there and chatting about our stories was so good for inspiring and motivating.

I've wondered if such a group might be found here.

@JaneEyreZH

I hope you'll get a lot of different ideas in response to this question! Because there's certainly not one right way and even when you find something that works for you, it won't necessarily last forever because your life will change in other ways. We all have competing obligations. Some can be dismissed. Some can't. So you give it what you can. And you forgive yourself when that isn't as much as you'd like. And you come back and try again.

@JaneEyreZH

When I still had a day job that wasn't writing, I wrote from 5 to 7am.

That left the workday and evening hours for day job and all the extra crap that comes with teaching.

I still try to write first thing in the morning before life has much chance to interfere.

Speaking of which, the morning is ticking by really quickly on me. :)

@JaneEyreZH

I have a daily min wordcount of 1000 words, and I make deadlines for my work. Having deadlines help so much

@JaneEyreZH

Honestly, I often don't find time. Managed to squeeze in some writing last week because I was on vacation, and had minimal distractions.

I recently replied to a post here, asking people to list the working titles of your #WIP. I listed TWELVE! 😱

Damn, I need to get moving on some of this stuff.

#creativewriting #writingcommunity #writing #AmWriting #fiction #writinglife #creativeprocess

@JaneEyreZH It's changed over the years as my schedule and capabilities have changed. I used to write while sitting with the kids, waiting for them to go to sleep. Nowadays, my brain isn't working anymore that late, so I try to write in the mornings. I don't write every day, but I do think about it and muse over problems every day. This related work is still important!

I do have a critique group, & we have a spreadsheet tracking our goals and how far along we are so we can cheer each other on.

@JaneEyreZH I had a writing teacher who said if you can do two 15 minute writing sessions a day, 5 days a week, for the entire year, you will have about a novel and a half's worth of writing at the end of it.

I have never been able to be that disciplined, but when I was really getting crunched by my job, I committed to write at least one sentence per day. Not an intimidating goal but also enough to keep the spark alive.

@JaneEyreZH

Personally, I set aside writing times in my calendar. When someone asks if I can meet then, the answer is "no, I'm sorry. It's already booked."

I have also long ago found my own personal "efficiencies" - I write best in the morning, so I reserve those times for writing.

There are also a whole slew of "tricks" I learned from my creative writing background - including

(1) the vomit draft - always edit on paper (electronic paper is OK), just don't edit in your head.

(2) the "Hemingway point" - when you've written a lot for the day, stop in the middle of a sentence. That way, when you come back tomorrow, you can start writing by finishing that sentence.

(3) make it habit - don't just write when the spirit moves you

(4) rewrite by retyping / rewriting, not by moving paragraphs around, even if you are retyping the same text over

(5) make sure there is time to edit. After you've written something, put it aside for a week or a month and come back to it. (Write other stuff in the meantime see note 3.) Then rewrite [note 4] that month-old text.

Importantly, there is no one "right way" to write. Try stuff out. Your mileage will vary. Find your own personal efficiencies. And yes, your efficiencies will change as your life changes. Be prepared for that, and then go find the new efficiencies.

Oh, and (6) Don't forget to READ! Read all kinds of things - fiction, not; in-field, out; great literature, trashy literature; great science, great art. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own writing, particularly as other life-needs occur, they don't do enough reading.

@JaneEyreZH

My freelance work limited atm
fewer fresh hours in the day post Covid etc

so
prioritise mornings as best time. Even two hours work before shower.

can be derailed from sustained fiction concentration so if something has to be in the morning make it as late as possible.

sideline things only moderately committed to

don't worry if miss a day or two but bum on seat most days essential

take laptop even when away with family for a couple of days in case