Mark Hood
Towards the end of 2019 I committed to #writing 200 words every day. I now I have an unbroken streak that totals over a million words written.
What have I learned? (thread follows)...
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
1/10
Sep 2, 2024 at 7:00amWeb
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
It didn't take long to realise I'd built a habit. In only a few weeks I had an itch every day to add to my streak, and this paid off big-time when the panjandrum hit. Even while everything was chaos, I had one thing that was under my control that I could turn to.
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting
2/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
Aiming low worked for me. I've done (and won) #NaNoWriMo in the past, but I failed in November 2019. With a busy life I understand the draw of an intensive period of focus, but I found that when I fell behind I couldn't get motivated to catch up - or even continue.
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting
3/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
If I only had to write 200 words, I could do that in about 10 minutes (if the inspiration flowed) or longer when needed. The barrier to entry was so low, there as much less resistance when I was tired, or stressed, or busy.
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
4/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
I never stopped at 200. Well, maybe once or twice. But more often than not, knowing I had to 'only' do a little meant that I gathered my own momentum. My average is just shy of 600 words per day.
(This thread so far is 228 words).
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
5/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
Keeping track helped. I have a counter on my website (https://markhoodauthor.com) and post regular updates to my newsletter and writing groups. The encouragement of others (and the fear of breaking the streak in public) spurs me on when I feel like I don't want to do it.
#200WordsPerDay
6/10
Mark Hood | Author

Website for the author Mark Hood

Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
It keeps my work-in-progress fresh in my mind when I visit it every day. I don't forget who the characters are, or what they want, when I check in so often. Plot points are always bubbling away in the subconscious, and flow out in the next session.
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
7/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
Is it for everyone? No. Some folks just don't get along with it, and that's fine. Others love it for shorter periods - setting themselves a goal to write every day for a week, or a month. However you write, however you motivate yourself, if it works for you then do it!
#200WordsPerDay
8/10
Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
Thanks for reading. If you want to read some of those million words, you can find them in my books: https://markhoodbooks.com.
Or you can hear me read some on https://youtube.com/@markhood
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
9/10
Mark Hood | Author

Mark Hood is an author living and working in the English county of Shropshire which allows him plenty of opportunities to stare out of the window at gorgeous scenery when he ought to be writing. He brings a life-long fascination with mythical creatures and ancient legends to his writing, which merges folklore and myth with the real world. 'The Fairies Want Me Dead' is his first novel, to which 'Jacob's War' is a prequel.

Show threadMark HoodSep 2, 2024
Special thanks to the Bestseller Experiment, Mark Stay and Mark Desvaux - plus all the Experimates who offered support, encouragement and incredulity when it mattered most. Have a photo of my writing buddy Lola in her usual spot beside me.
#200WordsPerDay #AmWriting #WriteEveryDay
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