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Monday, May 20, 2013

I'M BACK! 5 ways to increase your word count.

This post is really just for myself, seeing as how I don't have any followers. However, I have come to announce good news. For those slow pokes like me, who take years to write a single novel, there is a way to increase your word count and become a pro at spitting out 5,000 -7,000 words a day. Here's what I've learned.

1. If you have a mind that's easily distracted by facebook, twitter, or your email, you need to learn how to concentrate. Turn off those other things that take your attention away from writing. If you turn them off only to turn them back on 5 minutes later, you can download StayFocus or LeechBlock. StayFocus is a program only for Google Chrome that allows you to designate how much time you allow yourself for other websites.

2. Write a small summary of what you plan on writing. I made the mistake of making up things as I went along with only an extremely rough draft of what the end conclusion would be. However, I realized that taking 5 minutes to plan out a scene before going at it without a road map has improved my writing speed as well as decreased the frequent moments of writer's block. Now, I take 2-3 days charting my entire story. This outline is usually 10 pages long if I become extremely descriptive.

3. Start with a scene that you find exciting. This also works well with the outline. If you do a full story outline, take note at which scenes do you get excited about. If your outline is detailed enough, start your day with that scene. When you get to the scenes that inspired your story in the first place, your words will flow like water. It's also a good idea to pump yourself up for each section of writing. This will be especially difficult with those boring but necessary scenes, but try to find something interesting within them.

4. Time yourself and set up mini goals. Say your goal is 6,000 words a day. Set 3 times out of the day when you'll be available to write. I set 1.5 hours in the morning, 1.5 hours in the afternoon, and 1.5 hours at night to write. Each time I set a goal of 2000. I'm racing with myself and by night, I have finished my word count and can do a quick review of some of my writing, expounding upon certain scenes or descriptions and cleaning up my typos. If your usual output is 2,000-2,500 a day, try adding only 500 words on your first day. If you meet that easily, try increasing it by 1,000. Test yourself by constantly increasing your goals until you find something your comfortable with doing daily.


5. Sign up for 750words.com. This is an awesome website dedicated to rewarding you for your consistency. It helps develop the diligence to go into Nanowrimo and other writing goals. Every level you get rewarded badges. Everyone starts off as an egg, then you move into a Turkey after three days of consistent writing. After five days you evolve into a Penguin and after ten, an Albatross. There are more badges to earn and a helpful community of writers.

Good Luck Writing

2 comments:

  1. Hm. Interesting tips. I'll have to look into the 750words.com thing. Thanks for stopping by and am your newest follower :)

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  2. Aww, thank you so much! I think my posts will improve now that I know someone is reading.

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