Too Much Lurking, Not enough Working...

I started setting a minimum daily word count (not too high, but still high enough to push the story along) that I have to hit before I go to bed. I usually go well above it, but the fact that I have to do it forces me to get started. Once I get started it usually flows pretty well. I can be a terrible procrastinator, but sometimes it all comes down to self-discipline. Once you get a routine going every night/morning/whatever, it gets easier to stick with it (for me anyway).

If all else fails, there are programs out there that will block you from cruising the Internet for a time you specify. I don't remember what they are called offhand, but I'm sure someone will.

This site is terrible addictive. It's like chocolate. Or coffee. Mmm...now I want a mocha.

Lmc71775 said:

That's a good idea about the word count. I did around 1000 words a day with the other ones and it worked out. This one is spuratic. Turning off the net would help, you're right.

It's weird, I did better when I wrote outside in the garage. Now that is it freezingly cold, I haven't done anything. Maybe a new spot in the house would help?

Thanks again for your tips!

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Freezingly = new adverb!

I love it!

Hi Lmc,

I too lurk on here more often than I should. But I like to think that I'm still expressing myself. In a completely unproductive manner, for sure.

But I've just decided that my latest W.I.P. is C.R.A.P. - thankfully I've got another idea brewing. An idea generated from a response I made to another thread.

So it's swing and roundabouts really.

Why not leave your WIP for a couple of days, try writing something else. And then, when you least expect it, you'll get a killer idea that'll add 93,000 words to the 7k you've already written. In theory.

Regards

Whacko

I do a couple of things. First, and the most helpful, is a daily word count goal. I try to set something that is challenging, but doable. It used to be 1000, but I recently upped it to 2500, so that I could hopefully get this draft finished by the end of the year.

Another thing which helps me, but may not apply to you, is the fact that I really don't want to be working on a novel for a couple of years. Every day I am not working on my novel, is another day before I can be published.

And the final thing is that occasionally, reading other people's word counts, and seeing how fast they write, lights up the competitive spirit in me. I don't openly compete with other people, that's not healthy, but when I see that someone wrote their novel in, like four months, I think to myself "Whatever, I can do that to. Time to get back to writing." I've never written a novel in four months, but that thought alone usually gets me off the internet and into my writing for the day. It doesn't always work, but it sometimes helps. It's kind of like the combination of competitive spirit, plus guilt trip ("If I wasn't on the internet all the time, I could have written a novel in four months, too," kind of thoughts). If you think the guilt trip thing might work for you, look at the signatures of the people in this forum, and see how many/how far some of them are in on their projects. That might get you going. Or give you a complex. Sorry if it's the latter.

Also, this is in no way a post against putting word counts in your signatures. ^__^

When I get going on a book I wont log on in the morning until I have 1000 words. When I get bored with you people I do it again. Then again until I'm done. I do at least 3 to 5K a day.

It works for me.

I self-banned myself.

Just sit your butt in the chair and write, for chrissake. You think it's gonna write itself?

As my dad would say, 'quit yer bitchin and get yer writin' done.'

I write with a pen and paper. Neither connects to the internet.

I do what Wayne and Ray do...I self banned myself for about five months. Only on a handful of times. Now I give myself this site as my reward for a good days writing. And...tell myself a productive writer is a happy writer and deserves a reward of AW time...it works for me! Hugs!

Lmc71775 said:

I'm working like a snail on my third novel. I only have 7k words from a months worth. I keep stalling on it...
Anyways, I was wondering how you guys handle the trek.

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There's the old standbys:

1. Set aside a specific time to write each day. For years, I wrote between 9 pm and 11 pm after the grandkids went to bed. Now I write in the mornings, unfortunately on not quite as rigid a schedule.

2. Set aside a location to write in, where the Internet is forbidden if possible (eg, too far from the wireless router). The point, though, is to associate the location with writing.

3. Write with a buddy so you can police each other.

4. Get an automatic 24 hour lighting timer and connect it to your router, so it's shut off during your writing time.

jaksen said:

Just sit your butt in the chair and write, for chrissake. You think it's gonna write itself?

As my dad would say, 'quit yer bitchin and get yer writin' done.'

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Totally agree. All writers struggle with distractions and spending too much time online instead of working. Try the tips other have mentioned, sure. But in the end, you're only accountable to yourself and no one is going to force you to write. Get in that chair and get to work!

I've been two years working out my story. A few days ago I finally passed the 10,000 mark. Another 19 years and I should be ready to edit.

jaksen said:

Just sit your butt in the chair and write, for chrissake. You think it's gonna write itself?

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Hell yeah.

... when at work on a project I set weekly goals. That helps me stay focused. I still spend time here, but as long as I'm meeting my goals that's okay. It's an informative site and there are cool people to hang out with, but one can tend to overdo it at times. So I know where you're coming from with that. G'luck.

Try to think about what makes you like writing to get motivated.
Try to think about what inspires you to get ideas when your stuck.
Kick everyone out of the room when writing! I hate been distracted!

That's how I do it, although Im not a real writer, hope it helps.

Waiting for an update, Lmc.

How much did you write today?

I dunno. I get a ton of great ideas from all the quirky informative people here.

I self-banned myself.

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hahaha.

I only come here when I want to read the newest post on a thread that interests me, and I come here when the word count I am trying to hit on the whole WIP, for instance, the current one is 63,800 words, that way chapter 9 will be finished and chapter 10 will have some words written so I can just expand the scenes instead of writing brand new ones, when I am finished expanding the scenes that will be left over, and I reply when someone needs help and I give him or her a suggestion. The thread that I am constantly checking on is the Finish the Damn Book Challenge. My suggestion is be like this. (Example)


"Today, I expect to hit the 63,800 words." (Using my case as an example.)


That way, you won't lurk so much because you know that you have to hit those 63.8k words before you go to bed. Read a novel that is in the same genre as yours. Watch a movie that has a plot similar to yours. (Example: Man killing everyone to avenge the death of his father) and disconnect from the internet somehow and forget you even have it. Listen to a playlist where the songs are related to your novel.


If you need any more advice, let me know.

Luckly, in the last month (and first, since I started writing a month ago ) I haven't been able to stop writing.
Yesterday I was writing so much I only remembered about my two written tests (im a student) when it was... ahh.. about 1am. Wait that means it was today. LoL