September Challenge - Write Every Day!

Magnus · Aug 29, 2018

This is a thread open to anyone who wants to start, maintain, or reinforce a writing habit. (It can also be about revision, editing, research -- all writing habits welcome!)

The basic idea is that repeating something daily, even if only for a short time, will build a habit that becomes stronger over time.

It's entirely up to you how much and in what way you participate. Post your goals, if you like, or just check in when you can!

Here are some tips:

Set achievable goals – I can't stress enough how important this is. To build a habit, doing something is more important than quantity or quality.
Keep up the habit as many days in the week as possible – even if it's just a few sentences or a bit of editing. It reinforces the habit and makes it easier to get started.
Mix it up – Try different types of goals, different times of the day, different tricks to reward or motivate yourself. A good habit is what works for you, not someone else.
Be patient – It takes a long time to build a strong habit and you'll always be facing new challenges. Get used to constantly adapting and you'll be better prepared for whatever problem comes up next.
Don't give up because you didn't hit your goal – When you fail to hit your target, your job is figuring out why it happened. That way, you can find ways to get around your roadblocks (and don't be scared of lowering the bar - doing something is better than doing nothing). If you share your stumbles in the thread, others might be able to help out with tips, tricks, and support! And sometimes, it's okay to just take a break for a day or two, or have scheduled days "off". Whatever works for you!

Good luck, and see you on September 1st!

DanielSTJ · Aug 29, 2018

I'm going to keep aiming at writing every day.

Gotta keep at it. I also keep noticing improvements-- so this is going to be a good month I think.

Best of luck everyone!

WGough · Aug 29, 2018

Thanks for starting the thread, Magnus.

Well, my goal for August was to figure out Book II, then draft Book III. I finished drafting Book III, and started drafting Book IV. I'll call it a win, but now I'm struggling with Book IV.

Goals:

1) Finish drafting Book IV, as in turning it into a workable draft. I'm skipping around a bit at the moment.
2) Redraft Book II. Not really a revision so much as working it from a rough to a first.

Drafting word count goals: weekdays 2,000 words, weekends 5,000 words

See you all in September!

April Swanson · Aug 30, 2018

Thanks again Magnus for starting the thread. Don't know where I'd be without these check-ins

My daily target is 1k, plus extra stuff during the week (editing, musing etc).

*cracks knuckles*

KitKate · Aug 30, 2018

Daily target of 500 words each day on current WiP. Keeping it small while I get settled back into work routine and dedicate one night a week for editing 5 chapters of a finished draft.

Keithy · Aug 30, 2018

My target is to do some writing.

Taylor Harbin · Aug 30, 2018

Keithy said:
My target is to do some writing.

Yeah...pretty much sums up my plan.

thereeness · Aug 31, 2018

I'm ducking out this month, as I'm frantically searching for a remote/work from home job and might even be moving across states at the end of the month. Good luck everyone!

Pterofan · Aug 31, 2018

Okay, I'm giving it another go. My only stated goal for September will be "start off the day with writing." I'm hoping if I make writing my first-thing priority, it'll encourage me to do more. If I get my two stories finished, revised and subbed, that'll be a bonus.

Heatherless · Aug 31, 2018

A fresh start for me this month! Same old goal--write every day

Layla Nahar · Aug 31, 2018

Thank you again to Magnus - and to all the writers who join in. Over the last year these threads have made an enormous difference.

I've managed to write every* day since the first thread last August. Even during those times when live got overwhelmingly stressful, I managed to add words to a piece of fiction every day. Wow. That's thanks to these threads and all the lovely writers who come here.

*(I take one skip day a week, usually).

I'll keep my 3/3:

add something to my WIP
do one action of responsibility or self-care
do one act to increase my earning power

KayMitch · Aug 31, 2018

I'm going to keep my goal low still this month. I am definitely getting back into the swing of things, but don't want to rush myself. 300 words a day will be my goal on weekdays and 500 on weekends.

Cindyt · Aug 31, 2018

1. Write every day with an aim toward finishing the first draft of the auto by January
2. Publish the historical by January
3 Get a start on the crime thriller

Keithy · Sep 1, 2018

OK I've got this teenage superhero (where have I heard of that before?) and need a weakness... so I've decided that she gets angry too easily, and when she does, she scares her friends. She remembers being bullied as a child. Oh, and she's scared of the dark.

Now, about a plot...

KitKate · Sep 1, 2018

Day One (The Brit in me can't say that in my head without the Geordie accent. Thanks Big Brother.) 950 words this morning so that's my goal done and dusted for the day. It's nice to get back into the swing of things and writing routines.

Pterofan · Sep 1, 2018

Day 1 - 260 words

It would have been more, but I kept putting off writing in favor of freelance work. At least I procrastinated productively.

Adding new goals for the month: deal with procrastination issues and devise effective time management strategies.

WGough · Sep 1, 2018

Day 1
Drafted 3,610 words of Book IV. Moved some scenes around. WIP total of 34,152 words, so a little over 1/3 of my way through this one. Already behind on my weekend drafting goal of 5,000. Hoping for a more productive day tomorrow.

Keithy: Plotting, schmotting. Have fun!

KitKate: Way to go!

Pterofan: Nice word count. Let me know how you overcome that procrastination.

Happy September, everybody. Only 21 days til the equinox.

Taylor Harbin · Sep 1, 2018

Well, I failed today. There's been too much going on to devote my usual time to writing. Between getting a flat tire on my new and having to work Labor Day weekend (which is so unfair; love history, hate the history/tourism business), I haven't had the energy to put the words on paper even though I have an outline. Makes me feel like a wimp. Everyone says "write when you're not inspired" but if I tried to write now I'm afraid it'd be worse than a rough draft. Or maybe I'm just being too nit-picky with my schedule...

Cindyt · Sep 1, 2018

Day 1

New words - 680

Revision - 5 chapters.

KitKate - WTG on the first day!

Ptero - Good start!

WGough - Strong as ever!

Good September, Everybody!

KayMitch · Sep 1, 2018

Day 1: 629 words

Well I'm on track for my goal already this month which is good. But drive by on the first day for me sorry bout that <3 See y'all soon.

Layla Nahar · Sep 1, 2018

Keithy said:
Now, about a plot...

This, Kiethy, is exactly my problem

Kitkate - nice work

Ptero - congrats on the 260

Gough - back in form!

Taylor - sometimes we have to take a day off

Nice work, Cindy

& nice work Kay

Day 1

WIP - 1/4 page
R/SC - earning service
$$ - just squeaked by on this one with a wee bit of work on my indy project

CharlesXav · Sep 1, 2018

Thanks for this - I need something like this to get me back into gear. After 6 weeks off for my first-born, I've been back to work for 6 weeks and haven't written that entire time!! Additionally, the rejections on my manuscript have been getting me a little down.

It's 11:22 eastern so I've got a little more than half an hour to get some writing in - and this post is the reason I will do so!

starrystorm · Sep 2, 2018

Mine is to edit.

DAY 1: 255 words edited (I rewrite, so that's basically typing it on a different document based off the original document.)

Pterofan · Sep 2, 2018

Day 2 - 1344 words

WGough - that up there was with procrastination. Once again I dove straight into the paid assignment in order to put off writing. Then I finished the paid stuff and had no choice. Though if I was really serious about putting stuff off, I'd vacuum.

I will be writing tomorrow, but I don't know if I'll get to stop in. It's Labor Day and the library, where I get my WiFi, is closed. I can always go up to the truck stop, but their WiFi doesn't always work. But when it does, it lets me access porn sites, which the library doesn't. Pros and cons. :evil

WGough · Sep 2, 2018

Day 2
1,024 words drafted of Book IV. Logy Sunday. May write more later.

Taylor: Give yourself a break. Come back fresh!

Cindyt: Great work, as usual!

KayMitch: Nice word count.

Layla: Way to meet your goals!

CharlesXav: Welcome, congratulations, and good luck!

starrystorm: Good progress. Welcome!

Pterofan: Holy crow, that's impressive work. Writing and watching porn at a truck stop. You are my hero!

September Challenge - Write Every Day!

Magnus

DanielSTJ

The Wandering Bard

WGough

April Swanson

Happy Beeps

KitKate

Keithy

Just keep swimming

Taylor Harbin

Power to the pen!

thereeness

Pterofan

Trust me, I'm a writer

Heatherless

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

KayMitch

Cindyt

Gettin wiggy wit it

Keithy

Just keep swimming

KitKate

Pterofan

Trust me, I'm a writer

WGough

Taylor Harbin

Power to the pen!

Cindyt

Gettin wiggy wit it

KayMitch

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

CharlesXav

starrystorm

Pterofan

Trust me, I'm a writer

WGough