Thursday, October 1, 2020

How to Increase Your Daily Word Count with Guest Jill Kemerer

 

by Jill Kemerer

You’re sitting at your desk in front of your laptop, and every word you write takes a lifetime. We’re talking two, maybe three, words per minute. You hate those words. Delete them. And you’re right back where you started. This might last an hour, a day, a week, a month. Who knows? But when you’re in a struggle session to figure out the next sentence, your daily word count suffers.

Whenever this happens to me, I procrastinate. Then panic.

And all I can think is that I hate writing.

The longer I stay away from the manuscript, the more I loathe the thought of returning to it.

Call it writer’s block or just another day as a writer, but it’s not fun. How can we meet our goals if we’re staring at a laptop screen, scarfing down M&Ms, and the only thing coming to mind is duhhhh…

The book will not be written. Goals will not be met.

This happened to me regularly until about three years ago. I managed to finish all my projects on time, but I wasn’t looking forward to writing the way I used to. In fact, I dreaded actually writing the first draft.

I decided to come up with a strategy to eliminate as many of those struggle sessions as possible. How? By reading how other writers overcame them and by experimenting to see what would work for me.

I needed to be able to consistently stay in the groove when writing a draft. So I read productivity books written by authors. The two below really stuck with me.

First of all, I highly recommend the book 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron. The Kindle version is only $2.99. It’s a short, informational book full of personal insights and tips. It helped motivate me to increase my daily word count.

I also recommend Allie Pleiter’s The Chunky Method Handbook: Your Step-by-Step Plan to WRITE THAT BOOK Even When Life Gets in the Way. For $4.99, the Kindle version is full of great advice.

After studying the above books, I realized my momentum in a draft stopped when I didn’t know what would happen next. Now, I’m a plotter, so I know where the story is headed. But I don’t know every scene in advance. It was those in-between scenes that were stalling me out.

Pantsers, I imagine, have the same problem. They’re discovering the story as it’s being written, and when you aren’t certain what direction to take, it’s hard to move forward.

This was an easy fix for me. After each writing session, I simply brainstorm the next scene. I decide whose point of view it needs to be in, where it is taking place, the basic idea of what is happening and how the scene will further the story. Then I think ahead to the following scene and sketch out its details.

Brainstorming the next 1-2 scenes at the end of a writing session takes me less than ten minutes. I’m no longer floundering around trying to figure out what happens next. Now I quickly jump into my draft every day because I know what I’ll be writing.

This step alone helped me increase my daily word count because I wasn’t wasting time.
I didn’t stop there. I was intrigued by the premise of Rachel Aaron’s 2K to 10K book (see above). I’m a math girl. Before I read her book, I typically wrote between 2000-2500 words a day. I know this because I keep a log of every writing session.

I keep three logs for every book. One is for plotting, one is for writing, and one is for revising. For the writing log, I note the date, number of pages added, number of words added and the total word count to that point. This gives me an overview of how long it really takes for me to write a book.

It wasn’t hard to see that if I could write more each day, the book would be finished in less time.

Since I’d figured out how to ACTUALLY WRITE and not stare off into space wondering what comes next, I began to experiment with word count. And I realized something that wasn’t flattering.

Every day I started too late, and I quit too early.

Now, I’m blessed to write full time. I know many of you are fitting your writing in around full-time jobs, children, spouses, hobbies, and other important things. We all have demands on our time. But I had to take a hard look at how I was spending my work days, and when I did, I made some changes.

I organized carpools for my kids’ practices. I exercised earlier. Planned my chores around my writing times. I cut back—way back—on interacting on social media sites. I still check in a few times a week, still blog, still send out a monthly newsletter, still promote my books. For me, social media is a low-energy task, an easy distraction, and it was hindering me from meeting my true goals.

Before you can sell copies of your book, you have to write it. It’s just the way it is.
I created blocks of time for writing. I also set aside a block each weekday (for me, late afternoon is ideal) for all the other stuff writers do, like writing this post! And I pushed myself to get more words on the page every day.

I realized writing 10,000 words a day isn’t something I aspire to, but 5000 words a day is doable. I also realized I needed to schedule a day to review what I’d written so far about midway through a draft. This helps me keep all the threads straight in my mind.

Writing is my job. I treat it like one. And because I treat it like one, I stay ahead of my deadlines. This allows me to meet friends for coffee once in a while or play hooky to visit a museum or the library. I love having the freedom to make my own schedule, but I never allow it to become a free-for-all.

If you want to increase your daily word count, start by jotting down what has to happen in the next 1-2 scenes at the end of each writing session. Log your word count and the time you spend writing EVERY SESSION. Then push yourself to meet bigger goals until you find the number that seems to fit your life best.

You CAN increase your daily word count. And when you do, don’t be surprised when you experience a renewed love of writing. I’ve fallen in love with the process all over again. And you can to!
 
Mindy here. Jill is giving away a copy of her brand new release, The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings. (Paperback for US, ebook for International) Simply leave a comment to be entered.


The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings

 

Will welcoming them for Christmas have him wishing for more?

 

Judd Wilson lives a solitary life…until he learns Nicole Taylor and her infant triplets need somewhere to stay. The cabin on his ranch is the perfect solution, but now his quiet Christmas alone feels a lot more crowded. Recently widowed, Nicole questions her swiftly developing feelings for Judd, even if the older man is wonderful with her babies. Is she ready to take that leap again?

 

Purchase The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings









Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her mini-dachshund, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com.

 

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45 comments:

  1. Hi Jill! This is such a timely post for me. I have started writing full time, and am finding my productivity to lag without looming deadlines. Thank you for the tips and the resources you suggest, too. I must say, I'm still in a place where 5,000 words a day would be impossible for me, but maybe one day!

    Also, your book has a great cover! :-)

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    1. Congratulations on writing full time! How exciting! Writing 5000 words a day is not a one-size-fits-all deal. I think it's important to track your writing sessions. When you do, you'll see realistic ways to up that daily word count.

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    2. Rachel, you're not alone. 5000 words sounds daunting to me, as well. ;)

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  2. Thanks for these really great tips. I am not a full-time writer, but I just became an empty-nester in the last six weeks, so I'm really working out what writing looks like when my schedule has changed in a huge way! My afternoons just opened up for writing time :) But I'm also fighting through the emotions of that loss and my love for my WIP has stalled. I too have a problem when I don't know where the story should go. I'm going to check out the books you recommended and see if I can't get back on track. Thank you so much for sharing today!

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    1. Aww, that's wonderful about becoming an empty nester, Glynis! Bittersweet, too, but hey, let's look at the bright side. Those afternoons are nice! Another book to help keep the story on track (written for Pantsers) is Libby Hawker's Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing. I bought the Kindle version years ago and refer to it often! Enjoy!

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    2. Glynis, it's hard when that last one leaves the nest, I know. My last one left in April. Think of that extra writing time as a gift. That you GET to write, not that you have to. I know it takes a while to find a new groove, but once you do, you'll love it.

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  3. Jill I talked with others who write so many words a day. It's humbling. Thank you for this post. I've never been able to get that roll of so many words a day going, but I soooo wish I could. I'm going to apply some of your tips.
    The brainstorming the next days work is something I do, but very modestly. I need to do more of that. And I'll try those books!
    Your new release makes me smile. Cowboys and babies and Christmas. What's not to love!!!

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    1. Mary, somehow I think what you do is working!

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    2. Mary, I'm echoing Sandy--whatever you're doing, please keep doing it! And fun fact: your Cimarron Legacy book 1: No Way Up is next on my TBR pile!

      I found that writing even 500 more words a day helped motivate me to finish books faster. Give it a try!

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    3. Jill, No Way Up is a great book. You will enjoy it!

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    4. It looks fabulous! And I love getting a new series!

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    5. Mary, echoing Sandy and Jill. Just keep doing what you're doing. Then again, we can't stop learning, right?

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    6. Mary, you may not have record-breaking wordcount days, but what I admire about you is your dedication to your 1K per day minimum. You're so disciplined to get that done, that your words add up!

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  4. Mary, that's what I think about Jill's book, too. What a perfect combo! :-D

    Do you calculate your word count every day? Do you know your average? I'm curious as to what successful writers do. I usually don't calculate at all, but I'm thinking I should start.

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    1. Aww, thanks, Rachel (and Mary!)! I love the cover, too.

      Yes, I calculate my word count every day. My average depends on the book. All I would have to do is divide the total by number of days it took to write. I wrote a draft (my drafts are within 1000 words of the final word count) of a Love Inspired novel recently. I had a migraine for days and appointments throughout that draft--which is typical. You know how it is, life happens. It took me 16 days total to write, and I averaged 3444 words/day. This summer I wrote the bulk of a full length novel (the first 15,000 words had been written around my other projects in the spring for a proposal). To get it to 80,000 words, it took me 13 days, and the average word count was 4935/day. I had to REALLY push myself with that one. Every night I was exhausted. But, for me, it was worth it! Hope this helps!

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    2. Jill, my friend, you make me feel like such a slacker.

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    3. Mindy, you know I do a lot of revising after a draft! So no comparing. You write clean from the get-go!

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    4. Jill those word counts are so fantastic!!!!

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  5. Jill, this was a great post. I will keep these tips in mind. I'm working on revising now. I think that is harder than getting words on the page for a first draft. But I also know the feeling of not knowing what is coming next. I have always heard you should end in the middle of a scene so you can pick right up after but I like your method of sketching out what comes next. I do have both those writing books you mentioned but haven't gotten into them yet. No need to put me in the drawing. I picked up your book yesterday! I look forward to reading it.

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    1. Sandy, I'm glad you're revising! Yay! For me revising is easier--it takes longer, but it's not as daunting. Funny, huh? I usually quit my daily sessions at the end of a scene. It works for me. I think it's important to pay attention to what ACTUALLY works for you. Experiment. Analyze. And keep the things that help. Ditch the things that don't! Thanks so much for buying my book!!

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    2. Sandy, I'm looking forward to reading The Cowboy's Christmas Blessing, too. It's at the top of my TBR pile. :)

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  6. Jill, thank you for joining us today. You've given me lots to think about here. As soon as I finish my current WIP, I'm going to come back and unpack this in greater detail. Productivity is the name of the game.

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    1. Thanks, Mindy. I love that writing more words each day renewed my joy for writing. To me, that's the biggest win!

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  7. Jill, welcome! This post was a great reminder for me. I've had the problem of being away from my story so long that I couldn't get myself to face it again. The pandemic really threw my creativity for a loop. But once I finally did sit down and get working, I've found it easier to keep going. I've actually had a productive week this week for the first time in ages!

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    1. I think we all struggled through the pandemic, Missy, so no beating yourself up! And I agree. When I get into a story and stick with it (even through the hard sessions), I get so motivated to keep going. Yay for you!!

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  8. Hi Jill!

    These are great ideas. I've started brainstorming the next scene, and it helps start the next writing session with all the synapses already firing. It's a great tip!

    The next thing I need to do is to plan my writing sessions better. Since my husband retired, no two weeks are the same. I think I need to spend 10 minutes planning each week's work schedule on Sunday night, and then stick to it!

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    1. Yes, that's it exactly, Jan! The synapses are firing--great way to put it!
      Congrats on your hubby retiring. How exciting! Since you're still working, you can create a schedule you'll both like. :)

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  9. Good advice. I have always spent the time when my brain is unwinding so I can sleep to think through the next scene/chapter I will write the next day. Since almost all my books have been written during nanowrimo, I can't miss getting my word count very many days or I won't "win." :-) And I live to win. Ha!

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    1. That's awesome, Amy! Walking outside helps my brain straighten out the story--I do it whenever I'm stuck! Are you doing Nano this year? Only a month away! Get ready to win!

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    2. I plan to do Nano this year. We'll see what my life lets happen. I'm also teaching preschool two days a week, babysitting another, and have two children, ages 6 and 4. I'm busy! :-)

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    3. Oh my! You ARE busy!! Best wishes to you!!

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  10. Hey, Jill! You are a writing superstar! I've got a 2K per day goal right now, and that's stretching me. I am going to work on plotting the next scene at the end of the day and see if that helps!

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    1. Hi Erica! 2K is great! We all know our sweet spots. The main reason I wanted to increase my word count goal is because I wanted to complete more projects each year. To do that, I had to write more, finish faster. Even if you don't increase your word count, just knowing what you're writing next will help you finish those 2K words quicker!

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  11. I love these tips! Definitely something I can use in my own writing!

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    1. I'm so glad they're helpful! Try what sounds good--toss everything else!

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  12. Thanks Jill. I love The Chunky method! It made word counts way less scary and more do-able.

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    1. I agree! And I love the philosophy behind it!

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    2. Lee-Ann, The Chunky Method was really helpful for me as well. I don't feel so guilty about needing long chunks of time to be productive.

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  13. Hey Jill, this is your goal-setting buddy Kathy Bailey and thanks for a good post. These are excellent tips. I just finished a series I've been working on for 10 to 15 years, three novels and two novellas, and toward the end they didn't exactly write themselves, but it was fairly smooth going because I knew these people and what they would more'n likely do. (It's a western so I'm starting to talk that way.) NOW I'm faced with researching, plotting, character-developing and writing a new series or even a stand-alone and feeling what John Steinbeck called the "desolate impossibility" of producing a novel. So I need to up my time management and productivity game.
    Time management tends to change over your lifetime as your needs change. Remember writing when your kids napped? (I don't, I was usually napping too.) Remember those precious two hours when your youngest finally went to kindergarten?
    Well, my time and time management took another hit this week. My husband broke one shoulder and bruised the other, so I have to drive him, dress him and more. This has put a crimp in our fall plans, but it is a God thing. Somehow. We'll have to see what He wants us to do with this. And in 2020 you play the hand that's dealt you, right?
    Your Kaybee (Jill, that is my name on Seekerville)

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    1. Hi Kathy!! I'm always impressed at your clear goals for the month. You get so much done! And I'm so sorry about your husband. How painful! And it will put a crimp in your writing, but I know you're up to it. This too shall pass...

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  14. Awesome! I needed to read this today. Great tips

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    1. I need to hear it often! Haha! Motivation can be fleeting...

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  15. Thanks for sharing Jill Love the cover of your book sounds like a great read!

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