I always admired those author’s who post on FB “I wrote 6,000 words today.” Amazement overtakes me when they announced 10,000 or more a day. Not sure how long they qualify as a day. Was it 5 hours or 20 hours? Either way, I’m impressed. After all our goal as novelists is to get as many words out there for our readers as soon as possible. I’ve mentioned before writer’s words are their product for sale. We need to create more product.
I attended a class at Write to Publish a few weeks ago conducted by Cyle Young, an agent for Hartline Literary and author who writes many words in a short period. His subject was binge writing. And his explanation is doable.
First, you need a timer. That can be a kitchen timer, tomato timer (you know the ones shaped like a tomato) or the timer on your phone. Set it for 30 minutes and write non-stop until the timer goes off. No editing or rewrites just get the words down. Then do a word count. If this is a new doc, the number appears at the bottom left of your screen. If it is part of your novel highlight the portion and those numbers will appear next to the total number on the bottom of your screen. If for some reason you have no word count showing automatically you can find word count in your pull-down menu. In Windows, it should be under the review tab. This will give you your starting point.
I’m a pantster so this was an interesting challenge. Because I wanted to feature this method on my blog today I needed to try it. The ideal is to be in a place alone with no distractions That is rarely the case for me. You all know I’ve a house full of family and gave up my writing office for my grandchildren. While the kitchen was empty, I chose that as my writing spot. I sat at the kitchen table and set my timer. It wasn’t long before people filtered through the kitchen. My grandchildren attempted to interrupt me. But I soldiered on, my goal of 30 minutes in sight. No editing, no spellcheck and no rewriting.
I decided to work on a character I needed to flesh out in my WIP. Because I’ll be adding the scene to an existing chapter, I opened a new document and wrote 600 words in thirty minutes. I didn’t have any more time that day to do consecutive writing, so I did another thirty minutes the next day. Cyle suggested challenging yourself with a new goal. One more word than you did earlier. So, my goal was 601 words. I wrote 665 words. Surprised myself. Perhaps writing after a short break my count might have been lower. Cyle’s plan is to write in thirty, forty-five or sixty minute increments and try to add more words each time.
Between your timed writing segments, you need to walk away from your keyboard. Take five minutes to change the laundry around. Cyle demonstrated free standing squats. (Not going to happen.) I thought of doing stretches or picking up misplaced stuff off the floor. Whether you write in intervals of thirty minutes or two hours you need to step away from your work and do other things. While your hands are engaged in meal preparation, taking a long walk, doing pushups or mowing the lawn your mind is still on your project. By the time you get back to it you’ve figured out your problem plot twists and added layers to your characters. These breaks are important to maintain good health. Writers tend to get fat from too much sitting. We also develop knee, back and shoulder pain not to mention carpal tunnel. And constantly staring at a computer screen is bad for your eyes. The binge method serves to accomplish two goals: increase your word output and adding healthy habits to your workday.
The value of binge writing in meeting deadlines is priceless. If I complete my project well before the deadline it gives me lots of time to edit and polish my manuscript. How great is that?
Have any of you tried binge writing? What are some of the things you do when you take a break from the keyboard?
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Great Blog! Thanks for sharing. I haven’t officially tried binge writing, however I think I’ve been doing it for a while unofficially. You’re right about the breaks. You have to take them 🙂
I’ve kind of done it unofficially too. But I’ve never actually did a word count. That can be the most inspiring part.
I have been doing this all along without any idea it was a method, just my way of writing. I frequently forget the breaks though. They are very necessary to avoid ending up in my pajamas at the computer at 3 in the afternoon!
I get dressed most mornings before I start projects. My breaks often consist of reading or vegging in front of the TV. The exercise and housework activities need to be a part of those breaks.
I got the CD from that course and love the approach as a freakishly goal orientated person it works for me.
In my breaks I have a secondary list of short items to get done.
I have also recently committed to commenting on other peoples’ blogs 15 minutes a day. It has worked wonderfully and I am getting more reading in.
Proverbs 19: 2 CJB
To act without knowing how you function is not good; and if you rush ahead, you will miss your goal.
I think it is true as authors we must ask God how we function in our original creation design in order to determine how to best function as an author.
I love this version of Pr. 19:2 so applicable to writers.
I’ll have to try this, Cindy, but I’m a slow thinker and writer. How does it work with regard to editing? Have you found you wind up editing a lot of your word count out or does your mind take over and you’re actually pleased with what you wrote?
Once the words are all down for the manuscript then you edit. The idea is to get the story completed then fix the problems or edit out unnecessary words. I tend to edit the old chapters the next day before I begin new ones. There is also an binge editing method consisting of going over your manuscripts looking for specific things such as LY words then going back over looking for pronouns and so forth. I still tend to edit slower. One step at a time. 🙂
I have never thought of it as “binge writing” but I guess that is what I do – minus the timer. I tend to write in longer blocks of time, though. One hour would be short for me. I can go from 2 to 5 hours at a time. However, I know I need to try to get up more regularly. Recently I started making the decision to stand and stretch or pace for the sake of the movement in those brief pauses when I am considering my next words, but it is only for 20-45 seconds usually and very random. I think I will try using a timer today. Thanks!
let me know how that works for you.