If you can write 1000 words a day, that’s 5000 words in a week. The average children’s book is 55,000 words long; that’s 11 weeks of writing. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
You need to develop writing as a habit that fits into your daily routine. I wrote at 5am in a freezing lean-to conservatory, but it was my special time of the day where I did something truly for myself, and I loved it. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
This is not a hobby, or an indulgence, but a serious piece of work that you expect to be paid for one day. If you don’t treat your writing as work, then the people around you won’t take it seriously either. You need them to respect your writing time. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
The first draft is all about getting it written. The second draft is about getting it right. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
You must not look back. You must only progress forward. You are Orpheus in the underworld, and your novel Eurydice. If you look back you will never drag your novel out of hell and into the land of the living. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
Resist all urges to tinker, improve or amend your first draft. If you start meddling you will never get to the end. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
Remember, writing is a job, do it Monday to Friday. Give yourself weekends off. Weekends are for lie-ins, family and having fun. You brain will use the down time to process problems and brew-up ideas. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written
If you can’t talk about what you are writing, or let anyone read it, then you eliminate doubt and insecurity from the process of writing. Other people’s reactions to your work can make you question everything, including why you’re doing it in the first place. Writing a book can be as intoxicating as having an affair, all day your head will be full of your story, the characters, things they say to one another, and if you keep it secret, you’ll be desperate to get to your keyboard, because secrets want to be shared. It may sound crazy but keeping it a secret creates momentum and helps keep you going through the tough times. ???
Carve out a time and place for writing
Write as many words as possible
You are not allowed to edit your first draft
Write every day
Treat writing your book as work
Give yourself a break
Don’t talk about or let anyone read your book, until its finished
Do not read back anything you’ve written