Introduction to the Accountability Post 2021 Week 06
I confirmed something that I suspect you already knew about writing. You know that feeling when you sit in front of the keyboard after an exhausting week? That feeling of ennui? It’s like you dig deep and try to force words onto the page, but nothing happens?
I can confirm that feeling is complete bullshit.
It’s like my cat winding her way between my ankles or jumping up onto my keyboard to make me think I forgot to give her treats. I gave her her treats, and she knows it. She’s just trying to trick me!
Likewise, when I sat down in front of the keyboard on Sunday and complained to myself that I didn’t have the energy to write, I told myself to shut up and starting typing words. Did I write garbage? No more than usual! But not only can I write when I’m physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted, I can wrote more than I usually write. The secret?
My bullshit system is also exhausted and can’t be bothered to work so hard to stop me from writing. On Sunday, I turned in the highest word count yet: 3,583 words in a single two and a half hour session.
Accountability Post 2021 Week 06 By the Numbers
In my last post, I reported that I’d gotten up to chapter twenty-nine and had hit 35,787 words. Here’re the number this week:
Is it just me, or does this progress seem slow?
Since January 31, 2021, I’ve written 7,281 words and got to chapter thirty-three. It’s starting to feel like a steady pace. I might be able to keep it up.
Days with a zero word count taunt me. My wife still drops hints that maybe I should write fewer anime reviews and more chapters. She’s getting really subtle about it! Still, I’m practicing and perfecting techniques on Crow’s World of Anime that will come in handy when it’s time to marketing the novels.
Yes, plural.
Next Goals after This Accountability Post 2021 Week 06
I worked through more of the main action arc and main character’s arc this week. That’s why the chapter count was down, but the word count was up. Here’s my obligatory proof that I’m actually writing:
For some reason, writing about the main character is harder than the others. There’s probably some psychological explanation for that…
Portions of the writing this week refer back to the prequel called Divinity Ascending. I finished its beats-ish back in March of 2018. Damn, that was a long time ago! But my plan is still to finish writing the first trilogy and the prequel, then use the prequel as a lead magnet.
That, or maybe a Kindle loaded with science fiction books. That might be more effective as a draw, at least at first…
I’m kicking around the idea again of writing character spotlights in addition to this accountability post. I also have some book reviews backing up. I found a new series I’m particularly fond of and hope to talk to you about it.
Feedback Welcome!
Do you have any news about what you’re working on? Any tips about how you keep focused? Have you read anything that struck your fancy? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
“Is it just me, or does this progress seem slow?”
All progress is progress.
And I couldn’t agree more about the skills being learnt from the other site. There’s more to having a success book than just writing it. So much more.
Keep on moving in the right direction. You’re not in a hurry, so you might as well take your time and do it right.
“All progress is progress.”
That’s a good perspective. I’m going to try to adopt it! I’ve inherited my family’s nihilistic attitude, and even through I’ve been on my own (well, with my wife and kids — so not really ‘my own,’ but I hope you get the idea!) for about 30 years, it’s hard to shake the attitudes that pervaded my childhood.
But complaining about it won’t help!
“You’re not in a hurry, so you might as well take your time and do it right.”
Well, maybe I shouldn’t be in a hurry…
But you’re absolutely right. I need to do this right, or my readers will reject it.
And it’s about doing right by you too. You want to be able to proudly say you wrote a book, knowing that if they decide to read it, you’ve given it your best.
Also a good point. It’s all about establishing a relationship with the reader. I want them to know whatever they read, if my name’s on it, they’ve got the best I could do.