Writing a Book in 4 Months
After I finished writing today, I had a revelation. I wrote
four pages today. I didn’t have to push myself too hard for that number, and
there’s not going to be a lot I’ll have to fix up or edit when going over my
story later, so it’s pretty solid prose. And as I was rocking my four-month-old
child to sleep, it hit me. If I could write even three pages a day, every day,
for four months, I’d have 365 solid pages written in my book—that’s a whole
book right there!
If that’s not an exciting prospect as a writer, I don’t know
what is. Well I decided then and there that
that’s what I’m going to do. If I can keep to this regimen religiously for four
months, then I should be able to pop out a book by late January!
I’m going to be starting this schedule next Monday and keep
track of my progress, and I’m hoping that this schedule can help inspire anyone
else out there who, if you’re like me, seems to put a lot of effort into
writing, but doesn’t know where all your pages really go after you write them.
I’ve got countless half-written stories logged away in the deep recesses of my hard
drive that I took a break from and never got back to them. I’m hoping that if I’m
writing at least three pages a day, I’ll see this book through.
I’ll be going into more detail on this “four months to
publish” track in my next blog later this week, but it’s pretty straightforward.
Write three pages a day and you’ll have 365 pages written in four months. I’d
love to have others start this with me. Some encouragement goes a long way to
keeping you on track with your goals. Hopefully if somebody else out there does
do this, we can both have a book to show for our hard work at the end of the
four months.
Leave a comment if you would like to do this. Like I
mentioned, I’m planning on starting my three pages a day for four months next Monday
(the 24th), but you can start any time that is right for you.
I'll play.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I have one story that's stuck around 180 pages or so and an attempt to restart it that's about 10 pages. I have another story that is only a couple of chapters into the book itself, but almost 100 pages in just back story for characters and the history of the world.
I've recently become obsessed with a 'super hero' novel I've been dreaming up. Now's as good a time as any, right?
Hmm. 17 credit hours in college doesn't really allow for extensive writing, but I did manage to write Subversion in a little under 3 and a half months. I'll play along. Maybe I'll finally get around to finishing some of my hanging projects.
ReplyDeleteAwesome stuff! I didn’t even know you wrote Mark. Good luck to both of you. Novels are things that I’ve always had problems sticking with all the way through to the end, mainly because I lose sight of the finish and lose motivation when I take a few weeks off writing in that book. I think this will help us keep target all the way through.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could join you. I'm editing my current WIP before going back to my original WIP. But if you are up for another four month book poop-fest (hehe, sorry, Nova inspired that one) then I'm willing to talk. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck, I'm very interested in following your progress.
I might take a month off after the first 4 month run to edit, but heck yeah, I'd do it again if I end up with a novel fully completed and edited at the end of 5 months.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let anyone who's coming to this article late know that I did achieve my goal! Great way to get a book pounded out, and I would recommend this to any writer.
ReplyDelete