I’m interested in hearing from people who’ve written one or more book-length works on deadline, since this is my first time doing just that. I wrote Strange Times at Western High on a deadline but it had a fair amount of breathing space.
Admittedly, my books are young adult mystery novels, so there are plenty of genre and length restrictions that other authors may not have to work with. In my favour, I’m working from an outline and plot synopsis that were ironed out ahead of time, and I don’t have to do much advance research.
So far–and it’s still early days, obviously–I’ve been okay at sticking to 5,000 words per week, which translates to writing about 1,000 words, five days a week. Realistically, I seem to be thinking about this 24/7. But at this rate, a rough first draft should be written and revised by mid-November. That’s when it has to go to the editor.
But I think a discussion of methods would be helpful… Some of the roadblocks I’ve encountered so far include:
- forgetting what I wrote the day (or week before) and having to reread,
- characters developing a life of their own and having to rein them in so I can keep on plot,
- waking up and feeling like I have no idea how to develop the next scene convincingly–sometimes it takes me a couple days to think it through,
- my compulsive desire to go back and rewrite everything I’ve written thus far before starting “new” work for the day.
- juggling other work–including stuff that pays better or just the “business” related to writing, such aspromotions,
- getting exercise and eating properly,
- maintaining some kind of social life.
How about you?
I do a similar word count, but split it up differently — 1250 words, four times a week instead of 1000 five times a week. One less day makes a big flexibility difference when I am scheduling for the week ahead. Any more than 1250 and I start to lose steam, but I’m going good up til then. Generally takes 4 hours, which is a chunk of the day but not the whole thing.
Comment by Jim Munroe — June 28, 2006 @ 12:35 pm
Jim, do you ever have days where you just can’t get started? How do you deal with them?
Comment by Emily — June 29, 2006 @ 4:13 pm
If I know I’m going to stop or I’m running out of steam, I jot down notes & comments so that the next time I come back to it, I’ll have an idea of where I was heading/thinking.
Also I think taking a day off is a good idea, like the first respondent mentioned.
Writing the same time was useful for me. And if you can’t figure out or it takes too long to figure out what’s going to happen next, I’d suggest you write a section that you feel like writing. In other words, don’t get too tied to a linear writing path. I do this often…but then you do have to fit the section in later.
Comment by Stubby — July 1, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
Stubby,
Unlike with my previous books, I’ve been writing this one (and Book 1 in the series) chronologically. Since I have to build the action/suspense consistently, it’s hard to jump around too much.
Jotting down notes for later things is a good point though–when I take the time to do that, it’s much easier to pick up where I left off.
Comment by Emily — July 4, 2006 @ 9:42 am
I give myself a lot of flexibility within the day. Sure, I futz around on the internet and procrastinate by doing other projects a fair amount but basically, I don’t go to bed til I finish my 1250. When I’m going to dinner with someone at 6 I can’t mess around any later than 2. If I’m going to a reading with a 8 start time I can mess around til 4. Usually I don’t like to leave it as late as 8 since working til midnight is a grind for me, and it’s the time Susan and I make dinner and hang out, so that’s an incentive to start earlier. I want to start earlier, I don’t HAVE to start earlier. I also make sure that if I finish my 1250 early (as is often the case) that I don’t write another word after that — this means that my 1pm self sees a point to starting now and getting everything done by 5 (and maybe 4!) which leaves a huge chunk of the day free to do whatever. Reward yourself for getting a reasonable amount of work done and the incentive will be real.
Comment by Jim Munroe — July 4, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
My situation is a little different because I write non-fiction, so I have to make up this very strict outline for myself and know that I have to have finished the research for X chapter by this date, and Y chapter by that date, etc. I include everything in the schedule (dinner, lunch, laundry, etc.) so that I’m being realistic, and not allowing myself 15 minutes to write 3,000 words or something.
I just handed in a book last week and it was the first one I’d written since having my daughter. It’s certainly an eye-opening experience, because when you write, and you have a toddler, and you have a full-time job, suddenly your writing time is *very* limited. I had to write a 500-page manuscript in 6 months, working from 8pm to 11pm and about 4 hours a day each day on the weekends. My outlines and schedules saved me, and I handed it in on exactly my deadline day. Without those schedules, I’d only be about 200 pages in right now. 
Comment by Nikki — July 5, 2006 @ 4:14 pm
Nikki–
Wow, you amaze me. A full-time job, a toddler AND you can crank books out this quickly. Thanks for weighing in…
–E
Comment by Emily — July 12, 2006 @ 10:30 am