Friday, June 5, 2009

Random Thoughts on a Friday

4 Tips to Git 'Er Done

You have the great idea. You even have an outline. Now it's time to crack the whip and get it finished. Here are a few things I do. Maybe they'll help you.

1. Set a daily word count - and stick to it. Mine is 2K, 5 days a week. When I really want to kick butt, I'll up it to 2500/day. Don't finish until you've hit that mark but conversely...

2. End in the middle of a scene. Whenever possible, stop before you've exhausted yourself and if you can manage it, stop before you've finished a scene. It gives you a running start for the next day.

3. Keep your document open on your desktop. You're working on other things, answering emails, or just doing chores around the house - doesn't mean your brain isn't working on that last scene! Keep the document open and go back to it throughout the day. You'll be surprised at how the bits add up.

4. Resist rewriting until the entire draft is complete. Little bits here and there, okay, like you decided to change a character's name or hair color, but for the big stuff, just take notes in a separate document and then go back after the draft is done. It will prevent you from getting stuck in rewrite mode and you'll never finish.

Remember, the goal is to JUST FINISH IT. You can't edit a book that isn't written.