Top 10 Tips to Reach Your Word Count Goal (Part 2)
Welcome back to the second half of this article! Enjoy.
6. Show Forgiveness
Writing requires time, energy, and effort. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, I know it can be difficult for these three requirements to be met. Forgiveness isn't about giving yourself an excuse not to write— it's about knowing your limits and acting accordingly. For the entire summer so far, I have only needed 3 forgiveness days. On the first, my boyfriend visited. I was too tired from grocery shopping and socializing, but I tried to write anyway. I couldn't get a word out. Instead of making myself miserable, I took a day off. The next day I resumed my word count routine. The world didn't end, and I was able to reach my goals without feeling guilty for needing a break. The last two forgiveness days were both due to my mental health. I couldn't get out of bed or shower, and writing seemed impossible. I let myself have a break again, and I felt much more equipped to write the next day.
I mentioned reward systems before and I claimed not to use them. This is technically true, but I do have one exception: Discord. For a good portion of the summer, I tried reaching my daily word count goals. But every night, whether or not I had hit this target, I was on Discord talking to my friends. As a way to buckle down on my self-discipline, I decided I was not allowed to go on until I completed my goals. On forgiveness days, I could still go on for support. But if I was capable of writing, I had to write. This system has worked wonders. Instead of being driven by guilt or spending hours procrastinating, I'm driven by excitement. The key is to remove distractions in a way that turns them into rewards.
7. Pomodoro
The Pomodoro technique is a tool used to maximize productivity. Originally, I used this only for college homework. When I started writing consistently, I realized this format could be really helpful for staying focused. There's a Google Chrome extension called Marinara, and it works wonders. There are variations of the technique, and I've had to adapt the Chrome extension to fit my needs. The system consists of 25-minute, 5-minute, and 60-minute intervals. The periods of focus last 25-minutes each. I use the work periods as writing sprints. After each work period, there's a 5-minute break that I use as a distraction sprint. I check social media, stand up from my desk, and stretch. I use these rests (and occasionally pause a sprint) to use the restroom. After four alternations of focus and breaks, I give myself an hour-long break. The Google extension gives 15 minutes. I've seen the Pomodoro long rest interpreted as a couple of different lengths, but I find that an hour works well. The trick is to find what works well for you! Modifications can be added to any technique to suit the individual.
8. Celebrate!
Writing is often a solitary process. I sometimes feel like I'm just muddling through characters and worlds all alone. No one else is going to praise you for your work before its release if you don't tell them about it. I do it less now that I'm in the home stretch of my first draft, but typically I post every day on Twitter to update my followers on my progress. Even if I don't celebrate it publicly, I let my friends know that I reached my word count. I discuss my progress with them. They're always excited to hear how far I've come. If there's no one you feel comfortable celebrating with, do it on your own! Dance with your pets in your living room when you finish a scene, watch a show that you love when you finish a chapter. Let yourself be happy for every little moment.
9. Self-care
This passage shares some similarities with the "make your bed" section, but I feel that it is important enough to highlight. Everyone has a different definition of self-care. Some people feel better in their bodies when they take long soaks with colorful bath bombs. Others would rather go for a jog or hit the gym. No matter your definition, there are some key components. You can't write if you're hungry or dehydrated. You can't write if you haven't slept, or if you haven't taken your medication. To oversimplify Maslow's Hierarchy, you have to address your needs from the ground up. Otherwise, you'll run yourself into the ground before your first draft is halfway done. No one wants burnout to get in the way of their career. Tending to your needs is a surefire way to keep writing.
10. Filling The Well
Burnout is a term I hear often in author circles. Those feelings of exhaustion and agony that can keep you from writing are preventable by "filling the well." Filling the well refers to doing what makes you happy outside of reaching your word count. This section overlaps significantly with self-care, but it goes beyond those basic needs. I fill the well by going out for breakfast and watching sit-coms. I play Stardew Valley, I spend an inordinate amount of time cuddling with my stuffed animals, and I go for long walks in 80-degree weather to visit Emily Dickinson's grave. I carve out time to be a writer, but I also carve out time to be a person.