Write More – 100% Guaranteed

I’m going to keep it simple this week. Every once in a while, we need to check ourselves and keep things ridiculously simple. Social media, publishing, distribution, the demise of the publishing industry … Ahhhhhhh!

What is the number one thing that will keep you from publishing your next, or first, book?

WRITING

We’ve talked before about goals and planning. I don’t want to contradict everything posted here on Indies Unlimited before, including what I have preached. But today, I’m going to throw out a little—and I mean microscopic—tip that could change the current of your writing.

Goals in writing are essential to success. Writing down goals is even more essential to success. We’ve said that over and over and over.

But, what’s the one change that you could make that will guarantee that you will write more, write faster and complete your manuscript ahead of schedule?

WHAT? I’m kidding, right? Nope. Try it yourself.

Try what? You ask.

This …

Every day, first thing in the morning, grab a post-it note, scrap paper, back of the cereal box … whatever.

Now, do what you do best … write. No, don’t write your novel, write this …

WORDS

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

Now, when you settle in to write, cross off each milestone as you nail it. Not for the week, but for the day. Try it. Here’s what I promise with the ironclad Indies Unlimited 100% Money Back Guarantee.

You will write more each day.

It works on two levels.

1. You hit micro goals along the way. Positive feedback is wonderful for the soul.

2. The motivation to hit the next level will keep you pounding it out.

You won’t necessarily hit 4,000 each day (and if you do, you need to adjust the scale) but you will keep striving for the next goal. If the numbers are too big then use a scale starting at 100 going to 1,000—whatever your life allows.

The key here is to push yourself. This does not work if it is in your head. It only works if you write it down, every day, on a clean slate.

Transferring thoughts onto paper is a powerful tool, which is one of the reasons we write. We know that we can make people laugh or cry with words. Why not use them on ourselves to be more productive.  

Go ahead, try it for one week, come back, and tell me what happened.

P.S. On a side note, as I write this, it is my one-year anniversary with Indies Unlimited. My first “Staff” article appeared on February 11, 2012. Thanks for the opportunity—I can’t believe how time flies.

Author: Jim Devitt

Jim Devitt’s debut YA novel, The Card, hit #1 in three separate categories on the Kindle Bestseller list in early January and was a finalist in the Guys Can Read Indie Author Contest this past summer. Devitt currently lives in Miami, FL with his wife Melissa and their children. Learn more about Jim at his blog and his Amazon author page.

23 thoughts on “Write More – 100% Guaranteed”

  2. I have a macro in my novel’s Word doc that I reset every day I sit down. It’s a word count countdown. I set it at 500 and it tells me how many words I have to go (if I check it). There’s no greater feeling than checking and finding it in negative numbers.

    1. That’s a great comment, Craig. I’m all for tech tools as most of you know, however, when it comes to this type of system, there’s something about the physical writing down of the steps.

      I believe the intent and mechanism behind the writing down is more powerful than setting up the macro, but, whatever works is a good thing.

  5. You are so right, Jim, for years I’ve achieved things by writing them down; but I get slack (I’ve got slack recently), I don’t write them down and guess what?… They don’t get done.

    Thanks for the reminder, Jim.

  10. I already do that. It really does help. The sense of satisfaction when you check off each milestone really drives you on.

  11. Thanks for this idea, Jim. I haven’t been breaking down my writing projects into small segments, and I’ve been overwhelmed. I think this approach will help. And congrats on your anniversary!

  12. Laura, thanks for the comments. Yep, you’ll see a big difference when you break it down. Good Luck and come back and let us know how it works for you.

  13. Taken this on-board, and instead of just writing anything, I have decided to write out mini plans for a family saga idea connected to my last book. So far I have got titles, and lots of mini passages to use within the novels. It is not something I usually do, as I get stuck into the current wip. Useful tip, thanks!

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