Sunday, July 3, 2011

Can you do 500 words a day?

My fiction writing has been drifting lately. There are good reasons for this, but nonetheless I've noticed and have been looking for a way to get back on track. Fortunately, the good ladies of the RWA have come to my rescue. An email landed in my inbox today - an invitation to join the RWA 500 Club. Not the card game (which may be a good thing as I've been told that I'm an unsettling partner to say the least).

Instead, it's an undertaking to write 500 words six days a week. No end date. You reconfirm your commitment and your goals each week, so you can fall off the wagon if you need to. But otherwise, they'll be expecting you.

Which is exactly what I need right now. Accountability, as they say in corporate-speak. A way to create a daily fiction writing habit amongst all those other words I churn out. And 500 sounds do-able right? It's not as scary as NaNoWriMo, with its 50,000 words in a month shenanigans. Rather, it'll take you around three months to reach that mark. Practically a lifetime.

Check the RWA website for more details, or feel free to join me in an unofficial way. I'll post my weekly tallies in my Sunday night/Monday posts for the next four weeks - let me know how you're going in the comments.

Let's do this thing. Who's in?

[image: vintage book journals from TheFancyLamb/etsy]

21 comments:

  1. Raises hand. On it! Thanks Al x

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  2. I've been drifting too. This sounds like a good plan.

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  3. If I get any word on Thurs that my eyes may improve, I'm in. That sounds far less scary than the 50000. 500 words a day is practically a tweet for someone who can't shut up like me. ;-)

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  4. Yes, maybe, probably (let's face it I could do 500 just prevaricating in this comment...oops). Think it sounds like a great idea - will definitely look into it and consider it very carefully :-)

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  5. Not me... not writing fiction... but wanting to read fiction so I will read my 500 words a day and hopefuly more. And I'll be cheering you gals on as I'm always on the lookout for a new book and totally promise to read all of yours.

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  6. You know what? I was just thinking about doing something like this. SO yeah, why not? I'll give it a red hot crack!!!

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  7. I have no plans to write, but along with Seana I will read it.

    Good luck. I have no idea how writers keep focussed on writing for so long to get a novel completed.

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  8. That's a good goal. I just wrote 500 words this morning.

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  9. I'm definitely not at the point where that is a realistic goal. I have so much admiration for people who have that kind of discipline. Good luck though! I'll certainly be following along.

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  10. Do you need to be a member?

    Not sure of the $92.50 fees as I am not a romance writer. Let's face it, I am not a writer!


    Good idea for those that can though.

    Go girls! I'll be reading with pleasure!

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  11. I think you need to be a member to do the RWA one, but you don't need to join anything to post a tally here once a week! Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

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  12. Ooh, this sounds really tempting. Allison, I think this is exactly what I need! Now to see if I can achieve it!! :)

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  13. Great idea, this is perfect timing for me as over the weekend I actually opened up my newest novel outline and started thinking that yes, now I could squeeze in a little time ... and 500 words a day is such a manageable sounding amount. I've done NaNoWriMo a couple of times but both in pre-kid days, it would be impossible now for me. But 500 a day ... YES! As long as you do bug us about it sometimes Allison!!!! It's the being bugged about it that always helps me.

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  14. Well, you all did such a great job of cracking the whip so I got my working mum book done that it seems the least I can do to return the favour...

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  15. Not me, I'm not a writer, but I'll be happy to read a bit.

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  16. ah, what a great idea - love that accountability word!!! as for the 500 words. still debatable whether some will do quantity and not quality, but i guess thats something. good luck with your challenge!

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  17. I'd love to...I wonder if I can keep up?? I'll give it a shot to find out

    xo

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  18. I think 500 is a really good target. Not overwhelming. Going to give it a try. Thanks Allison, great advice as usual.

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  19. 500 sounds totally doable! I'm so in! :-D

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  20. Hi Al, I'm in the first revision stage of a novel and wouldo e to join the 500 words a day club. I'm hoping to do a little more but this will be the minimum. Here's a tip: leave your work in progress open on the computer but minimized. When you get a spare 15 minutes click and type. Good luck everyone!

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  21. I'm a tad late to reading this, but think its sounds like a fab idea! Accountability is what I need in my writing world!

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