One-thousand words. Most writers probably can pound that amount of words out rather quickly. But if the thought of sitting down and writing 1000 words at one time is intimidating, here are some strategies to make the experience more enjoyable.
Have a Plan
Before you sit down to write, know what you’re going to write. This exercise can be about anything, but the key is to have a basic framework for what you plan to write about.
Let’s say you are writing 1000 words about your favorite pet. Take some time to plan out what you will talk about in the 1000 words. What will you open the story with? What will be at the heart of the story? How does it end? Having milestones like this can keep the words flowing since you know where to go next.
All About You
Give yourself time away from distractions to work on this exercise. Life can be busy, so try your best to make the time to just focus on the 1000 words at once. It’s understandable if something comes up while you’re writing, but do what you can to stay focused.
Time Yourself
Set a stopwatch and see how long it takes to write 1000 words. Sometimes you’ll be faster, sometimes slower, but with practice, you should get a general average of how long it might take you to write 1000 words.
If It’s Too Easy…
If 1000 words are too easy for you, try 1500. Or 1750. Or 2000. Even if you start at 1000 words, you want to try and bump up your daily word count to maximize your output.
But don’t get too crazy and dive into writing 5000 words and overwhelm yourself. Baby steps. Baby steps.
Final Thoughts
As a writer, you can control how you write, when, and how much you write. If you want to write more, write faster, or write with a purpose, having a plan in place can help you achieve your creative goals. Remember that every word written brings you one step closer to completing your writing objectives.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
