Edit: I would like to note that the very next day following writing this post, I did not follow through. But I'm trying!
As of writing, I have one month until this draft is due. And it should surprise no one that I am woefully behind.
The routine that got me through the first draft of this novel is not working now that I am in edits with a stricter deadline. Something needs to change, and that something is me.
It really hit home this morning when I slept through two, TWO, alarms. This cut my available writing time nearly in half. I really can’t have that.
So, let’s create a new routine, made for tight deadlines.
Step One:
According to Sarra Cannon, the first step when planning out a project is to look at your deadline and how many prior engagements or days off you will need between now and then. Don’t forget to give yourself some buffer days.
For me I have, as of writing this blog, 33 days until my deadline. I have a mini vacation coming up which will take up 3 days. If I give myself, let’s say, another 2 buffer days, that only gives me 28 total days to finish this draft.
Step Two:
Now that I know how much time I have to finish – which is far too little – I need to figure out how much I can accomplish on each of those days.
Let’s say, for the purpose of this example, I have 50,000 words to edit or rewrite. In order to finish on time I would need to write/edit 2000 every one of the 28 days I have available.
Is this doable? Yes, it is a lot and it is pushing myself, but it is doable.
If I wanted more flexibility, honestly I should have been more diligent from the start. This is on you, Past Megan – what a jerk.
Step Three:
Now I have my allotted days, and my daily goal, now what do I need to do? For me that is going to be scheduling my time and sticking to it.
I know I am the most creative and have the most to give in the morning. That means waking up before the day job and getting to work early.
I know I can wake up early enough to give myself two hours of dedicated writing time. While focused I can write 1,000-ish words in one hour. At that pace I should be able to meet my goal of 2,000 words in two hours.
I also know that I get a spurt of creative energy around 8 pm. If I can use that time for even a half an hour of writing twice a week, that would give me an extra 1000 words. Roughly in any case.
On the weekend, I’m going to be honest, I don’t do much writing. Especially on Saturdays. Sundays though are typically free for whatever. So I plan to take the next 4 Sundays I have before my deadline and use them to write. At least 1 hour of writing instead of watching TV should keep me at pace.
There is one weekend when my partner will be busy playing a new video game, and I plan to use that time to good use and get as much writing done as possible.
Step Four:
I have everything I need to schedule out what my week will look like moving forward.
Monday to Friday
6 am – Wake Up
6:15 am - Make Tea, maybe breakfast.
6:30-8:30 am – Write, eat breakfast at desk.
9-5 pm – Day Job
8-8:30 pm – Write (twice a week)
Sunday
11-1 pm – Write
Use the rest of the day as you need.
Step Five:
It is time to execute that plan. However, I will keep what Captain Cold said in the CW’s The Flash, “Make the plan, execute the plan, expect the plan to go off the rails, throw away the plan.”
I just have to keep telling myself, “This is just high stakes Nanowrimo.”
Wish me luck as I go on to finish this book. I will let you know if this new routine and schedule actually works.
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