Stats
Week 18 Average Daily Wordcount: 2,017
Week 18 Total Wordcount: 14,120
January Total Wordcount: 12,082
Year Total Wordcount: 372,724
Words to go:
January: 71,252
Year: 627,276
How is 2021 treating everyone? I have to say that so far, the new year has been pretty great for me.
I could see how someone could look at my week 18 total and think that I had a bad week, but that’s not the case. You see, the first three days in the week happened to also be the last three days in December. Since I had already reached my December goal, I decided to give myself a little break before the new year. So, it was a planned break, and I’m not actually behind at all. In fact, for both January and the year, I am ahead.
I told you before that I love New Year’s resolutions, and the first few days of this year are an example of why.
In November and December, I was foundering. I had lost focus for Milwordy and I considered giving up several times. I made it through, but it was through sheer grit and determination—not because I was feeling passionate about writing or this challenge.
But then January hit and I haven’t felt this focused since September. I know it’s still early; Maybe this boost in energy won’t even last through next week. But honestly, I’m just so happy that it’s happened at all that I’m not going to be looking a gift horse in the mouth.
So, what did I learn this week?
New Year’s resolutions are awesome—okay, no I already knew that. But they’ve been a big help in getting me back on track. I am aware that I’m going to have to harness this energy again. I’m sure that a couple of months down the line (if not sooner) I’m going to be feeling the way I was in December, and there’s not another New Year’s coming up before the end of Milwordy. So…I’m going to have to figure that out. But it’s good that I know that now so I can start making a plan.
I learned that slower writing can sometimes be better writing. Not always. In fact, I often find that when I look back and compare things that I’ve written quickly vs. things I’ve written slowly, the things I’ve written quickly are better. I mean, they usually have more errors, for sure, but they also tend to be a bit punchier with better dialogue and more interesting actions. I don’t know why this is other than writing fast seems to tap into my more creative brain. Maybe when I write slow, I just let myself get bogged down in my own insecurities about writing. I don’t know. In any case, fast drafting usually works for me.
But this week, I was working on a novel that I had started before Milwordy, but kind of abandoned, and I was writing slow. Or, well, slow for me. And it was a real joy. And it didn’t make the writing worse—at least I don’t think so, though I can’t be sure until I’ve had enough time away from it to come back and reread it.
I think the reason why writing slowly on this particular project is working is because I’m enjoying it so much. I usually need to work fast to get into the flow of writing, but with this project that seems to happen no matter at what speed I’m going. So, I’m pretty happy with that.
That’s it for this week. I hope 2021 is treating you right. I hope that we all have a better year than we did in 2020. If you have any comments or questions, don’t hesitate to send them along in the comments.
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-Robin
Rambling Robin 