Daily Word Count Goals: A Tip and a Tracking System

I want to share this new Daily Word Count Goal Tracking System with the writers who read this blog. But, it would also work for journalkeepers to track if your journal each day--and if you want to do a minimum word count goal daily. 

I am always looking to streamline how I do things--regarding my writing and journaling. This includes how I keep track of my word count goals. Consequently, two weeks ago, I started a new system and it is one I like the most so far and, when I can write and am not trying to avoid getting really sick, I've found that I really like this new system and it inspires me. 

Now, you need to know that I started to write one version of my memoir and decided on a new angle, so I started to write the book over from the new angle. Therefore  I had to start all over with my word count goals. I still want to accomplish 1,000 words per day Monday-Friday of writing in 2013. Therefore  as of today, I have 14,000 words due that I need to write. I have 5,000. I am 9,000 words short, needless to day. And, it took me less than a minute to figure that all out because of my new word count goal tracking system. 

So, what is this new tracking system? 

I printed out on one page a 2013 calendar. At the top, I wrote, "Due: 1,000 words per day, Monday-Friday." Then, I wrote: "/ shows 1,000 words are due." Then, "X shows that 1,000 words were written. Meaning, I hand-write in a color ink one half of an "x" on the date that 1,000 words are due. I finish the X with another color of ink to designate that I got that word count goal done. 

Therefore, when I look at my calendar this morning, I can easily see that I have 9 days of writing I need to get done to get caught up. 

It's the easiest system I've found since I devoted myself to writing daily, Monday-Friday (at least) 11 years ago. I usually get about 1,000 words extra done on Saturday and Sunday as well, but I give myself two days a week to rest and if I get anything done, great. It's a bonus.  

I am sharing this with you because it is so easy and I cannot wait to watch as the days get more X's on it throughout the year. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Writer

NaNoWriMo Day 1 Tips

I recommend writing as fast as you can and as much as you can in 15 minute chunks. (I average 500 words when I do this--to help give you an example of word count.)

15 minute writing chunks are the key. Anyone can focus for 15 minutes. It isn't too much and decreases the chances are you'll get sidetracked or distracted. 

30 minute chunks tend to be too long (for the reasons I just mentioned).

Then,a t the end of the 15 minute chunk, get up. Walk around. Move. Do something else for a couple of minutes. Drink a glass of water ( This is not just a suggestion. It helps.). Grab a snack and/or some coffee or tea. Then, go sit back down. Check email, write a blog post, or whatever--for 5-15 minutes (depending on how much time you have to write today). Then, get back at it. Do another 15 minute chunk. Do this until you have reached your word count goal of the day.

This is an approach I have employed for years and it works brilliantly. Give it a try. 

I also recommend this with any time you do writing, even if it isn't NaNoWriMo. It works really well. 

Stacy Duplease

Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Chronicler of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Book Cover: A Writing Notebook

This is a blog series about writing your story of fiction. It is your writing notebook for your latest book.

You have a choice. You can read and do one of these each day and take a year to write your book.

Or, you can do multiple days and write that book in the time you choose.

READING SEGMENTS

1 a day = 1 year = 365 days (or you write 1 book in a year)

2 a day = 6 months = 182.5 days (or 2 books in a year)

3 a day = 122 days = 3 books in a year

4 a day = 91.25 days = 4 books in a year

6 a day = 61 days = 6 books in a year

12 a day = 31 days = 12 books in a year

EACH DAY

Each day will have two segments:

1 CRAFT: Something to do with inspiration and craft of writing. This is the how to write and why you write portion.

2 BOOK: Something to help you write your book. This is the hot-to write your specific novel portion.

Day 1 will start tomorrow. 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
dba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com
Blog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

WWWWW, an H, and a WI Questions (NaNoWriMo Hints and Novel Writing Hints)

Whether you have your book planned or not, it is good to ask questions about your novel. Ask who, what, where, when, why, how and what-if questions about everything you can think of and write them down on the page. I actually recommend doing this weekly so you can see how your book is coming, where it went, and where it is headed.

Some questions might appear to be the same. But, answer them again anyway, even if it is the same answer. It can stir something up in you and give you another idea or cement the one you already have.

Here are some sample questions:

~ Who is in the novel?

~ What is the novel about?

~ What is the theme of the novel?

~ What is the conflict in the novel?

~ What is the motivation of the hero?

~ What happened?

~ What do you smell in the novel? See? Taste? Feel/touch? Hear? 

~ Where does the novel take place? 

~ When does the novel take place?

~ Why is this story being told (novel being written)?

~ Why is there conflict in the novel?

~ Why does the hero do what they do?

~ Why did the novel start the way it did?

~ Why did the novel end the way it did? 

~ Why did it happen? 

~ How did the story happen?

~ How are the characters growing in the novel?

~ How did the novel begin?

~ How did the novel end? 

~ What-if something different happened in the story?

~ What-if there was more to this story?

~ What-if there was less to this story?

~ What if the story started in another scene?

~ What-if the story ended in a different way? 

~ Write any more questions you can think of here. (I recommend cutting and pasting these questions into a new document and then add some of your own.)

Those are very basic questions. But, here is a more in-depth twist. Ask each of those questions about:

~ Each of the three acts of your book

~ Each chapter

~ Each scene

~ The hero/heroine

~ Each character 

~ Each page

~ Each paragraph

Stacy Duplease
Inspirational Historical Romance Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Where to find my upcoming books

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo: How can it be only 7 days away?

Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

My blog: Where to find my upcoming books