Tag: How I wrote 12000 words in one day

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How I wrote 12000 “non-crappy” words in one day…

Elodie

Yes. This. Happened.

Two weeks ago, I wrote 12000 “non-crappy” words in one day. This had never happened before. Anyone who writes knows how mentally exhausting it can be to pour words on the page, to type sentences and immersing yourself in someone else’s head for a long time.

I am somewhat of a fast writer. I can do sprints. I sometimes use the Pom0doro method (you know, working for 25 minutes, then take a break, then work again for 25 minutes…more info here).

The most I had written before in one day was I think about 7000 words.

But 12000 words? And 12000 non-crappy words? That had never happened before.

So, how did I do it?

  • I was on a deadline. Being on a deadline definitely helps stay focused when all you want to do is get up and stop writing. Because you’ve been at it for so long. Because your wrists hurt. Because you feel like everything you write is shit.
  • Those words had been simmering for a while. It took me about 5 months to write and revise LOVE IN B MINOR. I know for some it seems fast. For others, it is long. Everyone has their own rhythm, their own strengths and struggles. This novel is set in Paris, and when the attacks happened in Paris, I had issues getting back to writing about this city I love and not being there. Then, I realized 20000 of the words I had written didn’t work. So, I had to scrap 20 000 words. This gave me a long break I had not planned and during this time, I thought about how I could make my story stronger.
  • My husband helped. A lot. He took care of everything else. He gave me the space I needed, he cooked dinner, he picked up lunch, he cleaned, he went grocery shopping,  he put himself on my schedule so when I took short breaks, we could do things together. He understood I needed this time. Which was really really helpful. I had no other worries on that day than to get the words on paper.
  • I woke up at 4.30 a.m. And wrote all day. (did take a short nap because honestly, writing for that long did take a toll on me). I took short breaks here and there. I made breakfast. We walked the dog. I stood up and walked around.
  • I knew what I was about to write, but I also let my fingers run on the keyboard. Since those words had been simmering for a few months, my very non-detailed outline (really I only did a few sentences per chapter) still helped me in the direction I wanted to go. And I already knew which direction was a dead-end since I had already taken that road. That helped a lot in trusting myself more when I had to slightly amend the loose outline I had created. Especially as I usually don’t use an outline so it was kind of new for me.
  • I had polished the earlier chapters as much as possible. So, when I first warmed up by re-reading the events happening before what I was about to write, I could immerse myself in the story without hearing the little voice in my head nagging me to “correct this, change that…” That was helpful.
  • When I didn’t want to write anymore. When I was tired and cranky. Tracey sent me gifs of puppy. And it worked.

🙂 So here it is. The explanations behind my 12000 words in one day. It wasn’t magic. It wasn’t easy. And it certainly wasn’t something I had actually planned on doing but it worked…

LOVE IN B MINOR comes out on March 15 and is currently available for pre-order at a special price of $0.99 (Amazon around the world. * iTunes * Kobo * B&N)

LOVEINBMINOR

No promises. No fake tomorrows. That was the plan.

New city. New life. At least, that’s what nineteen-year-old Jen believes. On the surface, she’s living her dream: dancing in a prestigious dance company in Paris. But her sister’s death and the mistakes she’s tried to bury haunt her. She’s become a pro at hiding who she truly is, and she definitely doesn’t want a guy to derail her, but a one night-stand she can do. Nothing more. She definitely doesn’t plan to see the sexy stranger who made her laugh for the first time in years ever again.

Girls don’t walk away from Lucas Wills. Bad boy turned rock star, he’s got his share of groupies. Always upfront, he doesn’t promise fake tomorrows because love can destroy everything. Been there, done that. His ex not only lied to him, she stomped on his heart, used him to become famous, and almost ruined him. So, waking up alone after a night beyond his wildest imagination with a girl he just met shouldn’t upset him, shouldn’t inspire one of the saddest songs he’s ever written, shouldn’t make him want to chase after her.

When Jen, the one-night stand who got away, auditions to be a dancer in Lucas’ next music video, they can’t stop their growing attraction. But Jen’s secrets and his ex could shatter the careers they tried so hard to build and their hearts…they will have to decide what’s more important and if love is worth the fight.

Amazon around the world. * iTunes * Kobo * B&N

 

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