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Recap on Word Count

My push to do a week of high word count and move some projects off my plate was really successful. I think the tendency toward producing more quality words per day has become a habit. I've set the bar higher and I'm jumping it!

Beat on the Brat

We've all got a bratty child inside us that doesn't want to write simply because it doesn't like being told what to do. But don't let that brat rule your life. What about the part of you that wants to do something creative? What about the part of you that wants to write a book? That part of you deserves just as much attention as the brat, if not more.

Sometimes writing reticence is caused by something else. If you show up for writing and the writing, for whatever reason, doesn't show up for you, be ready with a game plan of things you can do to keep working on your writing career even if you're not inspired to work on a first draft.

Some ideas I came up with:

• edit
• brainstorm/take notes/outline
• freewrite
• create covers or explore stock photos for cover material
• read
• watch movies w/ director's commentary on
• chat on blogs
• read calls for entry
• revisit old stories that never sold and try to place them—but no stinkers, just the good ones

Your Assignment

Make a list of five things you can do to be a writer even if you're stuck on your current project. The next time you can't write (if it's not just the brat being its charming self and what you really need to do is push harder) pick one of those five things to do instead, to keep up your momentum.