It can be difficult to know how much to write every day. After all, you have a budget in mind, and you don’t want to waste your words. But then, you don’t want to miss out on the joy of writing, either. Of course, there is no right answer to this question, as it depends on you and what makes you happy. But, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to get the most out of your daily writing.
Start Early And Often
One of the best things that you can do for yourself as a writer is to get started early and often. Even if you don’t have lots of material to work with yet, getting some words down on paper can help to expand your vocabulary and improve your flow. You can also use a vocabulary building tool, such as Scrabble, to practice with friends and family. In fact, you can play Scrabble on your phone, using a free app, if you don’t have access to a Scrabble board or tile set.
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
In the same way that different types of dishes can taste better when served in variety, the same can be said for your writing. A dip in one direction can sometimes leave you craving more. Take a look at any successful novelist or screenwriter’s oeuvre – there are literally hundreds of books and films, all incredibly varied in style and content. This is because variety is the spice of life, as they say. Serving up different types of scenes and storylines helps to keep your readers engaged and interested, as well as giving you the flexibility to experiment with different ideas and structures.
Consult With Other Creatives
Creative writing is all about collaboration, so it only makes sense that you would want to surround yourself with as many creative people as possible. While it can be beneficial to seek out one or two trusted individuals to help you along the way, the ideal situation is to have a cluster group of friends and family who are all willing to give honest feedback and support. Having other writers around you, especially those who are further along in the process, can help to provide valuable insights and guidance, as well as put your work in a context that is meaningful and applicable to your target audience.
Avoid Formulas, Unless You Are Feeling Formal
The thing about formulas is that, while they can sometimes work like a charm, they can also break down if you aren’t careful. Take the formulaic ending – in stories, novels, and screenplays, we end up using it when the main character finally gets what they want. But what happens if, for some reason, the main character doesn’t want what they have? In that case, the formula won’t serve you well, and you might be tempted to break out of it.
Some writers like to work with formulae, adhering to certain structures and constraints, because it allows them to experiment with different possibilities. For example, in Sherlock Holmes detective stories, we are usually presented with a formulaic structure: Watson accompanies Holmes on a case, they engage in verbal sparring, Holmes solves the case, and the two of them part ways. But what if, in one of the stories, Holmes reveals that he is unable to solve the case? In that case, the formula wouldn’t give you the flexibility that you need to keep the story interesting.
Make It Memorable
What is the one thing that you can do to make your writing stand out above the rest? For many of us, it’s the detail, the little things that you put in the story that make it memorable. Whether it’s the little dialogue, the imagery, or the choice of words, it’s the little things that help to paint a word picture in your readers’ minds. For example, have you ever read a book or seen a movie where someone wakes up after a nap feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world? That’s the kind of effect that you want to achieve with your writing.
Don’t Forget The Main Reason You Are Writing
Many times, we are so focused on the mechanics of writing, on getting the words just right, that we fail to see the forest for the trees. It’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of writing, to lose sight of why you are even writing in the first place. To remind yourself of why you are writing, why you are picking up this particular pen, why you are choosing these particular words, take a step back, and ask yourself, “What am I trying to say?” Beginnings are often the most crucial parts of a story, as they set the stage, establish character, and paint the picture for the reader. By developing and emphasizing these elements, you can pull off the impression that you are trying to create – that you have a clear purpose, and you are using this opportunity to explore the theme and concepts that you are invested in.
Once you have a basic understanding of how many words you need to write each day to put a story to bed, you can experiment with different styles and approaches. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what makes you happy. As long as you are confident that you are meeting the basic needs of your writing, experimenting with different word counts, styles, and approaches, will only improve your writing game, and put you in a position to succeed.