tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post2834131700605880672..comments2024-03-29T01:01:11.212-05:00Comments on PERPETUAL FOLLY: Words? Or Hours?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-36186329877687296792008-04-24T17:10:00.000-05:002008-04-24T17:10:00.000-05:00When I am not teaching, I try for 1,000 words a da...When I am not teaching, I try for 1,000 words a day, and I write from about 10 am to about 4, five days a week. (Usually M-F.)<BR/><BR/>When I AM teaching, I have two days a week to write; one weekend day and the one weekday that's not a classroom day. Then I go for 500 words a day, because my brain is naturally somewhat worn down from the classroom, lesson planning, grading, all the things that underwrite my being a working writer.<BR/><BR/>The next writing day I will edit down what I did, or file it in a "loose scenes" file because I know it's fodder, just not immediately connected to where I left off.<BR/><BR/>And then I set out for my 1,000 or 500 words again.jessica handlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18295903432546706050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-14582323877355299342008-04-22T07:42:00.000-05:002008-04-22T07:42:00.000-05:00For me, it's project based. I don't really get a s...For me, it's project based. I don't really get a sense of completion until something I've been meaning to do is marked off my list. Sometimes it's a total revision, sometimes it's the first draft, but I don't count pages or words (unless I'm doing NaNoWriMo). My brain can tell when I've had a good day of writing and I rely on that feeling more than numbers.Mary Akershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05190983234403757377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-89736110582821497892008-04-21T13:19:00.000-05:002008-04-21T13:19:00.000-05:00Interesting post and comments, Cliff. For me, it's...Interesting post and comments, Cliff. For me, it's word count for the first draft and then after that, time.katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216268651978841897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-48526640017308121572008-04-20T19:11:00.000-05:002008-04-20T19:11:00.000-05:00Charles,Yes, I'm just outside of Staunton--for 7 y...Charles,<BR/>Yes, I'm just outside of Staunton--for 7 years now. Of course I find excuses to run over to C-ville now and then . . .<BR/><BR/>Best of luck shopping the collection. I'll look forward to seeing it!<BR/>CliffAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05886890881221225553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-51724336407408371282008-04-20T18:50:00.000-05:002008-04-20T18:50:00.000-05:00Clifford,The email thing, absolutely. I absolutely...Clifford,<BR/><BR/>The email thing, absolutely. I absolutely do that, too. It's great, gratifying, and quick. In and out. Do you still live in Staunton? I got my MFA over the hill, in Cville. I actually found Staunton to be the much more pleasant town, aesthetically. Much more of what I imagined Cville would look like before arrival. <BR/><BR/>Fingers crossed on the book; currently shopping it. Tough times for story writers, as you may already know. Keep up the great work here; I cannot thank you enough for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-65246300788816413122008-04-20T13:47:00.000-05:002008-04-20T13:47:00.000-05:00Heather: That's an interesting approach to revisio...Heather: That's an interesting approach to revision. I usually save my fat-trimming for the last step in revision, possibly because I've got so many other things to worry about during initial editing of a draft story.<BR/><BR/>CM: Those are some awesome publication credits you've got there. I suspect I've read your work! When can we expect to see the collection?<BR/><BR/>Your comments all make sense to me and I can see the value of distinguishing between novels and short stories when setting goals. Here's another approach I sometimes use: rewarding myself with a quick look at email when I've worked solidly for two hours. I also like your thoughts on revision.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05886890881221225553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-30642262444417451862008-04-20T13:19:00.000-05:002008-04-20T13:19:00.000-05:00Long time reader, first time poster. For me, the k...Long time reader, first time poster. For me, the key is finding blocks of time that I can do it, and I can only do it first thing (read: in the morning). I teach four classes at a university, and so while it can't happen every day, I would say that five days a week I can write from six or seven am to one pm, without burnout or distraction. Burnout and distraction are the two biggest detractors, and after a certain point in the day, I know that I am not going to get anything more useful down on paper. So, I suppose hours over words; I write short fiction, and just finished my debut collection (shameless plug/to qualify: stories in AQR, Gettysburg, Third Coast, Iowa Review, Conjunctions, ZYZZYVA), and I feel that it is as notable/worthy/important to spend an hour getting a sentence down CORRECTLY as it is to get down 1,000 words. Novelists, I am guessing, will defend an alternate viewpoint here, and I think ultimately it SHOULD be to each his own: whatever gets it out of you and down on paper is most important. Setting guidelines/rules for yourself is smart, as long as they are things that a) actually be accomplished and b) push you, the writer, enough. <BR/><BR/>In regard to revising, one's best friend AND worst enemy, I think, is time. When I finish something, it needs, I know, to sit. This is the only way that I can gain perspective on the piece as a whole. This has proven most crucial, for me, with the endings of stories, as I usually write them (or at least the denouement past of the piece) last, and simply must let the thing sit for a certain amount of time before being able to look at it clearly. <BR/><BR/>Letting it sit for too long, however, is a bad thing: the magic of the piece, to me, dies, or at the very least withers. To counteract this, when you get a draft done that you are truly happy with, show it your best reader as soon as possible; by doing so, the story's engine has yet to cool down fully, and I've found that I can often re-enter the story and change it to what it needs to be with some good, brief advice. <BR/><BR/>Sorry to go on for so long. Your blog is fantastic; I thank you for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-74481259147181365012008-04-20T13:06:00.000-05:002008-04-20T13:06:00.000-05:00When I revise, I aim to cut the piece by about thi...When I revise, I aim to cut the piece by about thirty percent. I check the wordcount before I start, save a backup copy, and then get started.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01810904674620501236noreply@blogger.com