I love hearing how other writers handle a huge writing project.
As the old joke goes: how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
For writers, this expression melds into one word at a time.
Some writers set a daily word count goal. I have also read to set a weekly goal so you have more flexibility in your schedule. I know other writers who break up a big project into chapters. Another approach is to finish X number of pages per day.
What challenges me about daily word count is being a non-fiction writer, how do I count research time? Do I do the research ahead of time, then dive into the work or chapter by chapter? What do you think?
Are you a morning writer? Nighttime writer? Sometime the best time to write is ten minutes at lunch. I have learned I write best by getting up a little earlier than usual with a plan amount of writing to get done. I decide the night before what exactly I will work on in the morning and have it ready to go once I enter my office. No excuses.
Being in a different season of life now, I have been pleasantly surprised with enjoying writing in the evening. Used to be I was too exhausted to be creative after five – retirement changed that.
I found the more I write consistently, the better and easier it is to write. Just like exercising, once I start with a good routine, I get into the flow of writing quicker.
I am curious what works best for you. Hearing other’s writing process often gives us ideas and new strategies for learning and practicing our craft.
How do you write and manage a huge writing project?