My Art Will Go On

For some of us, the idea of setting and consistently completing a daily word count goal in the middle of all that’s happening right now might seem overwhelming. However, Wrimo Mackenzie Bitz found that creating a daily writing routine could be be used as a way to find a sense of stability while surrounded by chaos.

Before the Coronavirus spread, I had two jobs, a boyfriend, and a one-bedroom apartment. But once it was declared a pandemic, I lost one of my jobs, my boyfriend and I broke up, and I moved across two states to live with my family. Despite a difficult move, a great loss of income, and a break-up, I wrote 1,000-2,000 words every day. But this was a habit which took several weeks to implement back when I first successfully completed NaNoWriMo in 2018. That process began with planning a schedule.

With a certain word count established as a goal, I create my schedule by deciding when I will wake up, how long it takes me to function, and what other responsibilities I have to handle throughout the day. While focusing on graduate applications, a big move, and emotional issues, I lowered my word count from 2,000 words to 1,000 words. Prior to these events, 2,000 words was a doable task for me, but I had to step back and evaluate my mental health in relation to my responsibilities and interests. While I still lived with my ex-boyfriend at the time, it was important for me to write. It helped me cope with the break-up and the reality of my situation.

The drive back to my family took twenty-two hours. When I arrived at the hotel after the first day of travel, I immediately got out my laptop and wrote. I gave myself a doable goal: 500 words. Just 500, with some minor revisions. When I feel overwhelmed by my circumstances, I lower my goals slightly so that I can achieve them. It’s important to always be reasonable with goals and objectives, stretching them out gradually and increasing your word count overtime. Even though I was used to writing at least 1,000-2,000 words every day, I still needed to take a breath and understand I’m committing a huge move and changing my life completely. 

“When I feel overwhelmed by my circumstances, I lower my goals slightly so that I can achieve them.”

When it comes to writing consistently, I always start with word count. Or, if I’m stressed over taking up too much time to write and risk neglecting other responsibilities, I’ll find five minutes, ten minutes, or thirty minutes—whatever my schedule allows—and write whatever pops into my mind. I always have to remind myself: your first draft is not supposed to be good.

In any first draft, your writing will sound horrendous to you. Your job is to eventually make it good. Outline your plans, block out your time, and repeat. I know it’s been difficult to write in this kind of environment. However, I would argue that it’s always been difficult to write. Writers have always had to juggle a set of responsibilities on top of writing, especially if they’re not yet writing for a living. Temporarily escaping this grim reality to create my own, however, could leave me smiling for days, even when my heart was too broken to feel anything but pain.

To summarize: 

Make a doable word count goal.Find time within a day to write, no matter how long or short that may be.Write what comes to mind without worrying over how good or bad it sounds.Do this every day, gradually increasing your word count over time. 

Don’t make excuses unless you are so physically and mentally exhausted that it’s painful to even think. You know yourself best. Determine what your limitations are, but always try to strive past them. Although I felt somewhat numbed and hurt by my rapidly evolving situation, consistently writing has strengthened me.

Mackenzie Bitz is a writer with too many stories to tell and an avid reader with too many tears to contain. She has written many unpublished books and works every day to hone her craft and expand her literary knowledge. Currently, she attends the low-residency Creative Writing MFA program at Mississippi University for Women. In the future, she hopes to write and teach full-time.

Top photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash