How To Write A Book In Two Months
IT IS FINISHED (for now).
I have officially written an entire book. 102,000 words. In TWO months.
I'm as surprised as you about it, although the reason I quit my job WAS to do this; write a book and self-publish it.
So I decided to make a video/blog post for a number of reasons, among them being:
TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT.
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO READERS (in the unique medium that is video).
AND TO TELL YOU HOW I DID IT.
Just a quick run-down of what I discuss regarding how I wrote a book in two months:
1. Quit your job. Honestly, this was the biggest thing that allowed me to have the time and ENERGY to write.
2. Have a specific daily word count.
3. Have a routine, and be very diligent.
4. #Wordsprints!
5. Take time away from the book for a few days if you need it.
6. Find out your preferred way of outlining. I use a whiteboard, and it literally changed my life.
7. Have a support system of writers to encourage/inspire you. (Not mentioned in the video.) I forgot to mention this in the video, but it was very helpful to have a number of writer friends on Twitter to talk with, get encouragement from, commiserate with, etc.
8. Have NO SOCIAL LIFE. Honestly. (Also not mentioned in the video.) The last two months I BARELY went out with my friends and family, let alone talked to them. I also had just broken up with my boyfriend and he was no longer living here, so I wasn't cooking. I basically ate pretzels and hummus for the last month as I wrote. Probably earned me another twenty hours of writing for that reason alone.
So please watch the video; get to know a little more about me, and how I was able to do this. I am taking a week off between drafts (it is a recommended six weeks, but I don't have the time nor the money for THAT) and then will begin my second draft next weekend.
IN the meantime, I will be following Ksenia Anske's amazing advice and voraciously reading my favorite authors in the next week to fill my brain with wonderful writing (Just finished Anske's Rosehead, currently reading Divergent, and plan to read Harry Potter again). I will also be "outlining" my current draft (or what I can remember of it, because I won't read it all until next weekend in one sitting) on note cards and comparing it to the amazing Master Outline over at Better Novel Project to see if I can tweak mine in places to follow it more closely. This is such an amazing site, and so insightful about the similarities of successful YA novels. Check it out immediately.
By the way-I had to cut and paste the video at the end; hence my cat suddenly appearing behind me. I've also discovered that I HATE making YouTube videos. And please forgive me for how nerdy I sound; this is quite the "stream of consciousness" conversation I'm having with you and I apologize beforehand.
Hope you enjoy "meeting me," and until next time, keep writing and keep dreaming!
I have officially written an entire book. 102,000 words. In TWO months.
I'm as surprised as you about it, although the reason I quit my job WAS to do this; write a book and self-publish it.
So I decided to make a video/blog post for a number of reasons, among them being:
TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT.
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO READERS (in the unique medium that is video).
AND TO TELL YOU HOW I DID IT.
Just a quick run-down of what I discuss regarding how I wrote a book in two months:
1. Quit your job. Honestly, this was the biggest thing that allowed me to have the time and ENERGY to write.
2. Have a specific daily word count.
3. Have a routine, and be very diligent.
4. #Wordsprints!
5. Take time away from the book for a few days if you need it.
6. Find out your preferred way of outlining. I use a whiteboard, and it literally changed my life.
7. Have a support system of writers to encourage/inspire you. (Not mentioned in the video.) I forgot to mention this in the video, but it was very helpful to have a number of writer friends on Twitter to talk with, get encouragement from, commiserate with, etc.
8. Have NO SOCIAL LIFE. Honestly. (Also not mentioned in the video.) The last two months I BARELY went out with my friends and family, let alone talked to them. I also had just broken up with my boyfriend and he was no longer living here, so I wasn't cooking. I basically ate pretzels and hummus for the last month as I wrote. Probably earned me another twenty hours of writing for that reason alone.
So please watch the video; get to know a little more about me, and how I was able to do this. I am taking a week off between drafts (it is a recommended six weeks, but I don't have the time nor the money for THAT) and then will begin my second draft next weekend.
IN the meantime, I will be following Ksenia Anske's amazing advice and voraciously reading my favorite authors in the next week to fill my brain with wonderful writing (Just finished Anske's Rosehead, currently reading Divergent, and plan to read Harry Potter again). I will also be "outlining" my current draft (or what I can remember of it, because I won't read it all until next weekend in one sitting) on note cards and comparing it to the amazing Master Outline over at Better Novel Project to see if I can tweak mine in places to follow it more closely. This is such an amazing site, and so insightful about the similarities of successful YA novels. Check it out immediately.
By the way-I had to cut and paste the video at the end; hence my cat suddenly appearing behind me. I've also discovered that I HATE making YouTube videos. And please forgive me for how nerdy I sound; this is quite the "stream of consciousness" conversation I'm having with you and I apologize beforehand.
Hope you enjoy "meeting me," and until next time, keep writing and keep dreaming!
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