A Novel in Ninety Days

06 September 2011 By Sandra Wickham 8 In Cheerleading, Process, Writing

When I started my first novel in 2009, I emailed my mentor Diana Rowland and told her I was writing 1000 wds a day and was that enough? I remember her saying, â€œ1000 words is good, but you might want to try for more.â€ That set me off on a new mission to write 1500 words a day, which often became 2000 words a day.

For my second novel, I started off with the goal of 1500 words a day, six days a week, treating it just like my training schedule when I was a professional fitness competitor. Six days a week, no options, no excuses, followed by a full day to rest and recover. I finished the first draft of that novel at a pretty quick pace, but wasnâ€™t exactly sure how long it had taken.

When it came to writing the first draft of novel number three, I decided to keep track of how long it took. Am I sharing this with you to show off? A little, yes, but I also have unselfish reasons for posting it, the biggest being, if I can do this, ANYONE can do this. Iâ€™m no one special. I simply like to set goals and I get pissed off with myself when I donâ€™t meet them, which keeps me driven and determined to reach that daily word count.

Keeping Track of Word Count

Just like in fitness, you need to find what works for you. What motivates you? What keeps you going? I use small rewards like getting to watch episodes of my favourite TV shows after I reach my word count goal. (and no, please donâ€™t use food as a reward!) I have the PYR catalogue prominently displayed in my writing area. I have my mom waiting to read each new chapter of my first draft as I spit it out. I keep in touch with my writing friends who will kick my butt if I slack off and I have a mentor I want to make proud of me. These things keep me focused on churning out the words. Itâ€™s crucial that you find out what works for you and put those tools and tactics to use. Worry about future drafts after the first one is done.

Just like in fitness, there is NO quick fix solution. Itâ€™s about persistence, dedication and being able to forgive yourself when you slip up and miss a day, rather than spiralling into a funk that prevents you from picking yourself up and getting back at it.

I also remind myself that itâ€™s okay for the first draft to suck, a lesson repeated by Mur Lafferty on her podcast I Should Be Writing that sticks with me. I also keep in mind the adage â€œyou canâ€™t edit what isnâ€™t there.â€ There are many drafts and many hours of revisions ahead of me, but itâ€™s a complete novel, beginning, middle and end and now I can fix it. Find what it takes for you to get it down and get it done.

Take a look at my ninety days. Take a close look! I wasnâ€™t perfect, I messed up a lot, I had good days, bad days and terrible days, but I got there. You can too!

A Novel in Ninety Days

May 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 1Â Â Â Â 1500 wds Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -excited

May 19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 2Â Â Â Â 1600 wds Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -hopeful

May 20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 3Â Â Â 1500 wds

May 21^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 4Â Â Â 0 wordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At competition to run athlete meeting, judge

May 22^nd Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 5Â Â 0 wordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At competition to run athlete meeting, judge

May 23^rd Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 6Â Â 0 wordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At competition to run athlete meeting, judge

May 24^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 7Â Â 1500 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -getting back at it

May 25^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 8Â Â Â 1600 wds

May 26^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 9Â Â Â 1100 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -fell a bit short

May 27^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 10Â 1500 wds

May 28^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 11Â Â 2006 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -good day

May 29^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 12Â Scheduled Day Off

May 30^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 13Â Â 1513 wds

June 1^st Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 14Â Â Â 1571 wds

June 2^nd Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 15Â Â Â 2300 wds

June 3^rdÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 16Â Â 1142 wds Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -little off

June 4^thÂÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 17Â Â 0 wordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At competition to run athlete meeting, judge

June 5^th Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 18Â Â 0 wordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At competition to run athlete meeting, judge

June 6^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 19Â Â 1100 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -really struggled

June 7^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 20Â 650 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -still struggling

June 8^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 21Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Canucks game

June 9^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 22Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Canucks game

June 10^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 23Â Â 1500 wds

June 11^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 24Â Â Â 2015 wds

June 12^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 25Â Â Â 1017 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -whoops

June 13^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 26Â Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Canucks game, also, laziness

June 14^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 27Â Â Â 1586 wds

June 15^th Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 28Â Â Â 1227 wds

June 16^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 29Â Â Â 1600 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -received rejection on full MS of last novel

June 17^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 30Â Â Â 1019Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -still bummed, not sure where this is going

June 18^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 31Â Â Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â *no explanation written down

June 19^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 32Â Â Â Â Scheduled Day Off

June 20^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 33Â Â Â 1611 wds

June 21^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 34Â Â Â Â 1589 wds

June 22^ndÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 35Â Â Â Â 2082 wds

June 23^rdÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 36Â Â Â 2057 wds

June 24^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 37Â Â Â 2007 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -at library with my mom

June 25^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 38Â Â Â 1600 wds

June 26^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 39Â Â Â Scheduled Day Off

June 27^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 40Â Â 1570 wds

June 28^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 41Â Â Â 2074 wds

June 29^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 42Â Â Â 1539 wds

June 30^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 43Â Â 1891 wds

July 1^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 44Â Â Â 1632 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Canada Day!

July 2^ndÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 45Â Â 1080 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -little burnt out??

July 3^rdÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 46Â Â Scheduled Day Off

July 4^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 47Â Â Re-plotted last 1/3 of novel

July 5^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 48Â Â 1528 wds

July 6^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 49Â Â 1717 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -on plane to Vegas

July 7^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 50Â Â 1028 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -in Vegas

July 8^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 51Â Â Â 1515 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -in Vegas

July 9^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 52Â Â Â 1568 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -in Vegas

July 10^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 53Â Â Â 1509 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -in Vegas (Main event begins)

July 11^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 54Â Â Â Â Scheduled Day Off in Vegas

July 12^th Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 55Â Â Â 1500 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -at the Rio during Main Event

July 13^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 56Â Â Â 1000 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -on plane home from Vegas

July 14^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 57 Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -BC Provincial Championships

July 15^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 58 Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -BC Provincial Championships

July 16^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 59Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -BC Provincial Championships

July 17^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 60 Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -recovering from trip/show

July 18^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 61Â Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -recovering from trip/show

July 19^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 62Â Â 1550 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Yay! Back on track!

July 20^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 63Â Â 2011 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -better!

July 21^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 64Â Â Â 2029 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -knocking it out!

July 22^ndÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 65Â 2003 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -on plane to Saskatoon

July 23^rdÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 66Â 0 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -at National Championships with team BC

July 24^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 67 2450 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -1^st night of camping (cabin)

July 25^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 68 2556 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -2^nd day of camping

July 26^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 69Â Â 1010 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -trip home from Saskatchewan

July 27^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 70Â Â 1027 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -re-plotting, planning

July 28^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 71Â Â 2003 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -at 82, 369 wds (curious)

July 29^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 72Â Scheduled Day Off

July 30^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 73 2178 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -online Google hangout

July 31^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 74Â Â 1023 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -bad day

Aug 1^stÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 75Â Â Â Â 1948 wds

Aug 2^ndÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 76Â Â Â 1707 wdsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -online Google hangout

Aug 3^rdÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 77Â Â Â Â Â 1116 wds Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -to the end! Going back for rewrites

Aug 4^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 78Â Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 5^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 79Â Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 6^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 80Â Â Â Â Â 1.5 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 7^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 81Â Â Â Â Â New â€œto do listâ€ to fix/rewrite etc

Aug 8^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 82Â Â Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 9^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 83Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 10^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 84Â Â Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 11^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 85Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2 hrsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 12^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 86Â Â Â Â Â 4 chaptersÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 13^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 87Â Â Â Â 4.5 chaptersÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 14^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 88Â Â Â Â 1.5 chaptersÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -little burned out

Aug 15^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 89Â Â Â Â Â 3.5 chaptersÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Aug 16^thÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day 90Â Â Â Â 4 chaptersÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Triage editing/fixing

Total word count: 94, 111.

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Bettieleetwo
06/09/2011 at 6:34 pm Permalink

You rock. I approve this message. 🙂
Sandra Wickham
07/09/2011 at 1:26 am Permalink

Aw, thanks. 🙂
John Remy
06/09/2011 at 9:59 pm Permalink

Sandra, this is inspiring, and exactly what I need right now. Thanks!

I tracked/obsessed over my word count in a spreadsheet during NaNoWriMo. May be high time to try that again
Sandra Wickham
07/09/2011 at 1:26 am Permalink

Great, I’m so glad, and go for it! 😉
Galendara
07/09/2011 at 5:12 pm Permalink

this is truly awesome sandra! thank you for sharing the process, ((feeling a fire being lit under my butt…. liking it :))
Steventhomashowell
07/09/2011 at 5:19 pm Permalink

I’ve been settling for 1k per day, but no longer! You’ve inspired me to write instead of sleeping…so much.
Ganymeder
09/09/2011 at 12:13 am Permalink

Great job! I like all your approaches. I do similar things to motivate myself during Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). Congratulations!

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Making a go of it.. « The Blog of A.R. Flynn 17/09/2011 at 7:55 pm

[...] I plan on beginning/continuing tomorrow. If you’ve seen the recent article on inkpunks.com, A Novel in Ninety Days, the…

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