lettered | (no subject)

Last week I wrote this fic. It was all I could think about. All I wanted to do was write it! I couldn't figure out why it felt like it was eating my life.

I realized today that I wrote 30,000 words in a week. I actually might've done most of it in five days.

Um. I've performed some impressive feats of word counts, but that one sort of takes the cake. I was even doing real life at the time! Sort of.

Frankly I don't understand time management when it comes to writing. It's sort of like food management. If I don't eat everything on my plate I might never eat again and then I would starve and have to eat my elbows (elbows would be the first to go, definitely). If I don't write it all down as fast as I can, I may never feeeeeel the same way again. It's not really that I'm afraid I'll forget it. I just want it so bad.

So! Here are my questions for you!

1) What is an impressive word count you achieved in a small amount of time? This is impressive for you, personally, not impressive in the world records of word counts.
2) How do you do time management for writing?
3) Do you ever feel like you can't stop writing?
4) Which part of your body would you eat first?

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Wow, I'm impressed! I'm just in a stage of a fic where I've realised I really want to write 20,000 words in ten days to meet a deadline (didn't know it was this fic I wanted to finish until yesterday), and am a bit daunted by the prospect. You give me hope!

Generally, I think I've managed pushing 8-10,000 words in a (long, probably) weekend before, but I don't remember the specifics. I don't have fantastic stamina, so it comes in fits and bursts. I certainly don't do time management when I'm writing, because it's far too rare for the words to actually come fluently, so I just work around its schedule (and try to force it at other times). If I happen to be writing something and think I'll get it finished, I can easily write for three hours beyond my bedtime. And then go a week/weeks without writing anything.

I think the only time I really felt like I couldn't stop writing was when I ended up writing 4000 words of comment!fic about Spuffy as penguins in a couple of hours. The joke blossomed into a story where I was convinced that it wouldn't be funny properly (and thus less embarrassing) unless I finished, so I just kept going and going and going. I do get caught up in stories, but RL persists in getting in the way of me working on them, and I have to force myself to let it in.

I'd probably start with my toes on the eating front?

If I happen to be writing something and think I'll get it finished, I can easily write for three hours beyond my bedtime

My problem is I'll do that even though I know it won't get finished. As in, suddenly I'll know it has to be 80K, and I'll keep writing until I can't see straight any more. Somehow I can't make myself stop. I guess it feels like reading a book you really really want to get to the end of.

when I ended up writing 4000 words of comment!fic about Spuffy as penguins in a couple of hours.

You are awesome and I officially love you.

I was convinced that it wouldn't be funny properly (and thus less embarrassing) unless I finished,

This actually captures a lot of feelings I have.

I'd probably start with my toes on the eating front?

I understand this, because you don't need your toes as much. And yet, toes are on the ground all the time and I bet they're all stringy, without much meat on them. Just sayin'.

Good luck on your 20 K! I officially know that it can be done, but I've also spent month writing just 5K. As you say, it depends on whether it's coming or you're forcing it, and I really don't know how to regulate that.

And yet, toes are on the ground all the time and I bet they're all stringy, without much meat on them. Just sayin'.

Yeah, I had this thought. My reasoning was exactly that if I were going to eat a body part, it should probably be the least necessary (and toes are definitely the least necessary body part for writing!), but then, if you're going to go through all the hassle of self-mutilation, it's probably worth having a vaguely decent piece of meet at the end of it... Maybe I should go for a leg instead?

Anyway, thanks for the luck! I think the 20K will come, the only problem will be whether it's the right 20K, since on this story I have already written the first 8000 words at least twice more than I should have done, and I don't entirely know how the mood is going to play out over the rest of it yet, nor whether my word estimate will be accurate, rather than an underestimate if I'm going to actually get the story balanced, but who knows...

Someone mentioned getting a redundant organ removed and eating it in a pie. This is obviously the only logical option.

I have already written the first 8000 words at least twice more than I should have done,

I see. It is that sort of story. How terribly unfair. If you like, I can bite my thumb at it and lob Shakespearean insults in its general direction until it begins to treat you as you deserve to be treated. (Once it is presented at court, I will treat it with all due respect, naturellement).

Someone mentioned getting a redundant organ removed and eating it in a pie.

Ooh, yes, that would probably work quite well...

Any and all bullying of the story would be greatly appreciated! I fully intend to prevail, but who knows at what cost...