Combining 50k with the Day Job

50,000 words in only 30 days?

Broken down to 1667 words per day...it seems achievable. Especially when you're on a writing roll.

But sometimes the momentum just won't happen, the demands of the day job are too much, and the family just won't leave you alone to spend time with your characters. (What do you mean you'd rather spend time with your sexy hero than cook dinner?)

Here's some tips that have helpe me churn out 5ok in 30 days in the past and still stay awake (relatively) at the day job.

1. Keep your story and characters foremost in your mind.

- A small and inconspicuous notebook on your desk allows you to jot dialogue, scene ideas or outlines as you think of them (because we wouldn't be doing actual writing while we're supposed to be working, would we?). Your subconscious can do wonderful things when your conscious mind is busy with other tasks. And I don't know about you, but my subconscious mind always wants to escape the day job.

2. Pockets of time.

Seize those pockets of timeto write. 10 minutes at morning tea? Drink and write! Half hour lunch? Eat and write.

It's amazing how quickly the words can add up with little pockets of time.

3. Start your evening session by typing up your day's words.

This will get your head space back into your story. (And you're not breaking a rule - you're not re-reading, you're transcribing.)

4. If you can commit a long period of time to write - do so.

If not - WORD SPRINT! Set your timer for 15 minutes or 30 minutes and write like the blazes. Come online to the RWA group and find some fellow sprinters. Having someone to report too will motivate you.

5. Housework and cooking may all go by the wayside.

Believe me, the housework will still be there in July. Perhaps you can convince other to pick up the tasks when you slacken off and reorder your priorities. However, I find that by word sprinting, I can usually get the daily chores done in between sprints because I'm not spending hours in front of the computer thinking about what I want to write.

6. Write Fast!

Writing fast switches off your inner critic and turns on your muse. There's always time to edit in July.

7. Jump Ahead

If a scene is not working for you or your muse is filing her nails while you try and get those words out of your head and onto the page, jump ahead to another scene. If you keep thinking ahead to another scene, start writing it! Do what it takes to keep your muse amused! Sometimes it may lead to unexpected twists!

8. Turn off the TV

If there's anything you want to watch, then record it and use it as a reward at the end of the month, or a reward when you've hit your goal for the day.

9. A Month of Sundays

Well, we don't have a month of Sundays in June, but we do have five Sundays so one of them has to be a bonus! We start the month on a Sunday so aim to write more than an average day to give yourself a buffer zone for the rest of the month.


Don't do what I did last year Nanowrimo and write the finals 6000 words in three hours on the last night. That was extremely high pressure, and even though I had an online cheer squad, I recommend it only as a last resort.

So there's my tips. I hope they help you.

I'll be hanging around the RWA Nanowrimo Group looking for sprinting buddies.

See you on the track!