Was just thinking about how I write a novel, and I realize I set a basic goal, 800 words a day. That’s it. Because if you do that for 90 days, then you have a good novel sized work. Not a honking behemoth, but something decent and lean, a good first draft to muck around with. But that’s not all.

Writing every day keeps those prose muscles limber, it lets you flex and fidget about. It doesn’t have to be a novel. Some of these days I write articles I’m owed, or I write podcast entries, or work on a basic concept for a youtube video, whatever. The trick is to keep writing every day, keep flexing, keep those story muscles limber. And 800 is the minimum. Some days I hit that and I’m done, and other days I keep going. One day it was 10,000 words in a day.

I felt wiped out after that, that’s for certain. But the minimum is important. Why 800? For me, after 500 I feel like I am in the groove and keep going for some more. Before 500 it’s easy to just stop and through it in the trash. But once I feel like I passed by 500 I really know what I’m working on for that day and can usually keep going for another 300 or 500 words, depending. I find most days I get between 1500-2000, but there are a few where I barely squeak past 800, and that’s okay.

And sometimes I take a day or two off, but that’s so I can breathe a little. I still work on stuff in my head, but I don’t write. Those little vacations can help stave off burn out, or if I’m in a novel, stave off those mid-novel freakouts. But the rhythm is important, doing it is important. It’s like exercising, you keep at it, keep limber. Writing every day as a writer is a good habit.

Another good habit I try to do everyday is read. I read at least one poem, two articles, at least 10 pages in a novel, and one short story. Also, very important things. Very important things indeed to keep those juices flowing. It keeps ideas moving, and keeps things interesting.

I also tend to juggle two books while writing, but that will be for a blog post at another time. Oh yes, did I mention I was blogging again? I am. Here we go! Blog blog blog. You can get updates on these by subscribing like a newsletter in your email, or if you’re extra fancy you can do it via RSS feed reader and be cool as all hell.

Anyway, this is all to say, keep writing out there friends. And remember to stay spooky!