BIW starts today

BIW is a challenge for writers. Set a goal, write as much as you can in the week, and whoever writes the most wins a prize. But everyone who writes is a winner. Everyone who writes is closer to achieving their goal.

Some set small goals – 7 pages, 20 pages, 25 pages. Others set huge goals – 100 to 200 pages.

This time, I set my goal at 150 pages new writing and 50 pages editing.

I can do it. I will do it.

My top record for pages written in a single day is 65. So, in theory, in a six day work week, I should be able to do 390. Cool. That’s an entire novel.

Considering that I type at around 80 wpm, my top speed is somewhere around 4800 words an hour, or close to 20 pages. In reality, with the creativity process, it’s slower than that, and I can, when I’m in flow, average around 10 or 12 pages an hour.

But I’m still new at all this. Okay, yes, I’ve been writing for a few years, but it’s still new. I’ve still only finished first drafts on two novels. That’s still new. And there will always be ways to learn and improve and figure out what works best for me. But it’s nice to know that I can write quickly when I want to.

I want to work on a new novel – NUE – and while I’ve done some plotting, it’s mostly on paper, not in my handy dandy little writing program. I need to transfer it over to the writing program and organize it. I also need names for the characters, and that’s not always something that I’m quick with. But I’m gonna have to be this time, cuz I wanna get writing pdq. I have 30 pages to write today. I’ve already done my 10 pages of editing which satisfies dh so I don’t have to cook lunch. Compromises. This way, I still get to write as much as I want, but he’s happy, too. Why not? Anything to get out of cooking . . .

It would be nice to have a maid. They’re cheap enough here that, if Fahim gets a raise, we can afford one. But that’s so uncertain. And that’s another reason for me to be writing as much as I can. Sell a novel as quickly as possible. Make our financial lives easier. I know that Fahim is not counting on it – not meaning that he doesn’t think I can. It’s that as far as he’s concerned, it’s his job to financially support the family and he doesn’t expect me to earn a living. Sure, the money would be nice, but it’s a bonus, and it’s only if I love what I’m doing. If I don’t love what I’m doing, then as far as he’s concerned, I should be doing whatever I love doing even if it means not being paid. I love his sentiments. He gives me a considerable amount of freedom. I’m finally free to do what I love. I don’t have to support myself anymore. I don’t have to do anything.

Still, it would be nice to have a maid. That way, I wouldn’t have to do the housework. Which I really don’t enjoy doing at all. I’d rather have someone else do the sweeping and mopping and getting rid of the cobwebs and gecko poop and cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom and all that jazz. Not where I get joy outta life.