Kimberly Gardner

This is my new motto. I have it posted at my desk and popping up on my laptop just in case I forget. *g*

I’ve been stuck in a writing slump recently, not only not producing any words, but not even able to settle on a new project.

So I’ve put myself on a productivity schedule as per the advice I found in Lynn Viehl’s book, Way of the Cheetah.

One of the remedies Viehl recommends for a writerly slump is to set a daily, makable goal. It’s critical that the goal be one you can make which is why she says to start with just one sentence of no more than ten words. Once you’ve written that one sentence you’re done and you’ve met your goal for that first day.

On the second day you’re supposed to write two sentences. Then, on each subsequent day, double your output until you’ve established a regular writing routine.

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?

I started doing this yesterday. But because the single sentence didn’t satisfy my greedy soul I wrote more. My total for yesterday was 242 words. Okay, it’s not much, but it’s 242 more words than I’d written the rest of the week so I celebrated my success. Today my goal is 484 words.

Which brings me back to my new motto: Only writing is writing.

The motto is supposed to remind me that all the other stuff I do — filling out character charts, playing with plot cards, making scene lists — none of that is writing. Only actual words added to the actual WIP file is writing and those are the only words that count toward my daily word goal.

So I’m off to write because after all only writing is writing. *g*