Formula For Writing Success

Ok, so really there is no secret formula for being a successful writer. It's a bit of a crap shoot to be honest with you. Truth be told though, there is a secret formula if you want to write a novel but feel you don't have the time to do it.

It's a little something I like to call "THE BREAKDOWN." Maybe you've heard of it?

Let's say you want to write a 300 page novel and you give yourself 3 months to do it.

That's 300 (pages) divided by 90 (days) = 3.33 (pages per day)

3.33 PAGES PER DAY! HOLY CRAP I CAN DO THAT!

Instead of getting myself all freaked out over word count, like Oh My God I have to write 1500 words today, I psych myself out with a page count instead because really, 3.33 pages is nothing. That's an hours worth of work (depending on your typing speed and train of thought). Most times, I find myself going past that goal because when the brain starts working, I don't want to shut it off and in that case, well then I'm ahead of the game aren't I?

So really, when you look at a goal like 3.33 pages, once you psych yourself up for it; finding the time is no big deal. I get home from work (yes, I do have a day job), tired as heck but with the thought that I only have to do 3.33 pages if I want to stay on schedule. And if for some reason I know the next day will be particularly hectic, I get up an hour earlier and do my only 3.33 pages then.

No matter what though, I get those 3.33 pages done knowing that I am that much closer to finishing my goal and at the end of that manuscript there's a nice big bottle of 12-year old Glenfiddich scotch waiting for me and that my friends...is motivation enough.

Cheers!