I’ve been on a roll lately, at least in terms of keeping to a nightly writing schedule. While I was keeping a good 5,000 words per day (roughly 20 pages) schedule for a week or so, I’ve found my sweet spot is writing in 300-word increments, which allows me to fit writing into my busy schedule. I can write 300 words first thing in the morning, another 300 later in the afternoon, and then 1,000 or so later at night. Although this is far less ambitious that my previous writing schedule, it’s a good way of preventing burnout, which is inevitable if you’re pushing yourself too hard, no matter how professional you are or how much love you have for your craft.
As King Leonidas would say in Zack Synder’s movie 300, “Tonight we dine…at our work desk!”
I’m currently dividing my writing time pretty evenly between editing Parasitic Host and polishing up my next Ash Crowlin book…which I’ll talk more about as the release gets closer. I’m putting some time into my Moving Through sorta-sequel Clive, but I’m dedicating myself too heavily to it just yet, since I don’t want to get distracted from the task at hand by “shiny objects.” I’ve spoken to many other writers about this exact issue, getting distracted by excitement for your next project (and there’s ALWAYS a “next project”), and they’ve all told me the same thing: finish the book you’re currently working on, take notes for the one you’re excited to get cracking on, and don’t allow yourself to get easily distracted.
Speaking of conversations with other authors, there are a ton of of new episodes of The Family Fright Night Horror Podcast available for you to check out. The show’s been a lot of fun to work on, and it’s been a great hobby for me. I hope you enjoy it!
That’s all for now. I’ll be on the road in Memphis, Louisiana,Alabama, and Mississippi all next week, but I’ll find time to hop on when I’m not sneaking in writing time in 300-word increments.
Chase Will 