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After adopting the idea of a plot event list, my productivity on Ohlen’s Arrow has been much improved. I write on weekends and have been cranking out 2,000-5,000 words per day. I’ve tried to get some writing in on weekday evenings but by the time I get home from a long day at the office, my brain doesn’t fire on all its creative cylinders, so I use that time for proofreading or just relaxing.
Going for long periods of time without writing is inefficient. I have to read over several chapters just to get back into the groove of the story before I can write a single new word. Maintaining momentum, however, is actually much easier. I can add a page or two, or even a single paragraph, without much prep time at all. I’ve also been making a conscious effort to avoid other projects lately, devoting my weekend time to the book. Avoiding fragmentation has added to my productivity.
Whether my book gets published or sells a single copy is irrelevant. I’m writing, and that’s what’s most important. There’s time enough for that publishing and money stuff later.
