Use Your Math Skills to Write a Book in a Year
The Arithmetic of Writing
This is when that tricky little demon called procrastination sets in. So, you write here and there when guilt strikes, but by the end of the year, you find yourself with a half written manuscript and a resolution to finish your book in the next year.
Stop.
Don't torture yourself another minute.
No matter how busy your schedule is, you can write a book in a year. Just polish up on your math, instead of wallowing in good intentions.
Follow me through the following exercise and you'll see exactly how easy it is:
What happens when you write 100 words twice day for an entire year?
Ready, set... do the math!
Got the answer?
Yup, that's right. The answer equals 73,000. Very close to a full length novel in one year.
Let's take a look at this problem from some other angles:
100 words is approximately a ¼ of a page of single space type written text or a ½ page of double spaced type written text. (In fact, at the end of this sentence, I will have just crossed 110 words of text in this article.)
If you type an average of 50 words per minute (moderate range typing) then you'll complete 100 words in two minutes.
"Wait a second," you say, "It takes time to think about what I'm going to write those hundred words on."
Fair enough, got you covered = Add ten minutes for brain storming.
Now here's the next writing math warm up.
If it takes twelve minute minutes to write 100 words, how many minutes per day will you spend writing 200 words?
Ready, set... do the math!
Yup, that's right! In twenty-four minutes (or less, depending upon your brainstorming and typing speeds) you will complete two hundred words of your story each day.
Which leads us to the last writing math warm up for today:
If it takes twenty-four minutes or less a day to complete a novel in one year, how many reasonable, legitimate, and really, super good excuses can you come up with for not finding the time?
Hopefully, like me, the answer you'll arrive at is zero.
If not- return to the beginning and re-do the math. It's time to pick up our pens and stop procrastinating!
I'm looking forward to reading all the new releases next year!
Additional Math Food for Thought: If the 100 word example doesn't work for you, think about completing a page a day goal instead. If you up the anti to 250 words per day (the rough equivalent to a full page of text) you will have a 365 page novel by the end of the year.
Any way you choose to look at, setting and completing a small goal each day will help you achieve success in a big way!
Published by Barb Webb
Author/ Freelance writer, Barb Webb is a Paper Crafts Expert, Cost Cutting Expert and one Internet-savvy Mom! In addition to being a Featured Crafting Contributor for Associated Content, Barb is the Paper C... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentLike everything else, great in theory. You need to make credible characters with a history, create a and research cultures if your writing fiction, link the storey in, edit it to a resonable standard and make draft after draft. You might have 73,000 words in a year, but by no means a novel. Just words on paper.
Enjoyed your article. A good way to look at it!
Interesting approach! I haven't attempted a book yet -- I haven't found the right topic.
I think I'll try this next year.
I'm ready!
My problem is not time to write, but what to write. No, not writer's block. Just the opposite. I have too many ideas rolling around and cannot seem to commit lately.
Very unique and inspiring article~I loved it!!!