I Wrote Every Day and This is What I Learned

[@jackgaffney8468]

I’ve written everyday since April, when COVID locked us down, and I’ve written three books.

[@tappkalina]

Wow. Good job! :)

[@TurtlesAndTortoises302]

That's amazing! I planned to do the same thing but I've been developing plot material since early July 😅 Got any tips?

[@jackgaffney8468]

@@TurtlesAndTortoises302 start writing, even if you’re not ready, you can always go back and delete it if you don’t like it. I write single day every day even if it’s just for a few minutes.

[@TurtlesAndTortoises302]

@@jackgaffney8468 Okay, thanks, I can't believe you replied so fast though 😂

[@jackgaffney8468]

@@TurtlesAndTortoises302 I just happened to be looking at my phone lol

[@authorgreene]

Sometimes going out for a walk is writing. Even though no words are landing in the manuscript, if you're doing something where the story is forming in the brain, it's writing (in a sense). At least it is if there's a follow through and those ideas are shaped into words on the page. I do try to write at least 4 days a week. I'd write more if I could. I think setting a specific time aside for writing several days in a row is helpful for being ready to write, for letting the story take hold of your imagination. I recommend trying to write every day if you're struggling to find the writing mood. For many people, having that specific, distraction-free time is helpful for getting the creative momentum going.

[@AliceHope-ForParentsOfROGDkids]

I am trialling dictating during my morning walk every day ... so my walk is writing

[@rev6215]

Can't believe I'm half hour late. I need to stop having a life

[@ShaelinWrites]

the fact you haven't been prioritizing my videos over literally everything else you might do or care about :/ kinda rude

[@rev6215]

@@ShaelinWrites I have failed my purpose in life 😭😭

[@ShaelinWrites]

you'll bounce back !!

[@arjenachten5849]

I usually never like comments, but this interaction is too perfect not to

[@billyalarie929]

Fucking lol irl 5evr

[@kimwicks5540]

I love writing everyday, it's easier for me to keep the creative juices flowing; the thing is I can't keep going for long periods. Usually I spend like 2 weeks writing my wip and then spend the time I need writing poetry before I get back to my main project again.

[@Mothchewedgirl]

I have a similar process. I try to write everyday because I know little bits at a time will soon add up to a whole manuscript but I usually only write half a chapter a day (which for me is very short) so to get into a flow again without getting stressed I write poetry or a short story.

[@kimwicks5540]

@@Mothchewedgirl yeah, sometimes I fall into the mindset of "I won't write now bc I don't have enough time" but even when you write small scenes or just even ideas, at the end you make way more progress.

[@rev6215]

I have completely thrown word counts out of the window. I use google docs so you can turn the word count on and off.. I just write whatever, don't even look at the word count before I start editing

[@ShaelinWrites]

this is actually such a great way to work!

[@Диана-я5э1к]

back in my fanfiction days i used to write like 2k a day for months straight, it was crazy how much the "write everyday" advice made sense and help me undersntand how much i could gain from just doing something everday, i remember that if skipped a day i would feel like something was missing, as if i have forgotten something important, like eating ou drinking water

[@iamyournerdfighter7438]

“There is no right way to write a book.” This quote from you changed something within me. I’ve always felt subpar in my writing because I felt like I wasn’t doing it right. Sometimes I wouldn’t plan, sometimes I would over plan and break it down scene by scene. Hearing this has made me realise my way of writing is the right way for me.

[@tdsjolly]

If I plan it, I dread it. If it's sudden inspiration or compulsion in the moment, you love every keystroke.

[@rachelwritesbooks]

This video is getting me through finals BLESS 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@ShaelinWrites]

you can do it!!!

[@thesamuraiman]

I decided to write every day this month. Successful so far. I haven't pressured myself with huge goals, just how much I was feeling really, just as long as I write a bit.

[@ShaelinWrites]

This strategy was so successful for me! I hope it goes well for you too!

[@thesamuraiman]

@@ShaelinWrites thanks! 💜😁

[@kal-muzel875]

How has it been? (4 weeks have passed since the comment)

[@thesamuraiman]

@@kal-muzel875 Unfortunately it did not fair very well. I wrote consistently for about 2 weeks, but then I a bit of a slight emergency over one weekend and it just through off my grove. Life happens 🤷🏽‍♂️ But I've resorted back to my 2,500 works a week (which gets me 10K a month), which works fine. I usualy sit down for 625 words, 4 days a week. It's working so far. Let's see how March goes. See if I can complete the 30K in the first quarter.

[@emilyjo2158]

I find that when I try to write every day it is much easier to be creative, but I get burnt out very quickly and lose interest in my story for a month or so.

[@maikenzupancicdanko9377]

How do you deal with that burnout? It happens to me a lot too and I am never sure how to handle it besides just taking a break 😂

[@daniellewardd]

Same. I’d love to know as well.

[@TheCrustaceanQueen]

A similar experience happened to me during November. The only issue I really had with writing every day was too much homework and studying for school. Honestly I really forgot how much I enjoyed writing because I just wasn't motivated enough to really work on any projects. Nanowrimo really gave me the motivation I needed to pick back up on writing and start writing consistently. I really enjoyed it!

[@justcallmemarcus]

When I started the second draft of my current project (title being polled by friends/potential beta readers), I committed to writing every day. Instead of committing to a daily word count, I went with a time frame - no less than 1 hour a day. The idea here was to balance out writing with the rest of my life. As I work in an essential service that requires me to be on site 40+ hours a week, time is a bit of a commodity. An hour a day seemed reasonable as a minimum; usually after dinner. What I found to be the result was this commitment actually helps to keep me motivated to write, which in turn keeps the ideas fresh in my mind. When I encounter a tough scene, the solution to it often comes to me early in the morning on my way to work. In addition, new ideas for an entirely different story are coming to me. So overall, setting a time spent writing on a daily basis has done much more good than harm for me.

[@iluvSchleeping]

I write every day but I don’t have a word count goal so some days it’s 50 words and others it’s 2000

[@luisaah5707]

I got stressed out when I had to do 1667 every day. The first 2 days were great until work got crazy.

[@victoriannecastle]

I write every day because if I take a break, it'll be difficult to get back to writing. What is important is novelty. Changing where I write and changing my writing project.

[@spacedoutorca4550]

Same! If I stay in the same place writing every day it feels more and more like a chore when it shouldn’t!

[@eleonorereimer1166]

Interesting! I need to write in the same place if possible with a coffee. It gets my brain straight into writing mood. Even when I don't plan on writing: I'm sitting in my usual coffee shop and have my first sip of coffee and I'm immediately sad that I didn't bring my laptop to work on my project.

[@eleonorereimer1166]

I made the "mistake" to set the goal of doing 50k words for nanowrimo 7 years in a row. This year was year 7 and I did it! It was a great learning experience, mostly for writing habits in different circumstances each year and what was mentioned in the video, that you can produce good stuff even though you didn't feel like it and vice versa. My natural writing word count is actually also between 800 and 1400 words and after every nanowrimo I'm always relieved that I can go back to that. And then it usually takes me another 6 months to finish the first draft of the novel. I do like the 1 months plus 6 more months combination. Nanowrimo helps me to get attached enough to the story to keep going without a deadline. Thanks for the video! This one showed me how I must sound like to others when I start rambling on about writing ;-)

[@aestover91]

!! I've always tried the "write every day!" thing and lost steam a week after. I've never thought of allowing myself to be okay with a single sentence -- that changes everything! I'm gonna try this for 30 days, and see how it helps me. Thanks so much for making this video. Always great to learn from you. (and it's been awesome to see you in Reedsy videos, too!)

[@kal-muzel875]

How is it going so far?

[@xyhmo]

I write nearly every day, but that's not really a goal I have, it's just happens. And importantly, it's not all for publication. I write to think, and there's always something I need or want to think about. So usually I'm eager to do that, to the point where I want to fall asleep quickly just so that I can wake up and get started on some writing while enjoying coffee. It's become a ritual of sorts, and I usually end up with an insight or conclusion.

[@imaginativebibliophile549]

Shaelin, I really enjoyed this video. Through writing everyday without a specific word count goal, you were able to write a huge portion of the first draft of your novel, Holding a Ghost. I love writing scenes that are vignettes. The first draft is my favorite part of the writing process and I like to immerse myself in the story for as long as possible. I wrote something everyday for the first two to three weeks of November and then I became consistent. I obviously get some writing done everyday just naturally, but it does not always count as writing for me. I have been writing a lot of poetry, short stories, and flash fiction. I started a novel and it was not working so I starting developing the story in my mind and I started writing it at the end of the month. Writing everyday definitely brings such us to such a creative state. I love you

[@nabilamiah3814]

Shaelin looks so fly in this video

[@everylosersdestiny9948]

I was wondering if you could do a video on how to write quite magical prose, like for magical realism or surrealism where the magic is mostly in how you describe things? Or like whimsical and lyrical prose, fairytale like. I have my own ways but I’d love to learn more x

[@andreascheifele1158]

Yes I would love that too

[@ShaelinWrites]

That's an interesting topic! I think it's something that is very much down just to a person's writing style, so maybe I'll try to do something on how to use style since I think writing something whimsical/magical/lyrical is very specific and there's not just one way to do it.

[@everylosersdestiny9948]

@@ShaelinWrites that would be great! X

[@alfonsomango_suyu]

A couple of months ago I was writing almost 2 hours everyday, making 1500 words in a day. That happened at least during 3 weeks. Never happen again. But I am convinced that writing one sentence a day is not that bad. It's better to have little goals to achieve everyday or everyweek. Do not mind for the bigger goals. Those will be eventually, out of the blue.

[@nadeeraansar9757]

I am From India 🇮🇳 I love Watching your channel This makes me really creative to write story .... And I also learn from you Spoken English Once Again Thanks with lots of Love from India 🇮🇳😊❤❤

[@fullmetaltheorist]

💕

[@joshuaisaac99]

Just wanted to say your videos have been very helpful for my writing process. I especially like the ones where you talk about writing mechanics and dos and don'ts. Your miniseries on how you create and submit your short stories was a game-changer for me. It encouraged me to just start submitting more.

[@cemo255]

After watching your video about NaNo in October I decided to do a similar challenge, writing every day even if it was just a sentence. I experienced a lot of the same pros and cons--my mental health was better than usual, I wrote more than I have over the past 6 months, and I got really immersed in my novel. However, I also experienced burnout at 3 weeks. Honestly it's been a relief not to write for a few days, especially during essay season.

[@gabbygamez4562]

I'm honestly surprised by how much I was able to write this year, and I definitely didn't write everyday. I think breaks are important in order to avoid getting burnt out, or limiting how much you write everyday if that's a habit you're serious about implementing. The key for me when first drafting is making sure my breaks aren't so long that I forget what's supposed to happen in the story.

[@jleewaters]

I typically write for my main project 1500 words a day and 4 days a week on average. I write my side projects on Friday

[@GeoffreyGraham2]

Wow

[@beel1952]

i find it really interesting that you actively slowed yourself down to better enjoy your work. ive never thought of that before honestly. im usually trying to plow through whatever im working on as fast as possible because my attention and passion on individual projects is very fleeting and id rather love it then watch it leave as quickly as the idea came than grow to hate it slowly. i might try that, slowing down on my work, and see how it feels :)

[@ubitencourtjr.4733]

14:30 just a suggestion: make it annual. Once a year spending one mouth writing everyday...

[@peyuko5960]

I might actually start doing that, sounds like a great idea.

[@rev6215]

🔪The earrings🥰😃

[@clintoreilly]

Great advice as always. I'm a writeaholic, if it's ever a word😁 so I can relate with a tired brain. Just make sure to take care of that special mind of yours. We need more videos 😎 Nice earrings by the way, sorry, I have writer's eye and a poets ear. Keep well.

[@charlieclark3592]

See the thing I need to find is self-discipline! I can never hold myself accountable and so as much as I want to try a writing every day challenge I just know I'll forget or ignore the alarms :')

[@dannylam4180]

Underrated video. I think the connotation of mental health within daily discipline is something to be acknowledged. Writing is strenuous. I find myself becoming uncomfortable when I don't actively work on my novel now, so even giving myself a break all I can do is think about it and plan for it. Been writing pretty much every day for a long time, and although it's still moving forward It's like I'm dragging a train along its tracks at this point. Fortunately I've allowed myself to just relax this past week, but changing gears back into the stories present tense feels bothersome, like there's a firewall in my brain. I have a good friend however, and he reminded me that it's okay for it to be smaller in scope and then expanded upon. Additionally, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy springs to mind :)

[@nocturnus009]

There is probably a relationship/corollary/illumination between this successful experience (CONGRATULATIONS SB 🥳🎉) Is the whole chaos/order energy lessons within: I like to see artistic creation as a dance with such energies. The 2nd law of thermodynamics states that the universal resting state is minimal effort and maximum disarray. When we look at the Enthalpy (H) we have Sysyems of energy that can be either endothermic (in need of energy added) versus exothermic (capable of releasing more energy than energy added). As artists we want to live that mythical creative state where we are generating output with the minimal level of input. I think one pitfall can be the perception that the creative output can fall into a Sisyphean exercise in working against the current of chaos & ordered energy. One should find the tools to have both work for their creative needs. Apologies, I just finished Dr Brian Greene’s The Fabric of the Cosmos & I’m seeing everything through the lens of nail with my superstring hammer 🔨!

[@blakegrimes3557]

If I write every day, I definitely get my books done faster, but I get burnt out really badly after about 2-3 months

[@AliceHope-ForParentsOfROGDkids]

Don't have to work up to writing ... because you know you are going to do it every day ... good point ... no procrastination ... Can get tired if you do it for too long

[@bonniebeingbonnie001]

I write everyday even if its just journaling in the morning or night. Writing everyday is a lifestyle whether it's on a project or not. I agree you gotta do what works best for your individual style. Just my opinion.

[@BittersweetBoys]

Ugh yes, I couldn’t have clicked on this video at a better time! So much of what you said was relatable and honestly what I talked to my therapist about yesterday. I appreciate your candidness and willingness to discover what works for you, not for everybody. I struggle with subconsciously comparing myself to others and almost always feeling like I’m not doing enough. I also enjoy working slowly and usually go through an ebb and flow. Thanks always for your insights Shaelin!

[@kimberbites]

I started the journey of writing daily (I don't do it on the weekends so my brain can have a break or I get burnt out/bored) after reading Kristine Kathryn Rusch's book on perfection and Dean Wesley Smith's blog. You basically stated the majority of what I've found as well so these are some great tips. Been at it for years now and it's been a huge help, and like you, I'm the first to tell people just because I have become a production writer, doesn't mean it'll work the same for them. So I'm glad that you're pointing out that they're not failing just because that can't maintain a huge go, go, go. I only write one hour every morning M-F. For me, that's perfect speed and is sustainable. I like that your starting point was a place you could hit too. That way, like with dieting, you didn't give up if you were tired and could barely manage even a sentence. That was still progress for your challenge. Good job on challenging yourself to begin with!

[@kennethhodge7953]

Of course it works. Writers write. It doesn't really matter what or how much or how long. I find if I am writing something every day, I have no problem the next day. What surprised me is the same goes for practicing an instrument...the writing creativity works even though they are different media and methods.

[@thistle7972]

I wrote everyday for 4 weeks at my Grandma's over lockdown and got a third of my book written but now that I have been back at uni I just haven't found the motivation for any of it. I really want to get my book finished and will probably pick it back up again in may when my uni work is all finished

[@karmenfnassah4639]

i've been writing every day for nearly 3 months, at least 800 words, and it's been great in keeping me creative and maintaining a routine. and i'm almost finished with my 2nd wip

[@sagabyakuya12]

I have currently written every single day for 44 days. And I think I'll keep it up as long as I can. I've felt it lowers the bar to start writing, it keeps the creative juices flowing and even though my prose isn't always top notch, I still keep my story going. That's the biggest pro for me; seeing my story actually progress. I'm used to being such a slow writer, my WIPs can take years to complete and now, in only 44 days, I've already managed to write my way at least one quarter in the actual plot (maybe even one third, it's a bit hazy as my outline is pretty vague). I haven't really gotten stuck on anything because I know I need to figure it out the next day if I don't figure it out now. Previously, I just stopped writing when I got stuck, now I just push through and then I get over them.

[@ClefairyFairySnowflake]

Glad to hear that NaNoWriMo went well for you! It's important to pace yourself and not work too hard! Best of luck with your future endeavours!

[@marcosandoval6175]

Shaelin, you speak FACTS, preach friend !!!

[@crose795]

This was so thoughtful and helpful, thank you for putting this video together. I think I might need to try this--what you mentioned about liking writing but the starting of the actual process being difficult really resonated with me. My ADD brain thinks it's really fun to convince me I actually hate writing pretty much every time I think it might be a good idea to write lol. Thanks Shaelin!

[@lordchrona8356]

I want to try writing every day.. But I keep making excuses to not write. "I'm too busy today, maybe I'll start tomorrow." "I'm too tired today" "I can't get past this scene" "I need to do more research". How do you just buckle down and write like that? It feels impossible to force myself to even start

[@amandarandomtube4793]

I was so excited to see you did this video. I knew you would give an unbiased opinion about it and it really made me feel better about my own writing schedule. Also I wanted to ask if you've ever used a zero draft? It sounds like a good combination of discovery writing and having an "outline" for your first draft.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I haven’t! Personally it’s not really for me, I like to draft very slowly and very cleanly and edit a lot as I write so my first drafts are as clean as possible, so zero drafts don’t really work for me. But they can be a good option for lots of people!

[@amandarandomtube4793]

@@ShaelinWrites thank you for responding, I love your videos ❤

[@SysterYster]

My view on this is that I don't think you should set a goal of writing every day, because it will set you up for failure. But I also say you should write as often as possible and don't make silly excuses like "I don't feel like it" if you have the time to do it. At least if you plan on trying to become a published author some day. ;) If you're just writing for fun now and then, sure, do that.

[@tariqsaeed2056]

Shaelin is a Great advisory .I have been writing for Reedsy short stories since last July.

[@bobsrussi598]

I had two months to finish a play so I decided to write every day to get it done and I finished in four weeks, it's insane how productive you can be

[@kaylastarr3822]

For most of this year I had a goal to write a poem a week. I felt it was working really well for me for the first few months and then I found that I began writing less poetry than ever and hating it. I think it's because I would procrastinate untill Sunday night and then force myself to write something. I made a goal to write every day in December and so far it seems to be working much better for me. I'm feeling much more motivated. I've told myself that the goal isn't nescesarily to produce something every day but simply to sit at my desk each day and try. I'm not writing poetry every day though, some days I've just journaled and other days I've worked on a short story.

[@kaylastarr3822]

*Necessarily🙈

[@tadasdulinskas8993]

For me personally, writing everyday was one of the best thing I did. My normal daily goal is 1k a day and it's amazing. During nano I tried writing 2.5 k and I reached 75k but I was very tired when nano ended. So I'm sure I couldn't do that for long but it's nice knowing that I can actually write that much in a month. As far as trying new things goes I couldn't agree more. My main nano novel ended at around 65k so I've got 10k words left and played around with various tenses and pov, before that I used to alway write 3rd person limited past tense. And while I sticking with it for most of my favourite writing, I know realised that others aren't as bad as I thought, so if at some point I'll get an idea, that would work better in some other pov I know I can write it and It's not as bad as I thought

[@ShaelinWrites]

Wow, it's amazing you can write so much so consistently! 75k in a month is a feat, kudos!

[@gyanvarsha999]

Really like that you don't edit your videos too much. Police siren in the background looked so realistic. KZbinrs these days edit their videos like they will be part of Netflix series. I prefer writing everyday as it keeps me disciplined.

[@thecategorysystem]

I'm just like you. I found the first week had a clumsy start then went great. Week 2 went super. Week 3 was great but then it went downhill and the last days I barely wrote anything. Other things caught my interest, so I procrastinated more and more. Having a Writing Week(or 2 or 3) per month seems better for me rather than a whole month.

[@Nate1975]

Interesting observation, thought process and psychology and this is why this intentional experiments work and valuable

[@BookClubDisaster]

I'm trying this now. The one sentence rule is key because it puts lets pressure on yourself. Most of the time I write more than one sentence but even if it's just one, it's okay. Not opening my doc at all is not okay. I actually think setting a word goal per day is bad. It will likely lead to wordy writing and the idea that words for words sake are good.

[@ChimanaBendor]

I have a fulltime job ongoing, so I don't have much time for writing. But I figured out that my goal writing 1.000 words per week worked for me very well. When I achieved that goal I draw a smiley in my calendar like a child to motivate me for the next week :D next year I will work 4 hours less per week- more time to write!!!

[@precious3863]

I write everyday when I can. It is awesome.

[@maidden]

Hearing that you usually have to hype yourself up to start writing was actually super helpful to me because I also have to hype myself up and sometimes I feel like the fact that I have to do that maybe means I'm "faking" that I like writing, or that I'm not meant to be doing this. It's incredibly reassuring to hear that other writers feel the same way, because I do enjoy it when I get into it, and I guess that's valid. Thank you!

[@ShaelinWrites]

pretty much every writer I know needs to hype themselves up to write at least some of the time! it's super normal!

[@maidden]

@@ShaelinWrites I don't know if you've tried this before already, but I wonder if you would be able to get around week-4 burnout by having built-in breaks on the schedule. Like, write every weekday, instead of every day, and not write on weekends. You'd have the same advantage of not having to decide whether to write or not, but with some breathing room. Maybe Mondays would be harder but if it were sustainable, it might be worth it.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I've tried that but I think I'm a pretty type B person so these kinds of schedules end up not really working for me! I find scheduling my breaks doesn't really work since my brain doesn't always need a break at those times, and it's hard to predict when I might need them, ya know? I use a process I call 'intuitive writing' where I basically just take breaks when I feel I need them and write when I feel like I want to. Works pretty well for me!

[@1ktales]

November 2020 was the third (or fourth) time I tried NaNoWriMo, and it was my most-successful failure. I only did maybe 21-25k words that month, but I kept up afterward. It took two months of daily writing to power through and make it a routine. And I went from 21-25k words being the most fiction I'd written in a month, to 126k words being my new highest monthly total for fiction -- or, in other words, 100k+ words better than where I started. I have seen the power of "Write of Every Day" and it's almost scary. It's the single most powerful practice a writer can have. I went from never finishing a long-form work of fiction to having the first drafts done for SIX novels and am currently working on my seventh (while doing some editing for an earlier book), and it hasn't even been a full year. I'm realizing that, even without doing this full-time, I probably produce too much for trade publishing.

[@mrandisg]

For Camp Nano in July, my goal was to spend at least 5 minutes every day editing my WIP. I met that goal, but the problem was I ended up flying through the editing and missing things I was supposed to be catching. It was enjoyable and I was proud of myself for achieving the goal, but there was a definite downside to it. Since then, I've learned that being consistent does not always equal real progress for me. Sometimes I get too focused on "being productive" that I lose sight of what productivity really means to me personally.

[@damienheaft3546]

IV stoped, it's been very hot but, we do need breaks to replenish 😀 I did a lot every day over six months maybe, good vid,

[@ABWinter-l5n]

I love your honesty thank you for making this

[@maya-gur695]

In the beginning of November I was like: I don't need the stress of having to write every day, especially with school where I have to write every other week. But then I watched everyone doing nano and kind of wished I could write every day. Camp nano in April is going to be even more chaotic because I'll have another workshop next semester. Maybe I'll try to do camp in July.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I felt that every year I didn't do nano haha! But it's very hard to do in school so managing your stress is probably the best choice!

[@miezepups15]

I write every day for four days and then ln day five I'm not allowed to even look at my file. I've been doing this for about four years now. In the beginning day five was basically torture, but if I didn't force myself to rest I'd write every day for two weeks and then crash and not have the brain to write for a whole miserable week. Also, by now, day five is my day of reflecting on what I'm currently working on as well as of aimless mental wandering which brings forth new ideas. I'm also allowed to look through my handwritten notes on day five and I often use it to declutter.j I also have a max of three rounds of writing per day, each round consisting of two times fifteen minutes with a thirty second break in between. While I'm writing new stuff I'm usually tapped out after two rounds but during revisions I manage two. My point: You don't have to write 365 days of the year. Find the amount of consecutive days that you can write and then recover from within a day. It's the most efficient and sustainable way of working.

[@miezepups15]

Forgot: In between writing rounds I take a one hour break. That's always very productive since I can step out of the tunnel vision I get when I'm typing.

[@kaylaortz223]

I high key think you would look great with stretched ears. Loved the video, much love! ❤️

[@StellaDonna88]

Hyping myself up is so real. I've gotten in the habit of writing every day because of NaNoWriMo, COVID, and school. Even then, it's like I do a little dance with myself every time I need to sit down. But once I'm headlong in, it becomes enjoyable, and now I feel it's like an addiction. It hurts to miss more than a coupla days, so at least I have to thank November for that habit.

[@StellaDonna88]

Ah but I also identify with feeling like I'm gaining too much momentum by writing too fast. I don't like to be too busy, and I like to read and write slowly and get it as fine as I can on the first go.

[@brigittegerlach]

The Problem about writing every day for me is that other things Fall of the table like not getting to do household chores or such...

[@arulsimions8705]

It is pleasant to listen to you.....

[@Nemo37K]

I forget who did this and the precise context, so consider this telling apocryphal and invented. It goes something like this. There are two groups of artists - let's say painters - being observed and graded over the course of the day. One group of artists is being graded on quantity: how much can you produce in x amount of time? The other group is graded on quality. By the end of the day, the first group must produce fifty paintings of any quality; the second only has to produce one but it must be of exceptional quality. The day goes on, and the two teams finish making their art. When the art is compared, the first group is found to have made, on the whole, better work. The reasoning being that because they were able to make errors and fail, they found where they faltered and were able to improve on the process. Though it is a truism, it's a valuable one: the more work you produce, the better you will become. As you write more and close the taste gap, you will inevitably see where you fall short, and correct those shortcomings and improve. Long story short: Write a lot, write badly, and then review why you were so bad and do it all over again. You will improve. Glad to hear it worked for you.

[@ChromaticTempest]

I love writing everyday, but it doesn't work for me. I get tired, the creativity begins to get wonky, the story nose dives, and my daily word/page count gets smaller and smaller. I need time to think about the story, what I'm trying to accomplish, accurate characterization, and so on. But, I do like it. There's a driving, purposefulness that makes life easier to endure. Plus, yeah, immersion. There is also the life thing, where it seems everyday is raging a war against story progress. Sometimes I wish I had a bubble to exist in; a nice quiet bubble, with coffee, coffee and a window, coffee and a window and a warm hug. Get on it entrepreneurs--make that bubble!

[@ABFrank.]

"I knew I was going to write dinner," was the best line ever 😄

[@Neds_Severed_Head]

Interesting how closely this matches what I experienced when I tried NaNoWriMo. I got to week 4 before I really started getting bogged down. I ended up having to really fudge a difficult scene and I hated it. In fact, I hated it so much, I stopped writing the book. I've gone back to it a few times, but I can't find any enthusiasm to continue it.

[@bertiepimplebum5633]

I'm still struggling with Show don't Tell. Author Stephen King said, "The road to Hell is paved with adverbs." The book: 'English Grammar For Dummies,' teaches adverbs describe verbs using: How? When? Where? Why? Fiction readers want to be the detective. So, in a fictional story, who states the clues? It's got to be the characters, never the narrator. Is this what Stephen King meant? (UK)

[@ReinhardvonHolst]

I wrote for two hours a day for six months because my GF set a deadline of the 15th of December. But I did it! 32,000 words and we love it. mcotd.uk Enjoy. It's only one of many that I've written. Peace. It's a lot shorter than my usual novels but it proves you can create all day, every day.

[@therealfirelord3359]

When I did NaNoWriMo last year, I had a really similar experience! I think running out of steam at week 4 was partly because of being stuck, but even when I moved to other projects they just weren't as strong as the first 3 weeks. As if I was putting out too much with not enough of a foundation, and needed to inhale more than exhale. (I also read significantly more than usual.) Now I'm curious what happens when someone pushes past week 4. I wonder if it's similar to establishing other exercise routines, like if you really push yourself to go past week 4 maybe there's a revelation in week 5.

[@currangill430]

I write five times a week (Mon-Fri) and I take the weekends off.

[@me-zs7tr]

How about a video specifically on "what works for you"

[@ShaelinWrites]

If you mean one on my personal writing process I have a video on that topic up already!

[@GML890]

Tnx for the info.

[@dominika1348]

U should write everyday always unless you are feeling bad or ill.( I really slow down when I am on my first days of period) It's easier to work longer and get to work if it's ur habit☀️ Sorry Edit

[@ShaelinWrites]

"Write every day unless you are on period" I do not even know what to say to that lmao

[@rev6215]

Eh, found the first one

[@dominika1348]

@@ShaelinWrites My first days of period are bad, belly ache and other things. I meant that. I am girl. Not sexist comment if you thought. Sorry lol weird.

[@dominika1348]

@@rev6215 nope ok

[@ShaelinWrites]

that's fair! the way it read, I thought you meant people shouldn't write on their periods haha and I was like *raises eyebrow* I get why you wouldn't want to personally though!

[@tunathetuba7721]

i did pretty much the same challenge and i didnt even know we had like,, the same parameters lol. i absolutely agree with your points. it was funny to see how similar our experiences were (but my month was definitely more hectic with school and other big family stuff). loved this video a lot shaelin, thanks!!

[@socratessocratilis2846]

I would love to do this but the problem is that I have no ideas to write on. Soni don't start. Any group with Writing Challenges? A bit of a structure to curve us into writers. I'd totally join.

[@lakeshagadson357]

I say if you want write than you should write 📝 as much as you can

[@angieahite2597]

I love your videos!!!!

[@carlottathefriendlyperson7710]

What was your routine like during the challenge? Did you just sit down in the morning and write until satisfied?

[@ShaelinWrites]

I'm not really a morning person, so I'd usually write after work in the evenings. There was no really consistent amount of time I wrote for, just until I felt done with writing for the day pretty much! Sometimes it was a lot, sometimes it was very little.

[@purupuru333]

It's like going to work, you sit down and try to get things done as best as you can. Sometimes you get more done in a day than you expect, sometimes you ruminate too long on one scene and overtune it. Doesn't matter, because you can come in tomorrow and face it again with a refreshed mind. In that sense you build up a lot of momentum, but it can be hard to tear yourself away from work, which is why breaks are important.

[@montecristo1845]

They say it takes twenty-one days to make or break a habit. (Results may vary.)

[@anilogo682]

Do you have any tips for people that make books way too big? I'm writing a book: currently im at 33% and it's already 300 (small) pages. :B

[@mickeyzeckendorf3886]

this is not at all related to the video topic i just gotta say... YOU got me started on first person referral and now I cant stop ma'am this blood is on YOUR HANDS

[@ShaelinWrites]

oops :)

[@prtwriter4660]

No *Its unhealthy* but the #writingcommunity doesn't care 100k a day 🔥 Jokes aside: I'm an overworked writer. I'm advising you to take breaks, to check on your mental health As FlockofCows once stated *"Live isn't a race, just go at your own pace and figure out what works for you. Dont give up"*

[@ninajelovsek8902]

How many of your books have been published so far? Are you waiting for a right book to come along? 📚

[@ShaelinWrites]

I haven't published any books yet, but I'm currently editing a novel to pursue publication with! If you watch my video 'Every Book I've Ever Written' I explain there why I decided not to publish the other books I've written, for the most part just because they were written when I was very young and I ended up outgrowing them.

[@lade18]

What books have u published? I'm curious as I'm going to write a book

[@ShaelinWrites]

I haven't published any novels yet, but I'm planning to start querying my novel later this year and all my published short stories are linked in the description of my videos!

[@DrBell-gi7bf]

3:17 ❤

[@jorienieves3843]

@ShaelinWrites How long were the sessions for?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Depends on the day, I didn't have any goal for how long my sessions were, the point was to just write every day no matter the amount. Some days I wrote for two hours, others ten minutes.

[@rbell643]

4:25 Ain't that the truth

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

All my years of public school - I'd write every day, same in high school, same in university ... I should be Hodor fucking Dostoyevskij by now.

[@katendress6142]

I think the elitism over writing every day (or whatever) really is about insecurity. If someone doesn't feel like a "real" writer then being told that "real" writers write every day or outline or whatever gives them a measurable goalpost to hit. But if other people aren't doing that but are still calling themselves writers, it becomes a threat to their definition of themselves as a writer. It doesn't make it suck any less to have someone insult you because of a difference in process, of course.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

It's quality, Not quantity. I would never read something written by someone who writes every single day. Too bloviating.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I don't think it's fair to judge writers based on the processes they use, everyone works differently. For some people, they get into a flow state when they write every day and are able to produce better work, or they prefer to draft fast and do very detailed editing. My whole point in this video was that there is no wrong way to write a book, everyone has their own methods that work for them, doesn't mean those methods have to work for you.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

@@ShaelinWrites If you write every single day, I doubt the stuff you write will be quality enough to show people.

[@ShaelinWrites]

@@MarshalTennerWinter Well, like mentioned in this video, I don't write every single day, but I just don't want to knock someone else's process. If they know it works for them, I don't think it's up to anyone else to judge. Just as it's important to not enforce that people have to write every day, it's just as important not to enforce that people can't write every day. If it doesn't work for you then don't do it! But if it works for someone else, they should do what they know works for them.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

@@ShaelinWrites TL;DR (see?)

[@jorje0068]

Im an aquarius. If i dont write every day, a new idea will start budding and my baby will die.

[@leonramkirpaul405]

SHAELIN!!!!!