What I learned from my 20,000 word challenge

Last week I set myself a challenge of writing 20,000 words in one week. That’s roughly a quarter of a novel. Here are some of the ups and downs of that journey, plus any notes I have learned from doing it.

Why I set myself the challenge

I had already started to write my fourth book and had about 10,000 words down so far. I had spent a lot of time on plot and had separated my novel into four parts. I happened to have a lot of annual leave to take, so I decided to book a week off.

I figured that if I could write 2,500 each morning and then relax for the rest of the day, then it would be a mix of using my time productively and getting a bit of chill out time too.

The challenges I faced

Full of energy and bravado on the second day, I decided to post a photo of my whiteboard and show Facebook and Instagram how I was getting on with my challenge.

This was kind of a mistake.

Once I had put the challenge ‘out there’ in the land of social media, it made me somehow accountable.

Of course I knew that no-one would follow me up on it and ask, ‘oye! Wrote those words yet?’ But I would know.

On the other hand, the whiteboard thing was a good idea. I couldn’t believe the amount of support and lovely comments I was getting each day (to the same bloody picture of the same board with white laminate on it). And it did help to spur me on in the end.

A manic phase

Initially, I felt quite manic. I felt like I had loads of energy and this 2,500 word thing was a doddle. I told myself that come on Rose, I’m sure there’s a hoard of full-time authors out there, writing 2,500 words every day easy-peasy. I had dreams of one day joining the full-time author elite, living in my ivory tower, scribbling out pages and pages of words that tumble down like Rapunzel’s hair. I mean, I know that full-time authors obviously work their socks off, but allow me a fantasy here!

Then things got busy

Not only was I was writing 2,500 words each morning (which takes a couple of hours) but then I was spending the afternoon plotting. I’d be making notes for tomorrow morning’s chapter so that it wouldn’t be such a shock when I hit the blank page at 9am.

After the plotting, I’d catch up on social media and then in the evening, there would be something of a social nature – dinner with a friend, going to see a dance production, going to the cinema.

I began to see how a full-time author could fill their time in rightly and I still love the thought of it. Aside from the worry of ‘when’s the next pay cheque coming in?’ I could quite easily settle into a routine.

Nanowrimo

Through my social media time, I also realised I had timed my 20,000 word challenge nicely with Nanowrimo. All over Twitter, a ton of writers were working on the 50,000 word challenge for the month of November. It felt like a lovely comforting vibe that we were all in this together. (Except of course now, I have bowed out and they are all still writing).

Hitting a slump

Towards the end of my week, when I was around the 15,000 word stage, I hit a bit of slump. I started to think about having to go back to work on Monday. I started to feel like I needed a real, proper, rest. One where I could just lie on the sofa all day and watch unnecessary crap on YouTube and order a massive Dominoes pizza.

But there was the whiteboard. The damn whiteboard staring back at me, whispering that there was just another 2,500 in the morning, and another 2,500 the morning after that, and then I’d be done. I told myself that after this I would take a break for a while. That I’d step away from the manuscript for a good week or so and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

Pressing on

So hey ho! I pressed on, and by jiminy, I did it! I shared my news on Facebook and everyone was delighted for me. I took a lovely stroll around the park and enjoyed the fresh autumnal day. And later I sent all the chapters for my sister, who likes to read them for me and make any proof-reading notes that jump out at her.

Even though I was really pleased at myself for completing the challenge, even though I was glad to get all those words down in one go, would I do it again?

I’m not sure.

Yes, there is a positive in gaining momentum. I did get really into the story and I did feel like I got to know my characters really well.

I am pleased with where this story is going and I am excited about writing in a different genre of psychological thriller instead of chick-lit.

BUT I don’t think it helped my mental health a lot. I would be quite prone to depression and looking back, I’m not sure it was such a good idea to pile so much pressure on myself. I knew at the time that I felt too manic, and I knew that eventually, what goes up, has to come down. I almost buckled myself in, waiting for the downer.

And it came.

After the initial euphoria of reaching my goal, then came the mild irritation. The queue at the shop that was too long. The way that only one staff member was dealing with about 12 of us.

And then the return to work. When you take a week of holiday, all that happens is that when you return, you have one whole week’s worth of work to catch up on. And of course, because of my challenge, my batteries were already low. I had no extra energy to draw upon.