Word count quotas prevent you from typing pages of empty fluff.

How do you set your quota? If you have a deadline, divide number of words you need by number of days you have to write.

If you are aiming to complete a 75,000 word novel in 3 months then you figure:

3 months X 30 days a month= 90 days.

75,000 words/90 days=833 words a day (say 900 for sake of simplicity.)

So that's your quota. If you plan on taking weekends off, or if there are any days when you know you will be unable to write- subtract those days from your calculation. Even a small quota can make a big difference. A 250 word per day quota averages about 1 page a day. You have a nice sized novel in a year.

Whatever your quota is- stick to it. If you go over your quota- fine, but that doesn't mean you can write less tomorrow, or take day off. Most of your creativity happens when you are away from keyboard. While you're off doing other things your brain, an excellent multitasking device, looks at its list of things to do. If you hold yourself to a steady schedule, your brain will make sure it's prepared.

"I've got that writing assignment coming up," it says to itself. "Lets see, how can I put that scene together?"

By time you sit down to type, hard part's already done. Your brain just pours out text and your time at keyboard is simply dictation. When that happens your pages fly, and writing get less tedious and can actually be fun!

Treat meeting your quota like any other daily chore. You brush your teeth every day, shower every day, and write your quota every day. Think in those terms and you'll finish your novel in no time at all.

(c) Jeff Heisler, 2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Heisler is a freelance writer and editor of Write Away. Read more of Jeff's writing articles at http://www.heislerink.com/writeaway.asp. You may also write to Jeff at jheisler@heislerink.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other tips to help this work:

1) Quit writing while you still know what's next. 2) Once you have a set time and word count- don't change it- ever! 3) If you plot on paper you''re way ahead. All you need to do is review that paper once or twice a day outside your usual writing time. Just let it sink in and your brain will do rest.

Creativity is a human trait for a reason. It is intended to help us find solutions for challanges we face. If you give your brain a challange and stick to it, creativity will come smoother and easier than you ever thought possible.

-Jeff Heisler

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Heisler is a freelance writer and editor of Write Away. Read more of Jeff's writing articles at http://www.heislerink.com/writeaway.asp. You may also write to Jeff at jheisler@heislerink.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------