tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post9003492614125915118..comments2023-11-12T10:26:37.670-05:00Comments on Michael Haynes - Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer: The Seinfeld ChainMichael Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-35866253224211385922012-03-29T23:28:26.700-04:002012-03-29T23:28:26.700-04:00Thanks for your comment and your encouragement!
G...Thanks for your comment and your encouragement!<br /><br />Good to see you around here.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-6842647917725244992012-03-29T13:48:32.944-04:002012-03-29T13:48:32.944-04:00Cara turned me on to this when I first started wip...Cara turned me on to this when I first started wip500 in January. Printed out the 365 boxes and instead of an X I write down the number of words written for the day. (WIP only, planning and blogging don't count) Of course, I also am working at 750words.com so my words count has to stay above 750 to 800 per day for me to feel like it counted there. That makes for an easy wip500.<br /><br />I'm with Cortney though. I had to find a balance, especially with my July deadline looming in the nearer distance and the music and the art, oh, and then the day job that takes most of my time.<br /><br />Sounds like you've been making some good progress though, keep it up man!Arichttp://sirkeystone.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-48529520728832259792011-10-19T18:47:20.627-04:002011-10-19T18:47:20.627-04:00Cortney, thanks for stopping by! I am very glad th...Cortney, thanks for stopping by! I am very glad that you found this post helpful.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-11890640673436348212011-10-19T01:02:45.551-04:002011-10-19T01:02:45.551-04:00What a great post. I am completely in the not-writ...What a great post. I am completely in the not-writing-begets-not-writing phase and I've been like, man, why are things just not flowing? Recently, with the blogging campaign I've been focusing on Twitter and blogging, and my poor writing has suffered! So you are completely right, I need to find a balance for those things! And I love the chain calendar idea. Thanks for sharing!Cortney Pearsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00774060537148628453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-80930484568255707632011-09-22T20:14:15.888-04:002011-09-22T20:14:15.888-04:00Kelworthfiles, thanks for the link. I'll have ...Kelworthfiles, thanks for the link. I'll have to check that out!<br /><br />I appreciate you stopping by. If you haven't seen it yet, I just posted my response to the Campaign's 2nd Challenge.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-62249646224566235652011-09-22T08:27:45.091-04:002011-09-22T08:27:45.091-04:00Hey, I just discovered this post! I've already...Hey, I just discovered this post! I've already been doing the chain thing, except - well, over at www.stringingwords.com , we call them Consistency clubs - Consistent Writers Club for writing every day, Consistent Readers Club, Consistent Editors club, and so on. But they definitely have the element of not wanting to break the streak!<br /><br />And greetings to a fellow Campaigner!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-40375500287230128642011-09-06T19:48:53.312-04:002011-09-06T19:48:53.312-04:00Storyqueen, sorry that it took me so long to get b...Storyqueen, sorry that it took me so long to get back here and reply! I'm glad that you enjoyed the post. I find that I'm guarding my Mulligan like Gollum with his "precious." Even with the water disaster at our house yesterday I still hit my 500 words!Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-43314986851850058262011-09-01T20:22:00.416-04:002011-09-01T20:22:00.416-04:00Love the idea of a Mulligan! I also find that onc...Love the idea of a Mulligan! I also find that once I build up momentum, the writing comes easier.<br /><br />Great post!<br /><br />Shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-41457577797166554122011-09-01T13:16:49.786-04:002011-09-01T13:16:49.786-04:00Angie, thanks for visiting and for your comments! ...Angie, thanks for visiting and for your comments! <br /><br />There's a really good point here that no method is going to work for everyone. I had tried the "schedule a block of time" method in the past and it just didn't work for me. All too often that "appointment" would turn into something that I would put off because something else seemed more urgent. On the other hand, the word count approach doesn't work for you.<br /><br />That's a great thing for writers (heck, everyone!) to keep in mind. Just because someone says "Try this system, it worked for me" that doesn't mean you've failed if it didn't work for you. You might just need a different system.<br /><br />Great comment, Angie, and congratulations on all of your successes!Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-51253161424998261822011-09-01T08:31:39.996-04:002011-09-01T08:31:39.996-04:00You know what? The best thing I ever did was set &...You know what? The best thing I ever did was set "writing hours." When I was unpubbed and not doing this for a living, I couldn't do a big writing session every day, but I spent one pure half hour on the wip. And then three times a week, I gave it three hours. <br /><br />Those were set times, like an appointment I had to keep. It helped me focus on the work and get a lot done, which made me excited to get back to the keyboard. <br /><br />My first and second books (still under the bed) took three years each I just wrote when I felt like it. The third book (also unpublished) took only a year when I had a schedule. <br /><br />Book number four took only six months to write (on a schedule) and that's the book that sold and launched my career. <br /><br />I've revised the schedule now that I'm writing full-time, but it is still one of those "show up and get it done" things. I don't do a certain word count (that totally locks me up), but I do live in the story and with the characters during that writing time. And then I don't feel guilty goofing around on Twitter or playing Sims for hours because I know I've given my time to the wip as well.<br /><br />Anyhow, that's what worked for me. Good luck!Angie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11989961901734174010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-37901063975925621072011-08-31T15:28:27.109-04:002011-08-31T15:28:27.109-04:00@scribblingpencil, Thanks for the comment and cong...@scribblingpencil, Thanks for the comment and congrats on wrapping up Camp NaNo!<br /><br />@Nicole, I've tried the mini-cassette recorder, too. It didn't work for me too well in the past, but might start carrying it again just in case.<br /><br />@MorningAJ, I hear you about having trouble doing the same thing Day Job and at night. I thought I might try doing some technical-related writing myself, but it was too much like "work."<br /><br />@Trisha, my hope is to always balance revision with new composition. That's part of why I set the goal so low. I hit 1000+ words lots of days, but wanted a target that felt like it should be manageable as an everyday thing. We'll see if I still feel it's management when I get into post-NaNo revisions in December. :)Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-72470817669492347232011-08-31T03:18:16.656-04:002011-08-31T03:18:16.656-04:00I'm in revision mode right now, so it's a ...I'm in revision mode right now, so it's a little different. I spent all of June writing, as a 'break' from revisions (and as a part of BuNoWriMo), and that was awesome. But I haven't really got back on the revision wagon properly yet!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-75333088791177919542011-08-31T02:09:11.762-04:002011-08-31T02:09:11.762-04:00Hiya.
I earn my living writing (techical stuff......Hiya.<br /><br />I earn my living writing (techical stuff.... not what I WANT to write) so it's difficult to force myself to start again when I get home. I write when I'm driven to it by the story. Nanwrimo helps though.MorningAJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719744167307369768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-8591162417121894672011-08-30T22:51:20.451-04:002011-08-30T22:51:20.451-04:00"Hi" from a fellow Campaigner! This is s..."Hi" from a fellow Campaigner! This is so true - it's downright tricky to find writing time some days. Lately, I've been walking around with a mini taperecorder to capture thoughts in those few spare moments so that I can write them down later. :) It's a bit sad, but really helpful!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-64347192600832453592011-08-30T21:26:26.600-04:002011-08-30T21:26:26.600-04:00Awesome idea, Michael. I try to do that but somet...Awesome idea, Michael. I try to do that but sometimes the words don't want to come. Right now I'm finishing up Camp NaNo and then there is the two month break before the regular NaNo starts up. If I set myself up for at least 250 words, that's pretty easy to do. Sometimes. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-80447698568513310452011-08-30T21:17:28.218-04:002011-08-30T21:17:28.218-04:00Hanny, I know! Wouldn't it be great if we coul...Hanny, I know! Wouldn't it be great if we could skip all that slow "getting started writing" time?<br /><br />Julie, good to meet you! If the calendar is working for you in one area of life, I would guess there'd be a great chance it would work for you in another area. See you around the campaign!Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-15219508281369466832011-08-30T21:02:00.663-04:002011-08-30T21:02:00.663-04:00Hi Michael! Thanks for coming by my blog, it's...Hi Michael! Thanks for coming by my blog, it's great to meet you and I'm glad we connected through the Campaign! I actually use a calendar like the Seinfeld Chain for exercising, and it has been very motivating for me. I was thinking about trying it for writing, I think I will!<br /><br />Best of luck with your goals!Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-25580345862107436632011-08-30T20:01:12.990-04:002011-08-30T20:01:12.990-04:00I definitely lose momentum if I ever stop. Someti...I definitely lose momentum if I ever stop. Sometimes I just have to sit down and write for an hour, just to do it. Something good usually pops out in the last 5 minutes though, so maybe I should just wait until then, huh?Hannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936315047570120258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-33653588871534798372011-08-30T17:42:41.119-04:002011-08-30T17:42:41.119-04:00Isis, thanks! 2500 words a day sounds awesome! Ver...Isis, thanks! 2500 words a day sounds awesome! Very impressive.<br /><br />Matthew, I'm still working on that balancing act myself.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-34168174376517537312011-08-30T11:26:50.408-04:002011-08-30T11:26:50.408-04:00The worst is when I get so into blogging, I'm ...The worst is when I get so into blogging, I'm not actually writing.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-76240380288581131062011-08-30T10:38:03.613-04:002011-08-30T10:38:03.613-04:00Hi Happy Campaigner (Great picture),
My goal is t...Hi Happy Campaigner (Great picture),<br /><br />My goal is to get into a habit of writing 2500 a day, 17,500 a week while I'm in first draft mode.<br /><br />I'm now a follower on your blog and Twitter. Hope to connect with you in Twitterverse :).Isis Rushdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06773053495985834484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-72071603456463146352011-08-30T08:49:28.339-04:002011-08-30T08:49:28.339-04:00Jes, thanks for coming by my blog. 4000 words a da...Jes, thanks for coming by my blog. 4000 words a day! Wow. I don't think I've hit 4000 on my BEST day. That's really great that you're able to be so productive!Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-7974854022149564442011-08-30T00:56:30.266-04:002011-08-30T00:56:30.266-04:00Taking it upon ourselves to keep interest and keep...Taking it upon ourselves to keep interest and keep the drive, that whol self-discipline thing, is the hardest part I think (perhaps hope???lol); you've accomplished that already by demanding more of yourself!<br /><br />I want to get up to a healthy 4000 words a day, but so far it's more like 6 or 7000 words a day for a week, then nothing, nothing, nothing, then 3 or 4000 words a day, then nothing, lol. Yeeah. I'm a work in progress.<br /><br />Even now, there's a voice in the back of my head shouting "No excuses! Take no prisoners!"Jeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16533424312167293180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-21078083997642869412011-08-29T23:55:21.921-04:002011-08-29T23:55:21.921-04:00Hi, Christine! Thanks for dropping in and leaving ...Hi, Christine! Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment. See you around the campaign.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316520203162903419.post-25079490608205095042011-08-29T23:36:37.052-04:002011-08-29T23:36:37.052-04:00Welcome to the campaign! And yes...I am so much ha...Welcome to the campaign! And yes...I am so much happier and productive when I commit to doing something writing related every day.Christine Fonsecahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986034666903054819noreply@blogger.com