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Andrew Zav's avatar

In a similar vein, I took author David Kadavy’s 100 words a day challenge. And also found that challenging until I found my rhythm.

They say habits require 66 days of repetition to become more effortless…but everyone is different.

Bottom line, reps is the key 😊

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Tim DeMoss's avatar

hey this was awesome to read - thank you. I love that target number. seems so approachable but also substantial, and also I see how it could get you into a flow state and keep you going past that! thanks for sharing!

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

Ah so glad to hear! Good luck with your writing, I hope this helps!

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Jude (they/them)'s avatar

I need a friend like this!

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Charlee Dyroff's avatar

Ha, love the 'alternate clickbait title' <3

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Kristen L. Berry's avatar

I absolutely love this advice, Nina! And I follow a very similar model myself. Setting a consistent yet attainable goal is so much better for my mental health than creating an overwhelming daily stretch goal that will just make me feel bad about myself!

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

Thank you! I love hearing about how people with full-time jobs squeeze in writing time—for me, the easy 300 word goal is very doable!

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Abra McAndrew's avatar

Love it! Need to find the friend who will do this with me!

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Lauren Bartleson's avatar

If you're looking for an internet stranger/friend, I'd love to try it out with you!

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Abra McAndrew's avatar

Thanks! I will DM you later this week to discuss Lauren!

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

Omg. I love this so much! Good luck to the two of you!

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SMALKI's avatar

I have to try this to get me out of my total rut.

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Kasia Kalinowska's avatar

Writing a manuscript while training for NYC and getting stuck in the project immediately after appears to not be a unique experience (though it happened to me last year rather than ‘22).

Love the easy endurance approach you’ve laid out for word count goals! Might need to steal this as I wade back into the drafting waters…

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

Ah you got this! Marathon training can definitely be all-consuming (it was for me) but I feel like so many of the lessons from running kick in for writing, when you get back to it. You got this, would love to hear what happens!

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Kasia Kalinowska's avatar

100% agree, have found that everything I learned about endurance training has also applied to novel writing, including the necessity of occasional off-seasons and injury recovery (how I’m referring to my winter of burnout/no writing 😭). I’m coming back to it now, but slow and steady volume building is the way!! Thank you for the encouragement!

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

Definitely--I'm in the opposite, I'm a long running burnout off-season but I want to get back into it. We got this!

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Kasia Kalinowska's avatar

Absolutely! The long road is long but we’re ambling down it.

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KLC's avatar

Omg 🥹🥹 the 300 words ritual that changed our lives!

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Nina Michiko Tam's avatar

it did, I am forever changed

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