Jeff said a lot of great things the other night (we'll broadcast and also podcast the show very soon), but the one thing I remember is he said: "I believe in velocity." I had asked him how he kept track of The Renegades, a mulitlayered, complex book. Novels, in general, are very messy. So many pages, so many characters, so many things to keep track of.
Jeff said he keeps his chapters in one big file, so if he has to do a search, it's all there, in one file. He also said he wrote five pages a day, 25 pages a week and in six months he has a book-length manuscript, so there isn't enough time to really forget what he wrote.
Such a simple tip and yet invaluable--for me, anyway, who has been known to take, well, years to work on a project.
My new mantra: I believe in velocity.
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6 comments:
So you call him Jeff, do you?
j.
I suppose you'd call F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitz, and Shakespeare, Bill. Well, that's okay in private but not publicly. I think it more appropriate to at least call him, T. Jeff.
j.
and furthermore.....there is no furthermore.
j.
and yet, I feel there should be.
j.
One of the things T. Jeff said that really sticks with me is the "5 pages a day" comment. I've been saying it to myself everyday (stressing myself too). I think it is very important and I agree with your blog!
I share your mantra!
BJK
Yes, 5 pages a day sounds reasonable. No pressure except to make yourself write. Five is just enough--not too little and not too excessive where you tire of your work. I think I will try that approach before the next time I'm up for workshop. Looking forward to hearing the podcast.
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