Setting small word count goals each day keeps me focused and writing everyday. I tried the NaNoWriMo method multiple times and I’m just not a binge writer. I can handle 500-700 words each morning rather than fretting over 1677 everyday.

One writing podcast recommended Written Kitten as a means to achieving word count. I gave it shot. I’ll try most things once.

For every 100 words I type into their word processor, I get a new picture of a kitten or cat or leopard. I can count off my daily word count goal but number of kittens. Additionally, the small window of words allow me to focus only on that scene. I can’t decide to go back ten pages and fiddle with the language from yesterday’s writing.

I worked for multiple publications while in college and also did some freelance proofreading in my time, so I love to edit and fiddle with sentences. After multiple attempts to write a novel, my love of editing is one of my greatest weaknesses when knocking out a first draft.

Ever onward. I’ve already altered the outline of this current piece, but I keep writing without deleting or moving the previous chapters. I’ll save that for the second draft.