When I did my own NaNoWriMo last month, I realized something: writing 1,666 words a day isn’t sustainable for me. I work a full-time job, and I’m not as fortunate as someone with a flexible schedule or who doesn’t have to work full-time. For people in those situations who wish to write, I truly wish them the best.
I just wanted to prove writing 50k words in 30 days was doable. And I did it, but at a small cost.
I just wanted to prove that writing 50,000 words in 30 days was doable. And I did it—but at a small cost.
With the NaNoWriMo nonprofit and website no longer with us, I felt a personal need to keep the spirit of it alive. I managed to finish a 50,000-word rough draft—a story with a lot of potential. But I had to put some things on hold for those 30 days. Housework got neglected. I have a nonfiction book waiting on me, one my editor has already marked up. Since I’m self-publishing, I let him know I needed a little more time, and he was understanding.
As I pushed through the draft last month, I came to a realization: I probably wouldn’t do a 50k draft in 30 days again. At least not willingly. I had fun—but it’s also a great way to burn out on fiction writing. And that’s not something I want.
So, I decided that when I finished this experiment, I’d try something else.
I came across a few writing communities that offered alternatives to NaNoWriMo-style challenges. Instead of 30 days, they proposed a three-month timeline to reach 50,000 words. That’s about 555 words a day.
I didn’t join any of the websites—some required paid upgrades once you signed up out of curiosity. But I don’t need them to hit that number. I can write 555 words on my own.
Here’s the thing: 555 words a day is more sustainable.
I’ve been doing it every morning this week. For me, 555 words takes about 30 to 40 minutes when I get into the zone. I can manage that before work. It’s small, but it adds up.
That’s my new goal: write 555 words a day.
Waiting around for a “magic hour” to write thousands of words doesn’t happen often. When it does, I take advantage of it. But if I hit my 555 and don’t write any more that day? No guilt. No self-chastising. I met my goal.
… here’s the thing: 555 words a day is more sustainable …
Something I’ve realized: I can finish long-term projects—like a novel draft—more efficiently if I break them into small, manageable chunks instead of waiting for big blocks of time to magically appear. I’ve mentioned this idea in a past blog post, but now I’m actively living into it.
And now that I’m practicing writing in small chunks daily, I’m seeing how well it actually works—for me.
FRIDAY’S FINDINGS
- What Are Supporting Characters? (Mentors, Best Friends, Love Interests, and More)
- 5 Narrative Lessons from Season 3 of The White Lotus
- Building Character
- 5 Tips To Write Faster: Finish Your Book In Record Time
- 8 Setting Examples From Bestselling Fiction
Photo by Sergio Fdez
Andrew M. Friday 
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