Comments on: The “Critical Mass” Progress Meter

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:59:22 +0000

Sarah: What a great idea, to use an engagement calendar — maybe even a page-a-day one, with a different photo on each one — by the time you’re done, and flip back through it, it must seem as though you’ve completed a real journey! (As, I guess, you have.)

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:50:35 +0000

Critical mass describes the sensation perfectly.

No dreams, but a sense of the characters hovering around during waking hours. And all I do for word count is write down each time, how many words I completed for that particular writing session. I always use the Sierra Club engagement calendar. The photos are a good counterbalance to all those words. I like seeing the page count build up as the days go by.

By: John

John — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:05:33 +0000

Kate: Dang, looks like you and marta are way ahead of me in the getting-in-touch-with-our-characters sweepstakes. As for publishing, best remember Nietzsche: “What does not kill me, makes me stronger” — if it feels like it’s coming REAL close to killing you, you must be getting REAL strong. :)

marta: Then I remember so-and-so isn’t real. This is actually pretty great. (Er, as long as you’re not actively, y’know, holding conversations with them. Out loud.)

By: marta

marta — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:46:45 +0000

Yes, I’ve dreamed about characters. I’ve even had moments of–I need to tell so-and-so about this. Then I remember so-and-so isn’t real.

Funny you should mention a straightjacket…

By: Kate Lord Brown

Kate Lord Brown — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:21:29 +0000

Hi John – dreams, oh yes, especially in the early stages when the story is taking shape. Critical mass interesting both in terms of completing a work and getting it out there. Wonder if it applies to publishing? Feels like pushing a boulder uphill until you reach the tipping point …

By: John

John — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:43:11 +0000

Eileen: Oh, I didn’t think you were dismissing the numbers I threw out. (Actually, I picked those numbers just to illustrate, y’know, You don’t have to OVERcommit to make this work!

And I’d love to know if you do the 1600 words or, um, got distracted by what might politely be called “current events.” :)

marta: Ever dream about your characters?

I had a feeling you might not fit easily into the daily-wordcount straitjacket… even though on one level it seems tailor-made for a natural obsessor!

By: marta

marta — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:30:33 +0000

I certainly have moments of–this is working and I can see that it is all going to come together. When those moments strike–I have no sure idea.

The only time I track my word count is during NaNo. But I seem incapable of tracking things well or consistently. And words like spreadsheet just fog up my brain. This would explain plenty of my problems.

But if it works run with it and roll with the critical mass. I believe there is such a thing and that I’ve felt it, but a meter would probably break on me.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:47:13 +0000

Critical mass. Fascinating — and it’s the right term I think.

I know that if I do not write every day on a current (novel) project I get frustrated with it and it does not, indeed, attain critical mass.

You have just inspired me to go back to the manuscript I started on Sunday and kick out the next 1600 or so words which will have me at my daily goal. (I don’t have a full time job so 1600 is in no way a dismissal of the afore mentioned 100 or 500)