word count Archives - SUSAN TIPPETT BRAITHWAITE

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Maximise Your Writing Time with this NaNoWriMo Canva Template!

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NaNoWriMo is upon us, and every second counts when you’re trying to reach that 50,000-word goal. I know the challenges writers face, wanting to spend their time actually writing. That’s why I’ve created these NaNoWriMo Canva Templates for sharing on Instagram. They’re designed to streamline your social updates and give you back precious writing time.

Disclosure: This post contains links to spreadsheet products in my Etsy shop.

Instantly Crafted Posts for More Writing Time:

Every moment you save on social media design is a moment you can invest in your novel. My templates offer:

Immediate Access: Dive into the templates the moment you purchase them.
Pre-Filled Daily Trackers: All you need to do is add your word count for the day.

Effortless Customisation:

These templates are ready to use and designed for straightforward edits in Canva. Personalise them to match your style without the hassle of creating a design from scratch.

Master NaNoWriMo with this Word Count Tracker Spreadsheet

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Ah, November is on the horizon, and that can only mean one thing to writers. It’s time for another National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). NaNoWriMo is an event where writers from around the world buckle down to write a whopping 50,000 words in just 30 days. But, as any NaNo participant knows, keeping track of your word count and maintaining momentum can be challenging.

The Common Challenge:

Many writers dive into NaNoWriMo with gusto but lack a concrete plan or tracking mechanism. I’ve been guilty of this many times. I know how easy it is to lose track of word counts, fall behind, and lose motivation. I’ve ‘won’ NaNo once. Once.

That once was when I tracked every day’s word counts. I did it by hand on a scrap of paper–the scrap that kept disappearing whenever I needed it! But the act of tracking kept me motivated to get the words in each day. Since that time, I’ve been a tracking convert. I decided that if I was ever going to tackle NaNo again, I wanted a tool that not only tracks your progress but also motivates you to reach those word count milestones.

Introducing the “Onward! November Word Count Tracker”:

Disclosure: This post contains links to spreadsheet products in my Etsy shop.

Word Count Update 21st April

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Super quick update. I decided to try using my wee dictaphone to get my writing done today–to then run through my transcription software. BUT… I can’t dictate without seeing the words on the screen. The story was there, but the writing felt cold and clinical.

The moment I saw the transcribed text (which took forever), I knew I was going to have to ditch the 1,500 words. Firstly because of the writing, and secondly, because the software did a terrible job–garbled gibberish.

In the end, I had to bin those words and make a run at catching up this afternoon. I’m a bit miffed at the lost time, but I’m thrilled with what I managed to get done.

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 120,865 words.

Word Count Update 18th April

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It might be Monday, but this is my Friday in my tapsalteerie (Scots word meaning topsy-turvy) world. I don’t tend to write on the last day of the week, but I’m nearing the end of Act 2B, and the shit is really starting to hit the fan!

Today I added a further 1,682 words! Pretty awesome for a half-day, even if I do say so myself!

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 118,509 words.

[If you want to see some more Scots words in action, check out my Things in Scots: Running the Asset post series.]

Word Count Update 17th April

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😳 Today is my first (and possibly last) +3K-word day ever! I was led to believe there was cake when this happened… Where is it? Gie’s ma cake! 🍰 🤣

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 116,827 words.

Word Count Update 16th April

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2,777 words! I’m knackered, but I’m so happy. The story’s really starting to pick up pace, and it seems to be having a similar effect on my daily output 🤗

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 113,822 words.

Word Count Update 15th April

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Okay, wow. I hadn’t expected to get anywhere close to this number today. (That’s crazy Sunday numbers for me.)

But, I did another wee bit of experimentation today. I split my writing sprints evenly between this morning and this afternoon. And like yesterday, I found myself in flow in the afternoon.

I know I can’t take these numbers for granted, but while it’s working and not too-too taxing physically, I’m going to stay the course–for as long as I can.

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 111,045 words.

Word Count Update 14th April

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Getting started was a bit of a struggle–shiny distraction squirrels live in my phone–but after half an hour on the elliptical, I was ready.

I aimed to hit somewhere between 1,000-and 1,250. But by the end of my morning sprints, I only had 951 words in the bank. So, with the knowledge gained from my writing experiment, I added an afternoon sprint to make up the shortfall, and then some!

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 108,626 words.

Word Count Update 10th April

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Oh, wow! I’ve actually impressed myself with today’s word count, hence the sparkly backdrop. But, it’s not without a mega-ton of pain.

I went beyond what I’m physically capable of doing, and now my hand is screaming for a bucket of ice. Yet, I know if I’d stopped a thousand words earlier, I’d have been so mad at myself. I was on a roll, and the words just kept coming. And there was this whole thing with Adam… but I can’t say because, well, spoilers. Bottom line, the “thing” made me love him more than I already did.

Running the Asset‘s manuscript is now at 107,121 words. And, that’s me away for a wee lie doon!