Build momentum

Same time, every day

Momentum comes from not deciding. Write at the time you chose, in the same place if you can, whether you feel like it or not. The first ten minutes are always the worst; they get shorter by day five.

Track words, not mood

At the end of each session, write two numbers somewhere you will see them: words today, words in total. That is all. Mood is a terrible predictor of quality; you will not be able to tell, later, which pages you wrote on good days.

Do not revise

This is the rule that matters most this week. Do not reread yesterday’s pages to fix them. If you must, read only the last paragraph to find your place. Revision is a different job, with a different mind, and it eats drafting time.

If you notice something to fix, leave a note in brackets — [check this date], [this scene needs a reason] — and keep going.

When you fall short

If you miss your target, do not try to catch up the next day with double. Write today’s target. A month of steady days beats a heroic weekend and a week off.

Done when

You have written seven days in a row, tracked the words each day, and revised nothing.