WriteChain application gives gentle nudge, sharp smack to the back of head

This is what I need to write well: momentum. To stay in a story, to keep with a character, to give a little of myself each day so the next day it's habit, it's expected, it's easier to give. Trying to write when I haven't written in days, or even weeks, is awkward at best, agony on the bad days. Trying to add to or edit a story when I've been away from that world for a little while is like jumping into a dance in the middle, forgetting the step before, and unsure of the steps that come next.

Jamie Grove has coined the term "Writing Chain" to describe the act of writing every day and getting better for the practice. He says,

"...I looked deeper and noticed there was a marked improvement in the work itself just after I took up the habit of recording daily word counts for each session. From that point forward, I could see myself pushing harder. I made side comments on certain days when the word count was 'low'. I smacked myself around for a half effort and often went back to write more. I marveled at sessions comprising thousands of words (some of which were actually in the right order). I also noticed that the words appeared to come so much easier.

Bit by bit, I'd forged a chain of writing sessions. I learned that if one wanted to be a writer they had to write just a little more each and every day. I just needed to forge my chain.

In other words, I got better as long as I was working consistently."

And he's created an iPhone application to support the process. WriteChain records your writing sessions day by day and tells you how many "links" you've created, and when you've broken the chain. You can set it to allow skipped days if you know that's what you require, and set daily wordcount goals. It lets you create a situation best for you personally, but the reality is always there: you have to write, so write already.








I usually use Twitter to record my word count and alert me when I'm not writing, but I like this, too. It's aesthetic and fun and unforgiving. You can get it from itunes here, and it's currently free.

If you don't have an iPhone or a Twitter account or any other way to externally map your progress (for a while I put a check-mark on a paper calendar, proving low-tech is just as adequate as anything,) I encourage you to do so. I have a friend who emails me with her daily progress, and vice versa, and that's wonderful: knowing I'm not alone in the daily efforts, having to face up to a lack of a progress report, and knowing I'm not the only one who has the occasional bleak day, and still gets back into it, better late than never. Because every day I write is part of a chain, even if it's just beginning.