The 80/20 Rule — How to Apply It To Your Writing
The equation doesn’t work the way you think it does
“You should write every day.” “You should set a daily word goal.” “You should do Nanowrimo.”
Lots of shoulds, and often all they do for us is make us feel guilty about the fact that we are not writing! I’ve been in a big procrastination bind recently. I have a novel I’m writing, sure, and am really excited about my new novel that is coming out very soon. But the current manuscript feels like … like I’m wading through mud that’s up past my knees.
Some days, I write one sentence and have to look up three different things. This is called research. It’s not supposed to be holding me back this much, but my need to know what I’m writing about has been suffocating.
I guess it would be easier if I wasn’t writing crime fiction. Everyone who reads crime and mystery novels usually also watches shows like CSI and Law and Order, and all those other series that show the nitty-gritty of solving crimes. In short, everyone thinks they know everything now. It’s even a problem with jury trials! The jurors expect the evidence to be presented like it is on TV — and in crime novels.
My problem? I felt like this level of research was holding me back. Bogging me down.
