I’m feeling on the ball this morning.
I’ve gotten a lot done around the house including two big loads of laundry (I’m still putting back the pieces from last weekend!) and cleaning. I also wrote 1,000 words for the book. I was talking to my friend, Rea, on the phone yesterday afternoon, who is also a writer and she gave me the advice of dedicating myself to writing 1,000 words a day. They could be great, they could be crap…but every day I WILL write 1,000 words. That way I feel like I’m accomplishing something and have more to work with.
I need 50,000 words by April 1st so I figure this is as good of a start as any. I’m feeling extra inspired today though so I might write another 1,000 this afternoon! 
I snacked on an orange from Hardy’s tree mid morning and then made this huge salad for lunch—
I used a bunch of spinach, a morningstar farms veggie burger, ~1/4 c black beans, 2 scrambled egg whites, ~1/4 of an avocado, hummus, hot sauce and a few leftover pieces of squash.
It was super filling!
***
Getting more work done this afternoon (plus some exercise thrown in there!) and then heading to a Kendall-Jackson holiday party this evening and then to a friend’s house to watch the finale of Top Chef!
Have a great day!
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like you have a great evening planned
Good goal to write 1,000 words every day. 50,000 is a lot of words (!!) but just a few every day adds up.
Mmmm, this salad looks great. I was just wondering what to have for lunch! Have fun at the party tonight and take lots of pictures for us,
xo K
wow, 50k words is mind boggling, but when you break it down into mini goals, im sure you will do it and it will be great!
i have never thought to put egg whites in a salad… looks yummy!! not that i expect you to tell us, but do you already know the winner of top chef from your new friends?! so excited for the finale!!
1,000 words per day seems like a manageable goal. I should try this for next semester’s round of papers!
1000=~ 2 college admissions essays right? Not too bad. Although in 1 day, every day is impressive. You writer you!!
I think 1000 words/day is a great goal!
Congrats on 1000 words!
Can’t wait for the Top Chef finale!
Congrats on the writing – I think the 1000 word a day limit is a great aim!
ooh and your lunch looks so tasty!
Getting work done on papers feels sooo good. I just handed one of my finals in!
Hi, Jenna:
I’m fairly new to your blog and just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy it! Congratulations on your book deal as well. How exciting!
I’m so jealous you know Kevin too.
My husband and I are devoted Top Chef viewers, and I’m pulling for him to win. Hope he does!
great goal, lady — you’ll rock it, I’m sure!!
Love the avocado addition to the salad!
who do you think is going to win?! I’m hoping Kevin … as I’m sure you may be too!
Awesome goal. I love writing and 1,000 words a day seems very reasonable. Just remember, if you do 2,000 one day you’re ahead! Don’t let it allow you to slack the next day!
Your book is going to be amazing. I just know it!
congrats on writing the first of your book!!!
Jenna, that is a fantastic plan! We accomplish large tasks with so much more ease if we break them up into smaller chunks. I’m so excited for your book; I’m sure it will be very down-to-earth and engaging!
You can do it!! I need to do the same with my screenplay – eeeeek!
good job!!
no top chef spoilers!!! i won’t be able to watch it until tomorrow, probably. soooo excited. (sad that jen didn’t make the finals but definitely rooting for kevin)
Yay, here’s to 1,000 words per day. Good luck.
I just love days when I truly feel productive! Sounds like you have an excellent plan for the book!
GO KEVIN!!! I got all a twitter when I saw he was now following me on Twitter. I didn’t even mean to make that pun. Geez…lame!
I think your 1,000 words a day goal is FANTASTIC! Blog posts don’t count on that word total though
That’s a great writing tip. I had to use a similar one when I was writing my master’s and had the WORST writer’s block–I committed to writing two pages a day and, before I knew it, I was writing five to ten a day. Setting the goal really helped. Also, by looking at it as having “more to work with”, a lot of the pressure will be off your shoulders. Keep up the good work!
Jenna, I just HAVE to know– there are so many mysterious “friend” references– a new boy in your life? Fill us in!!
Sounds like a great goal, good work!!
I love the hot sauce and hummus as dressing! Such a great combo.I also like to add sunflower seeds and cottage cheese to my salads. Sounds weird, but so good!
Hi Jenna!
One book that I have heard is really good at getting the creative juices flowing is called “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. It talks about writing daily “Morning Pages” and I just remembered it because of the 1,000 words goal. I have read parts of it and it is really interesting. Might be worth checking out!
Jamie
I always work better with specific goals, and yours seems very motivating! Go, Jenna, Go!
Beautiful salad
I can’t wait for the Top Chef finale!! To bad I don’t have Bravo and have to wait until it’s on line. Hope you don’t give it away!
Mini goals always make the larger goal seem way more attainable!
Your salad looks delicious. Have fun tonight!
I like that you are dedicating yourself to 1000 words – that is a great idea.
I have never had hot sauce on a salad, but it looks good!
1000 words is a very doable goal. There is a website called nanowrimo.com that has a contest every November to write a 50,000 word novel in a month! *pats my own back* I did 50,030 words in 30 days. You can soooooooo do this. Can’t wait to read it. ~ Serena
Good luck with your writing! You’re right about just chugging along, no matter what the quality of the writing is. It’s the same way with homework for me—if I get a lot of small assignments completed, I feel better than if I had gotten one huge one done.
You go girl, keep on writing. I’m impressed. That’s basically a short essay. Lunch looks fabuloso. Have fun tonight : )
that is a great idea! salad looks yummy!
have fun tonight at the party at watching top chef
jenna
Keep up on the 1,000 words a minute! You will be done in no time! Can’t wait for the book! Glad you are having a productive day! Enjoy the party and relax and watch Top Chef! Rooting for Kevin here too!
I like the thousand words a day idea. Just like anything else, it takes baby steps to get there! You’ll do great!
Good luck with the writing, Jenna! (Now you can “say” a 1,000 words a day *nudge, wink*)
That salad looks gorgeous! So fresh looking it’s practically alive. And a hand picked orange for a snack? Boy do I miss CA….
Making a daily deadline is a great idea. It keeps you focused with an attainable goal every day.
Hey Good luck with the writing! Guess its much easier to set up a goal every day with 1000 words
the salad looks delish, love that avocados
Sounds like a beautiful evening! How lucky are we, chez panisse one night and the KJ christmas party the next? OMG. Honestly. WANT YOUR LIFE.
So happy for you, Jenna! Seriously!
xo
That is great to have that goal everyday…should make it easier and easier to write. Good luck to ya!
Congrats on your 1000 words!! You’ll be done before you know it.
I really like the 1000 words idea. That is a great system. Good luck!
Love how you have hot sauce as salad dressing, its the best isn’t it?! Writing the first draft is the hardest part, so get it out there and there will be plenty of room/time for tweaks!
Love how you have hot sauce as salad dressing, its the best isn’t it?! Writing the first draft is the hardest part, so get it out there and there will be plenty of room/time for tweaks!
Well done on the words! That is awesme! Your salad looks good, had a salad today for lunch but yours looks better. Thinking of trying some Kendall-Jackson wine tonight!!
BOO! I’m so disappointed in the TC finale
I want a recount — Team Kevin!!
1000 words? Psssh, you can totally handle that. Have a great night!
I can’t imagine the feat of writing a book, but if anyone can do it-You can girl! It’ll be flying of shelves, I have no doubt. What do you do when you hit a writers block?
That salad looks great. I had a huge spinach salad today, too. Love spinach.
1,000 words is totally doable for you judging by your True Slant articles that have a very cohesive/consistent flow/organization and an established natural voice. And will give you peace of mind…re the deadline. I wrote (4) 500 words articles yesterday and have been saying for two years I need to outline. I resist that and think by not doing it I ultimately waste a lot of time
I love the idea of working a good amount each day, working towards an attainable goal to help you feel more productive. I usually procrastinate so setting strong goals that way should help you to keep going and get the job done efficiently!
Good job on the 1000 words!
That salad looks great and the photos are really pretty!
Goals are GOOD!! Love your enthusiasm.
That is a great idea. Good luck on your writing today!
Great job on the 1,000 words! Good luck writing!
Wow, a 1,000 words a day! I should take up this strategy with my master’s thesis. I’d probably have to edit about 500 of the words out after I reread it though. Good luck with your book
Top chef was so good! Minus the fact Kevin had a bad day…I definitely cried…haha
1000 words a day seems like a lot, but much smaller than 50 000, good advice your friend gave you!
1000 words a day is a good goal! Sometimes when I need to hit a word count, I keep in mind that I talk about 1000 words in one short convo with a friend, and that what I’m writing is really just like talking to a friend!!
the 1,000 words per day is a really good goal. good luck with getting that much out each day. if i could write 500 words a day, i’d be doing good! but alas, the regular job has me busy, busy, busy.
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