C25K Day Twenty: Return to Source

Doing Day 20 on Day 22 - so at least we're catching up! Day 21 is also a 'rest' day, so I'm going to be moving swiftly on to Day 22...

All of the elevator pitches:

• C wants to escape the House, but the outside world holds far greater dangers
• C wants her boyfriend back, but he doesn’t remember who she is
• C wants to enjoy school, but she needs to save the world
• A wants to be a London socialite, but she needs to accept her flaws
• They want to open the box, but no one knows how it got there
• She wants to enjoy her twenties, but her period is late
• She wants him to stay at home, but he wants to go out
• She wants to find out who the man is, but doesn’t want to ask him

C25K Day Nineteen: Play With Yourself

Days 16, 17 and 18 were simply ‘write your WIP for 20 minutes’. Though I might not be doing writing every day, I’m pretty sure that when I sit down to write it’s been for at least an hour at a time. So I’m going to call these days complete.

Day 19 was another ‘write your WIP’ for 20 minutes day, but there were some questions attached to the email so I’m going to answer them – but not set myself a timer.

I think that when I really get in the zone, as it were, then I usually find uncomplicated joy in my writing. For example, at the retreat I definitely didn’t want to go home. I definitely didn’t lose steam, even when it was the afternoon sprint.

The true problem is, I don’t know how to recreate this – so much stuff seems to be happening all the time, that I don’t know how to find a way into the zone, particularly often. I think this is also because I don’t really have a space in my current house that is free from distractions. Our only table is in the same room as the TV, there are always other people around talking or playing games. The once that I went upstairs into Pitard’s bedroom, I managed to get some stuff done, but then I was distracted again by the internet.

It used to be that I could write anywhere, at any time. It was like reading a book – I didn’t focus on anything except what I was writing. That definitely can’t be recreated though, because that was when I was at school. I never used to listen in lessons because I would be writing instead. I still got all my work done, but it wasn’t the same level as pressure as there is with adult-life and work, etc. Now there is a lot more demanding my time, so I have to find a way to balance that.

At school, seeing friends was easy, and I did it every day. Now, I have to make time to see them, which takes time away from writing. I think… maybe I didn’t watch as much television, as a kid? Not stuff that I focused on, at least. There are a lot of great shows now, and it’s so easy to get hold of them online. I never had to cook for myself, which I do have to do now. Plus, school was 8-3, whereas work is 9-6. That’s three more hours, with less breaks in between.

Essentially, I need to start using my time better, and making a space for myself where I can focus. If I can do those two things, then writing itself should be easy – and writing is always fun, for me. I think at the moment I haven’t gone back to the book WIP because so many other deadlines are fast approaching, but I really should get back into writing that on the commute, too, because it was breaking ground. I just know I’m going to have to go back to the point where I decided to change track with the plot… that does feel a little bit like going backwards, but I think the stuff I’ve written can still be useful.

C25K Day Fifteen: Characters

Day 14 was another 'rest' day, and am writing Day 15 on Day 22... Not exactly keeping up with writing every day, but I'm sure as hell doing more writing (and more blog posting) than I did all year last year.

I think of characters that capture my attention, or that I admire because of something, unfortunately there aren’t a lot of women. What does that say? About me, or indeed about the writing that is out there? Is it incredibly egotistical of me to say that my favourite female characters are the ones that I’ve created and fleshed out in my head? Either way, let’s do the list:

Loki – for his incredible depth of character. Here is a person who is deeply flawed, broken and strong at the same time. Even if what he does isn’t good, the reasoning ‘makes sense’.

Shuri – a fine example that women can be clever and flexible, can be the ones pulling the strings and doing what needs to be done. I wish I knew as much about technology as she does…

Robin Hood – I mean, characters with archery skills anyway. But also, the idea of social justice and ‘robbing from the rich for the poor’ is an interesting one.

Mrs Maisel – I find her incredibly complex, and she doesn’t always think in a rational way about what she should do. This is frustrating as the watcher, but in terms of analysing her it makes sense, makes her more believable.

JD (from Heathers) – similar to Loki, he is a product of his own upbringing. I definitely fall into the category of ‘woman who seeks to fix broken man’…

Okay, so 2 of 5 were women after all. But I think what this exercise showed most is that I really need to start reading more books…

Agatha stood in the middle of the half-empty tube carriage, her hair in disarray and her white blouse still half-wet from trying to clean off the cake she’d dropped on herself in the office. She clutched the rail beside her, rocking with the movement of the train as she stared off into space. The train began to slow, coming into a station, which made her glance up. While most people were pointedly ignoring her – and each other – some were looking at her. A woman about her age was staring, almost with a sneer; when Aggy caught her eye, the woman quickly glanced away. An older, balding man leered at her chest. Uncomfortable, Aggy shifted to turn her back on him. This didn’t help matters, it alerted another man to her presence. He looked up from his phone, and ogled at her bra through her blouse. Aggy crossed one arm over her chest, trying to cover the wet patch, but still clung on to the rail of the tube with her other hand as the train came to a stop in the station.

C25K Day Thirteen: Show Up!

Writing Day 13 on Day 18, but still, here I am.

Today we are discussing the excuses that I give for not writing. Let's list them, and see if there is a way to change the bad habits:

1. I am too tired
2. I don't have time
3. I have something else to work on
4. I want to relax
5. I have too many things to work on

I think these are probably the top five reasons - I don't really suffer from the 'I have nothing to write' excuse, I have plenty of ideas and when I start writing I end up doing it for a long time, which I guess is a good thing? So, lets break down the excuses:

1. I am too tired

Too tired, why? I believe that most of the time I am getting enough sleep, but I'm just not very good about getting up in the morning. It's the same way that I'll often say I'll go to the gym in the morning, but then the morning comes and I don't get up. The only way for me to actually get up on time is if I know I have no choice - so maybe I have to take the choice away, or not see it as a choice?

I am sometimes 'too tired' in the evening, but I find that if I stay away from the computer this changes. So maybe I should do hand-writing in the evenings, and also stay away from downstairs where there are too many distractions (and then somehow time flies by, and then it's too late to do anything because I should be going to bed). 

Things to change, then:

• Make getting up on time no longer a choice; turn on the light, put on the radio, do the things that make it impossible to go back to sleep. After all, I am getting enough sleep, I just find it difficult to wake up.
• I'm not actually too tired in the evening, I just feel like I am. Don't sit down for too long, if we're only going to watch one episode with dinner then just make it one. Go upstairs, write by hand if you don't want to be on the computer any more.

2. I don't have time. 

Sure, okay, there are things that do get in the way of writing sometimes. For example, work. But I can be writing on the commute to and from work on those days. I can also write during lunchtime. 

Just think: what are my priorities?

Interestingly, I'm okay with exercise being a priority over writing. If I'm going to the gym at lunchtime then that's okay, as long as I write on the commute and write when I get home. 

Things to change:

• Can I get up earlier to do some writing? 
• Commute and lunchtime writing
• If I have a free evening, I should be writing by 8:30pm until it's time to go to bed.
• If I have a free weekend, I should be doing a lot more writing than I currently am...

3. I have something else to work on

I think this is fair enough - I can't be constantly working on my book WIP because that isn't actually the first priority. The first priority is stuff for the Masters, and I need to get that written. It's also things to put on, submissions to theatres and such. So this, at least, is okay - as long as when I am not working on the WIP, I'm actually working on one of these other things.

4. I want to relax

Okay, maybe take one evening a week to relax and spend time with Ry. But if I've already done this by going out with friends or not doing any writing for a while, then there is no excuse. 

I ran out of time... how ironic.

C25K Day Twelve: Change The Angle

Doing Day Twelve also on Day Seventeen - Day Eleven was staring out the window for ten minutes, which I do quite often so I didn't think I needed to write anything down for it.

Can you explore your WIP (work in progress) from three other character's perspectives?

Yes. Sure I can. Really? Let's try it then:

Camera Zero (A):

I want to be a high-powered business orientated social-media-influencing socialite living in London. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at it, and problems - that are completely not my fault - keep getting in my way. I try lots of different ways to make it to the top, eventually do but lose my friends along the way and realise I'm turing into my Dad. This is horrifying, and actually what I need is to accept my own flaws, ignore social media, and find a job where I feel comfortable and where I can be happy, instead of just looking happy.

Camera One (Boyfriend):

I want to live with my girlfriend and have a good, settled job so that one day I can ask her to marry me and we can have a family. She begins to change, transforming into someone that I don't know - and that is completely different from the person I fell in love with. However, I stick by her side because I love her more than anything else in the world, and I know that this is all a front because I can see how truly exhausted she is by keeping up appearances. She never listens to me, but eventually she realises what I've known all along - that she is beautiful the way she is, and all she ever needed to do was accept that.

Camera Two (Boss):

I am secretly in love with A's father, and have been for several years. I thought it would be a good idea to employ A in my agency, because it meant I could see her father more and also because I felt a sense of obligation - plus, she's a sweet girl. The problem is, she's completely incompetent and cannot keep up with the high stakes that come with this powerful life. She's hopeless in every way, but I give her one last chance. She seems to make a change, I think for the better; but she doesn't seem happy. Also, I realise that her father is never going to reciprocate my feelings. So when A quits and says it's not for her, after making several changes for me, I have no choice but to accept her decision and hope I never have anything to do with her or her father again - I've got other things to deal with, and an agency to run.

Camera Three (Father):

I love A, but I think she is a bit hopeless. She is a dreamer, and not a fighter, and she doesn't take her health or fitness seriously. I think I am incredibly healthy and well-rounded as an individual (and what I don't realise is that my toxic masculinity, casual racism and selfish behaviour is actually isolating me from all of my family and friends). A continues to be someone who still believes with me, and she gets given one more chance by her Boss - an old friend, nothing more - to do the right thing. I watch her make some positive changes, growing into someone like me, but for some reason she thinks this is a bad thing and decides to quit the job and find something she 'likes' doing. This makes me think that maybe the way I've lived my life isn't right, and that I was the one who pushed my ex-wife and children away with my behaviour. If my daughter can't stand to have similar traits to me, what does it say about the life I've led? Maybe I should follow her lead and change too - I am proud of her.

C25K Day Ten: Write What You Know

Day Ten, on Day Seventeen.

Write what I know. What do I know, exactly? What have I learnt so far? I feel like this is a difficult one because, while I've had my fair share of life experiences, I'm also quite young. I'm sure my Mum would have a lot more to say when it comes to write what you know than I will do. But anyway, we shall try. I'll start with the surface stuff, and see if that helps me delve any deeper. I might even find a couple of stories in there to tell...

• Grew up in S from the ages of 6 months until 15 years. I'm sure there was a lot I learned while I was out there about the history about S and the area surrounding it, but I can't remember a lot. I think, also, I was very privileged while I was there. I didn't live or hang out with local people - I was only half submerged in the culture, while also being half submerged in Brit culture from my Mum and Dad. One thing I do know, I guess, is about living in a warm climate and going to a lot of countries.

• Moved back to the UK at the age of 15 years. It was hard, hard, hard, and further made me realise my privilege; suddenly high school wasn't teen drama and who-likes-who, and what shall we do on a night out when we can roam the streets of a metropolitan city - no, it was, this person has no Dad, this person lives with a group of foster kids, this person has anorexia and another one actively self harms. God damn, it was awful, and I didn't have a tribe anymore. 

• So I left, didn't I? I didn't want to put myself through it anymore, and my privilege raised its head again and said 'I can pay for you to go to a school in a castle' - and I went... I went because I could and it was the best thing to do for my own mental health. Here I found what I was looking for, the friends that I wanted, the multiculturalism I had been missing. But, and this I think is somewhat crucial, I was happy - which was almost a problem because I went from constantly writing and pouring my heart out onto a page, into not really writing at all. In fact, I kind of coasted... and then I didn't really stop. Until this year, I believe, until 2019 at the age of 24 when I realised I'm not going to be a kid by the end of the year. Mid 20s is not childish, you don't get the perks, and so I need to grow up and use whatever privilege I've got left as a young person before it's gone forever and I disappear into the abyss of everyday life.

• What next, then? Oh yes - University. English, Drama, nights out, meeting Ry (who is still with me, sitting behind me playing on his computer and chatting to his friends as I write this). What did I learn here... that sometimes hard work is necessary, and that University is a bubble that exists outside of real life, and there are young people that decide not to go there. Having a degree will not guarantee you come out the other side with an amazing job, or even a job in the field that you want to be in. That being an artist is hard. That there is such a thing as a quarter-life crisis, and I definitely have had moments of one. Again, I was happy. I didn't write nearly as much as I should have done in the three years that blurred past, a mix of drinking, eating badly, and wasting a lot of time that I'll never get back.... But it wasn't really wasted, because I know better now, and I can do better now. I can do better, and I am making progress.  

• Then it was work... work is hard, but again, it's just about finding that balance. It's about knowing that there are other things that you can do around work - and that work should be the thing that you organise around the stuff you actually want to do, rather than the other way around. I will never let the job that pays the rent take over from the things I really want to do, at least until I'm working in the thing I care about, and writing to put bread on the table in a creative way, fingers flying across the keyboard the way they are doing at the moment. Fifteen minutes was all I was given, but somehow I have managed to express more than I ever thought I could, just by exploring what's happened so far. 'Cause thats the big thing. So far.

C25K Day Nine: Make Friends With Your Writing

Okay, so I might be cheating a bit now - Day Six was just to write for ten minutes, which I've kind of already done over this month. Day Seven was to read for ten minutes, which again, I've already done. Day Eight was to write down the plots of ten of my favourite classic stories - but in a similar way to the fanfic day, I don't want to write the plots of other classic stories. I know what the plots are, I know how to break a plot down. Heck, I've been doing it on my Storyboard now and getting into the swing of it. So instead, we're starting again from Day Nine (writing on Day Seventeen). Sure, so I have 'skipped' three days, but only because I want to get stuck into something I actually care about.

I honestly cannot remember what made me start writing in the first place. The first story I ever wrote was in Grade 2 - Year 3, for the UK school system - and I think this is the age between 7-8. So that means the first story I ever wrote was when I was seven years old. I remember it vividly, it was a picture book about a dog called Patch, who got stuck on a raft down a river and a girl and her friend had to save him. I think they did in the end, I think there was a parachute involved. I'm pretty sure it's in a box somewhere in Mum's house. But the point stands that I was seven years old when I wrote my first story, wrote it down on paper, and from there I never really stopped.

The next story I wrote was from a dream; it was in Grade 3, I remember, because I had to read it out in front of my class. Saying that, now I think about it, it was mortifying because it was about zombies and me and a boy called Eddy that I had a crush on 'saving the day'. God, why did anyone let me read it out loud? But the point was, I told the story and my Mum wrote it down on the computer for me. I took it into school, showed it to my teacher, and he told me I should read it out for the class. So I did. I was between the ages of 8-9 then, and the story wasn't very good, but I just loved to tell them.

I'll be honest, Grade 4 I don't remember if I ever wrote a story in. One thing I do remember of Grade 4 was being a voracious reader, and I think by then I had a reading age of 18 years. That probably really helped for the next thing. Grade 5 is when things really started picking up - Year 6, I think, is it? Between the ages of 10-11. This time it was because we had been asked to write stories for class, which explained natural occurrences the way people of old would have discussed them, and I wrote a story about a magician and a dragon that were fighting in a mountain - and that's what caused volcanoes. I remember receiving praise for the story - and I remember that this was really when I knew that I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be an author, I wanted to write books the way I loved to read them. 

I wanted to tell stories that took me further from my own life, and also reflected it in a way that was fair to me and made sense to me. A lot of the time at that age, I think I wanted to write stories where I would win; where I was the underdog and managed to get the boy's love, or have magic powers, or be the most popular girl in school. All of the above, really. It didn't help that I also had none of these things, and was probably considered one of the weirdest kids in the class, and the grade. I mean, all the better, now. It's made me who I am, and I haven't stopped telling stories - they've just progressed as my mind has widened. I'm just telling different tales, but with the same need to express myself and find meaning in everything. 

C25K Day Six: Fanfic

Again, not writing this on Day 6 - another one done on Day 14. This one is one I'm really stuck on... Haven't written fanfic since the RP'ing days.

The timer has started but I'm really, really struggling with this - I don't particularly want to write fanfic. Not that I have any problem with it as a medium, and it's a great form of expression, but I wrote a ton of fanfic as a kid and now I don't really wish to enhance anyone else's story. I've written the fanfic that I wanted to write - about Robin Hood, about Torak's world, and the endless adventures of characters that didn't exist in Harry Potter. 

What I really want to write, to be honest, are my own stories. The god-knows-how-many different stories that I've come up with over the years, especially now since starting the Masters, that I've not yet had the time to write because I've got so much other stuff to do. So while I want to try and stick to the C25K program, and I want to try and get back on track with it as a scheme, I don't think that writing fanfic is the thing for me.

After all, I have so many different ideas that I need to start following through of my own plans, let alone coming up with an idea for someone else's characters. I couldn't even think of something for Doctor Who, because to be honest I don't want to write ten minutes of something. I want to write FOR Doctor Who, and then be creating plots and twists and turns as I go. 

This C25K is just supposed to be that - an exercise to make people write every day. So far so good, surely, then? I might not have written to their brief every day, but I've been much better at writing every day, at least. Some days sure, I don't get as much as I want done, but I've been much better about it than I was this time last year. Plus, it's got me back on the blog, so I have to give it credit for that. Things I have achieved:

Almost got a full play written.
Sorted out the new plot points for RaOI.
Got the basic plot outline of ATW, with plans to look into that tomorrow night on my storyboard (same way I did RaOI).
Started thinking about things I could write monologues about.
Three short films written, and another one on the way to being written.
Plans to turn those short films into actual productions (whether this is in March or not is yet to be seen, but it would be good to get at least one or two of them done). 

I mean I'm not sure if that's everything, that's just what I'm thinking about off the top of my head, which I have to say is pretty good going for someone who - a year ago - was struggling to even write one thing for a Masters application. 

C25K Day Four: Changes

Okay, so not exactly writing this on Day 4. More like Day 14, got 10 days to catch up on... however, I'm showing up, and that's the thing that matters. 

Physical changes that happen to Esme:

1. Esme's hair could change - it could all fall out, or she could decide to cut it. 
2. Esme quits her job as a programmer
3. Esme buys a house in London (not Brighton)
4. Esme decides to stop being a vegan
5. Esme breaks her arm falling out of the bus

Metaphysical / Emotional changes that happen to Esme:

1. She realises that she might be bisexual, or at least bicurious
2. She has romantic feelings for platonic flatmate Jon
3. Esme realises she is happiest when she is outdoors, not at a computer
4. She doesn't want to be alone her entire life
5. Esme develops a fear of open spaces 

Changes in my own stories:

RaOT - their relationship goes from friendship to romantic, they realise they can trust the adults in the house

ATW  - she cannot continue to live pretending to be someone she's not, she develops self-esteem and pulls out of her father's shadow

RtS - their happy relationships fall apart, they are no longer friends

LWF - she realises that she is okay with dying

C25K Day Three: Fear!

(after writing Day One and Day Two on Day Three, I have finally caught up with myself. 30-minutes of writing, instead of 10-minutes over three days... not so bad)

I don't know what i would say if I could say literally anything - it's a very difficult question. Is it weird that I wasn't ever really scared that people wouldn't like what I write, or wouldn't want to read my stories? Until now that is, until I read the Day Three email and got stuck into my own head a little bit. I don't even know if that's true, or I'm just hungry, because I'm sat on a train to a Writing Retreat and have been up since 7am, and haven't had any breakfast yet. That's almost two hours, and I don't know where I'm going so I don't even know if there will be a coffee shop somewhere, where I can go and get at least a slice of toast.

That wasn't really what I was supposed to talk about in this 'free writing' business, it was supposed to be what would you write about if there were no limits and judgements. But like I said, I think I pretty much write what I would want to write anyway. What else is there? Discussing the fact that vegans can be ridiculous but the world is also fucked and we're all going to die one day because we're not taking better care of the planet? I mean, yes, I could talk about that, but it's something I think about as an every-day life thing, I don't write stories about it. I don't really want to write stories about it because I write stories to escape from everyday life, not bring it closer to home. 

It's a difficult one really, because I definitely found a way to push my views through of some of the more "unpleasant" stuff in one of the characters - but even with him, even with those thoughts, I think I'm a fairly decent person and my thoughts are quite progressive. I (hope I'm not) racist, although I should really check my white privilege more often and I don't really know how to help or do better when it comes to making life easier for ethnic minorities - I'm not in a position of power, so all I can try and do is educate myself and hope that helps. That and being friendly.

I would also consider myself a feminist, not sure what type because I do get a bit tangled in this idea of make up/not make up/ why are you wearing it, is it for you or is it for other people? I think that idea is tangled up in itself anyway, because how do you know you're doing something for yourself or for other people when we've been so conditioned to care what other people think that there is no way of knowing if even if you think it's for "you" and your personal understanding and image of yourself, or if its because it makes you feel "better" and more "accepted" by other people - which also makes you feel good, but you shouldn't have to feel bad if you don't dress or look like that. 

This train is so rattly-shaky and not exactly being driven well, it's making me feel a bit queasy. Again, could that be because I haven't actually had anything to eat? I'm not sure but the driver sure does keep putting the breaks on in a very frustrating manner, it's super jerky and not what I'd expect of a train - on a bus sure, but then I don't try and write free-hand for 10-minutes on a bus precisely for that reason. 

C25K Day Two: One Day At A Time

“I don’t have time for my writing because it’s not important enough for me right now”. Does that feel right? Nope, no it does not.

Day Two, looking at my daily routine to see whether or not I can try and delegate some extra time for writing. 

Mondays: 
Uni, but not until after 2pm. I could be writing on the hour's commute, to and from home. I could be waking up half an hour early to get some writing in. Evenings are usually not great, because by then my mind has been on writing and creative stuff all day - so it's okay to have a break then. Use this as a Netflix or movie evening, or read a book god damn it.

Tuesdays:
Uni, this time starting at 11am. Not much time for writing this day because I also need to get work-writing done (as opposed to creative writing). Again, could be getting up half an hour earlier to get some writing in, and writing on the commute. These are probably the only times that writing can get done, because Tuesdays are exhausting and I know I should allow myself some more down time in the evening, in the way of Netflix/movies/books.

Wednesday:
Work from 9-6. Could be getting up half an hour earlier again? This depends on how late I have gone to bed the night before, it doesn't need to be punishing myself to get up. At work I write all day, just not the stuff that is creative. Therefore it can be like pushing through mud when it comes to the creative stuff. However, there is time: on the commute and over my lunch hour. In the evenings, I think an hour could also be spared for writing (perhaps in a notebook, which is easier for idea-flow, instead of on a screen. This gets rid of the "been on a screen all day" issue).

Thursdays:
Work 9-6, pretty much identical to Wednesday. If I have gone to the gym Wednesday lunchtime, then Thursday lunchtime is the one to write in. This could also work the other way around. Commute-writing and an hour in the evening to scrawl in a notebook are also perfectly manageable.

Fridays:
Usually my writing "day-off", and I think this is okay to have. I will have been writing creatively and for work pretty much non-stop the other four work days, so Fridays I will allow myself to use for self-care and relaxation. There is still some opportunity for writing, on the commute, but no pressure to do it in the evenings.

Saturdays and Sundays:
God knows what happens on these days. Friday evenings are the same - are we staying in London, are we going away somewhere? If I'm on a train, I should be writing. There is no excuse otherwise, especially when it's a five hour journey down to Cornwall. 

C25K Day One: Journey

So the idea of continuously writing blog posts last year didn't really work - as can be seen from the fact that after January there were no more blog posts. But the beauty of the internet means that this blog is still up and running, and that's all the better for me because it means I can come back to it any time and still have it be here, waiting until I want to pick up the pen again (or, more precisely, tap away at keys).

I thought I would use the blog as the main place to store my musings for the C25K Words challenge that I will be striving to complete throughout Feb 2019, which I joined from the Writer's HQ. Day One (which I'm actually writing on Day Three) is called 'Journey'.

The questions I need to answer are: By the end of 2019, what do you want to have produced? How much do you want to write per week, per fortnight, per month? What are you prepared to change to do it?

I better start, because I've only got 7minutes left of the very strict 10-minute deadline. 

By the end of 2019, I ideally would like to have produced:

• Four to six short films
• The first draft of my first feature-length project
• The backbones of my second feature-length project
• The first two episodes of All They Want
• A full, ready-for-editing first draft of Reality

I actually went to a Young Witches night at Treadwell's and learnt some symbol (totem? Can't remember the name) magic while I was there, and have sent the final bullet point out into the world so that it can manifest itself - but I'm acutely aware that if I don't do the work, it won't get done. So far, it's been pretty okay, and I have somehow been making more progress than I did over the last two years... I just need to work out how to fit everything around each other, because I'm aware I'm being quite ambitious.

Ideally, I would like to write about 1000 words a day, spread over the different projects. I know this is entirely do-able because I write at least 2/3000 words every day while I'm at work - it's the equivalent to two pages, half a feature, and it's easier to get to than one would think. You just can't get stuck in your head about it - it's better to let the words spill out and see where they go, then come back later and edit, than it is to just sit there staring at a blank page. 

The real question is what I need to change in order to achieve that goal, because there are so many different bits of writing that I need to do. For starters, I need to make sure I am getting enough sleep. I need to start thinking "I'm doing XXX right now because writing is not as important as this"; I tried it once, it made me increasingly uncomfortable and aware that I often deflect. 

Some days, I probably need to start getting up half an hour earlier.