Sometime last month, I fell into one of the most intense creative bursts of my writing life. It came out of nowhere and completely rewired my November and December.
The idea for the story had been playing at the back of my mind for a while, but I was completely buried in work.
As soon as the project ended in early November, the idea came bursting through. I started writing close to 2,000 words a day.
Somewhere in the middle of that momentum, a wild idea dropped into my mind: What if I wrote 70,000 words before the end of the year?
It sounded ridiculous at first. But as my output increased every day, the closer the idea seemed.
Finish the first draft of this before Jan 1? Why not try? After all, when creativity comes knocking, you don’t question it.
So here I am, in the final stretch of the year, attempting the biggest personal challenge I’ve ever taken on as a writer.
What Sparked This Writing Wave
I wish I could say I planned it or followed a brilliant system. But the truth is much simpler.
The story came to the surface and refused to go away until I got it out of me. Ideas that had been simmering suddenly surged forward, and characters started talking louder.
That spark turned into a streak. Once it began, I didn’t want to break it.
Why 70,000 Words?
Why not? It’s a personal challenge. Seventy thousand words isn’t a random number.
It’s the size of a solid novel draft, several short stories, or a huge chunk of a bigger project.
For me, it represents a long-held dream: not just to finish something, but to write with a sense of power, speed, and trust in my own voice.
I also wanted a challenge that would achieve a few things:-
- Keep me accountable.
- Push me beyond my comfort zone.
- Turn momentum into a habit.
- End the year on a note of creative courage.
My Plan for Reaching 70k Words
1. A Daily Word Target
I’ve set a minimum target of 1,000 words a day, but most days I get closer to 2,000 words. And on weekends, I go well beyond those numbers.
2. Writing Rituals That Open the Door
I lean heavily on the rituals that tell my brain, it’s time to write. I share more on my writing rituals here.
3. Protecting My Peak Creative Hours
I write late at night after the day has wound down. Those are the hours when doubt is quieter, and imagination is louder.
Sometimes during the day, something might come to me, and I quickly go to the script and drop it in, but it’s never more than a few hundred words.
4. Giving Myself Permission to Write Imperfectly
This challenge is all about stream of consciousness writing. I’m not editing or going back to play with anything.
I’m just trying to get it all out and leave the editing for the second draft. Some of these words will be revised. Some will be deleted.
5. Motivation Wall
I have a motivational collage on the wall in front of my desk, which includes my writing affirmations, commitments for the rest of the year, and my goals for this script.
Follow My Progress in Real Time
If you’re curious about how it’s going, I’m updating a live word-count progress tracker on my WIP page. It’s title two on the page.
It’s a small visual heartbeat of this challenge, and I’ll be updating every weekend as I inch closer to that 70k goal.
What This Writing Challenge Is Teaching Me
This unexpected writing streak has become more than a numbers game. It’s showing me things I forgot about myself.
- Showing up every day makes the writing muscle stronger, steadier.
- When the story feels alive, I feel alive with it.
- Letting go of perfection opened the floodgates.
An Invitation to You
I’ve realized that the end of the year is a surprisingly powerful time to commit to something bold.
There’s a natural sense of reflection, renewal, and wanting to step into the next chapter with intention.
So here’s my invitation to anyone reading this – set a creative goal for yourself before the year ends.
It doesn’t have to be big. It could be:-
- Write 5,000 words.
- Finish a few chapters.
- Start a story.
- Outline a project.
- Freewrite for 10 minutes every day.
I’ll be sharing updates as I go; the wins, wobbles, unexpected insights, and more. Feel free to chime in within the comments section about your writing challenges.
Wunmi inherited every sarcastic bone in her parents’ bodies and channels the genetic feistiness through her fiction stories. She’s always eating chocolate and plans to never stop laughing while she can. Learn more about Wunmi here…