As a general rule, I try not to worry too much about word count. Word count is the kind of thing that fluctuates from work to work and from author and author: both the number itself, and the amount of attention given to that number. I’m not saying that certain people can’t find paying attention to the word count to be motivating, useful, and a workable strategy; but personally, I try to ignore it, and not to set daily word count goals when I’m writing a first draft because:
- it adds unneeded stress to my already anxiety-prone personality
- I feel like I failed if I don’t reach the daily goal, even though that’s ludicrous.
- it pulls attention away from the story and the characters and things that matter, making me focus on the mechanics and numbers instead. To me, that inhibits creativity.
I guess you could say the time I most cared about word count was last year, during NaNoWriMo, just because I was determined to get my 50,000 words and as many more as possible during the month of November. But excluding that, I don’t have a daily goal in mind. I just reap the benefits of writing every day, and as long as I get at least a page down or something close to that, I’m generally happy. If I get only half a page but it’s a really difficult and really important half a page that takes a big weight off my chest because it’s a section I knew would be tough to figure out how to get down, I leave happy. So I guess you could say, I put quality over quantity. And for me, that works, because I’ve written enough at this point that I don’t feel tempted or feel discouraged enough to give up on a project that I know has potential, no matter what kind of problems it’s giving me.
In my case, excluding the NaNoWriMo challenge, I feel like focusing on word count makes me focus too much on the trees, not allowing me to see the forest. Sorry for the cliché, but it’s pretty apt here to describe the situation. While a focus on word count, a la NaNoWriMo, can be a really fantastic way to push through anxieties and fears and doubts that are keeping you from getting any words down, I’m terrified to try to edit my NaNoWriMo novel. Yes, I got it written faster than any novel before. But it’s a huge, horrible, unsightly, eye-tearing, “out damn spot” kind of mess right now. I haven’t dared to pen it since I finished it in December. I will, after I publish “The King’s Sons.” But I’m terrified. I kind of wish I hadn’t rushed so much and taken some time to smooth things out a bit more in the first draft. On the other hand, if I’d done that, I wouldn’t be able to say I wrote two novels in 2012. I guess you can’t have everything!
So, what are your thoughts about this? Do you write with daily word goals? Do you care about “getting words down” during a first draft, or is your focus more on developing the plot, the setting, and the characters?
I kind of obsess over word counts. I don’t set daily goals for myself because I vary so much in how much time I have available on any given day, but I do track my daily totals, word count per chapter, and overall progress in a spreadsheet. It helps me with my pacing and to make sure I’m not writing too much and loading the novel down, and also not writing too little and not adding in enough. I find it easier to fix those problems if I’m aware of them early, rather than after I’ve finished the first draft. I just found myself in a situation where I realized I was being much too spare with my words after analyzing my numbers (I’m such a nerd, I know) but I got it sorted out in just a few days and in a much less painful fashion than it would have been if I’d waited until I was done. And in this case, keeping such a close eye on the numbers led me to create an entire new character that I can already see will be leaving ripples throughout the rest of the trilogy. So in my case, it’s a very good thing!
that’s awesome, Nicole!!! I’m really glad you shared your process and your experience, because it’s so different from mine!
What a great example about how paying attention to word count motivates and helps you. I never ceases to amaze me how different processes can all lead to success. Thanks! And best of look with your writing!
I don’t write with daily word goals (excluding during NaNo), but I do somethings find it handy to have a very small daily goal, like 100 words a day. It’s small, achievable, and is often enough to get me to open my document and type something. I don’t stress out if I miss a day here and there though.
great point! a small, achievable goal like that can definitely motivate a writer to open a daunting doc
I just might have to steal your approach on slow days. Thanks, Rinelle!
I agree with rinellegrey, the goal should be small, but make one
I’ve been being a stickler lately, but only because for me I guess I need it, otherwise I don’t do it. A friend of mine told me once about writing,”you can’t choose when to find your flow, but you can choose to make it more probable.”
oh my gosh, that’s great! I feel that exact same way. I’ve actually written a post about how writing daily is like buying a lottery ticket, hoping you might find your flow. great minds think alike! I think I just might have to adopt Rinelle’s strategy for myself now
Before I did NaNoWriMo last year, I had never worked with a daily word count. Never again! I got so stressed over it that it actually stopped me writing at all. I was constantly checking how many I’d done and panicking that I wouldn’t complete it. I managed 34k in the end. With my current WIP I have a rough idea in my head that I’d like to do at least 1200, but I don’t beat myself up over it. Yesterday I did just over 2K and I was delighted with myself. In fact *checks watch* I ought to get cracking on today’s section! Thanks for a great blog post, nice to know I’m not alone!
you’re definitely not alone! I agree wholeheartedly that if working with a word count goal stresses you, then it’s doing the opposite of what it’s meant to and not worth it
I like to write for a period of time rather than word count. Couple if hours in the eve after work if I get the chance. Minimum half hour. And try to write everyday. When you’re editing like I am you can’t really word count anyway, as you’re cutting and adding bits here and there.
I like to set time as well! At least half an hour a day, most days much more.
and that’s a great point about editing, too. I guess you plan to “edit” a certain number of words or a chapter a day but I don’t work like that. You can’t rush the editing process. Some chapters just need more work than others.
Interesting post
I do worry about my daily word count (or weekly chapter goal as I tend to go back) because I have deadlines written in stone in my publishing contract! You’re right, it doesn’t help creatively, but I do find it good to give me that push sometimes to just sit down and write. Even if it’s one of those days and it’s not going great, I usually look back over my words and am pretty happy with them 
it helps force myself to get over that inner critic x
http://natashangan.com/
ah, nice point, Natasha! deadlines in a publishing contract would change things, for sure. I’m not lucky enough to have one of those
And sometimes that spur to just sit and write is all we need!
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I have a number of measuring sticks but they all boil down to ‘did I get anything meaningful accomplished today’? As long as the answer is ‘yes’ I’m feeling good whether it’s one page or ten.
‘Mechnical’ is a good description. 20,000 words of junk is less valuable then 200 words of greatness.
your outlook sounds very healthy and productive. you’re very right: any day where you accomplish something meaningful is a good day.
Awesome info over again. Thank you!
glad you found it helpful, Sharice!