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Word count is like Dr. Jekyll most days, going about its business, measuring my writing progress. A mild-mannered fellow, the Count seems to be the preferred choice for many, if not most writers. He watches over me as I strive for 2,000 words a day. Most days, Word Count is my friend, offering clear, measurable goals (see graph on the right) and a gentle pat on the back when I reach those goals.
Most days.
There are those days I feel enslaved by Word Count and it transforms from practical comrade to insatiable demanding monster. The words aren’t coming, but Word Count doesn’t care. It hovers over me, demanding the words. I hunch over the keyboard making my fingers dance to Word Count’s diabolical tune, all the while knowing that I do not like what I’ve written, knowing that my bill will come due during revisions.
The struggle, as always, is to fashion a good story while in the thrall of Word Count. I hope to be rid of the day to day shackles of the monster after this draft, instead serving a different master who may measure my progress: Chapter.
But even when I think Word Count has been banished to the shadows, I suspect I will still feel its insidious need slithering in my subconscious, always hungry, always demanding. Though its whip may be still, it will remind me that it will never leave me be.
And, alas, I fear that, despite my misgivings, I will welcome it.
Check out these posts (and comments) for more discussion on word counts:
How Much You Should Write Each Day – From John Scalzi’s Whatever.com archives.
Speedy Writing – Justine Larbalestier examines the merits of generating lots of words in a little bit of time.
Why Word Count Goals Can Be Destructive – K.M. Weiland discusses her issues with word count goals.
I’m visualizing Count Dracula. Great images you’ve got going there. But don’t be afraid. He can’t hurt you. 🙂
I hear you. It was hard to ignore the whole count thing, but in light of Twilight, I did my best to not flog that horse. Truth be told, word count coupled with timed writing has done wonders for my productivity. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Word count is your friend! ^_^ You may not like the exact words that you wrote on some days, but those words will still provide you with a scaffolding from which you can write words you DO like.
You are right. I’m probably guilty of over dramatizing the bad days. Without a 2k a day goal and timed writing, I would still be floundering. I do look forward to revision though, when I get to mix it up a little.
I like to check my word counts from time to time, but I don’t judge how much writing I get done by my word count. Sometimes my word count diminishes, because I’m editing, sometimes it’s low because it’s a really tough scene, but in the end I have usable text.
I also know a lot of people who really use their word counts to help them stay productive. It’s like everything else, each to their own!
I suspect the word count thing is useful for me in the early draft stage when I’m just trying to get the story out. Once honest-to-God revisions begin, I expect tightening story, teasing out themes and editing will drive the process much more than word count. At least I hope so.
Thanks so much for the link! I’m glad you found my article worth reposting!
You’re very welcome. It looks like you’ve got plenty of posts worth reading over there at Wordplay. I particularly enjoyed your most recent one about setting. I love it when the setting behaves almost as another character (so long as it doesn’t steal the show and leave the characters lacking!).
I know what you mean! As a high school student, (Yes I hear the laughing) finding time to write is hard. Instead of daily word count goals I set weekly ones. I’ve discovered that I write on average 8,000-10,000 words a week. By establishing a weekly goal within my range, I have the flexibility to write frantically until 2 AM one day and then write almost nothing else the rest of the week. It’s what works for me.
No one is laughing here. I’m excited for you. I wish I had started writing in earnest back when I was in high school. I’ve seen where others use the weekly goal as a way of not fretting if they don’t get 1000 or 2000 words everyday. I say use whatever works to keep that train rolling!