By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I do like to keep track of both where I
am in a story and how much I’m able to accomplish each day. That’s mainly because I deal with
deadlines. I’ve had to feverishly finish
a story before in the 11th hour and
boy, that wasn’t fun (that was also an un-outlined book, so I wasn’t even sure
exactly where I was going with the story.
Thankfully, it somehow ended up fine.)
I like to pay attention to my progress
also because with my genre, there’s a pattern to the events there and I need to
stay on-target or else my pace may be off.
I don’t need a bloated beginning—that’s no fun to read. But I don’t need a bloated ending, either,
with a sleuth going on and on about how
clever she was in figuring out the killer.
I like a second body near the middle of the book to keep readers
guessing, so I also need to know when I’m about halfway done with the
manuscript.
also because with my genre, there’s a pattern to the events there and I need to
stay on-target or else my pace may be off.
I don’t need a bloated beginning—that’s no fun to read. But I don’t need a bloated ending, either,
with a sleuth going on and on about how
clever she was in figuring out the killer.
I like a second body near the middle of the book to keep readers
guessing, so I also need to know when I’m about halfway done with the
manuscript.
But—I know some writers who are messed up
by worrying about their progress while working on the first draft. Tracking their word counts makes them feel
frantic and as if they need to catch up.
So there’s really no need to keep
up with your progress as you’re working on the story if it makes things worse.
by worrying about their progress while working on the first draft. Tracking their word counts makes them feel
frantic and as if they need to catch up.
So there’s really no need to keep
up with your progress as you’re working on the story if it makes things worse.
For those who like to track their
progress on the story, there are different ways of doing so. I think I’ve done all of them. One is word
count—the actual number of words.
I do track this from time to time, to make sure I’m on target for the
75,000 words I’m supposed to shoot for.
progress on the story, there are different ways of doing so. I think I’ve done all of them. One is word
count—the actual number of words.
I do track this from time to time, to make sure I’m on target for the
75,000 words I’m supposed to shoot for.
For me, though, I like tracking my page progress on a day to day basis. When I’ve got a deadline, I’m writing 3.5
pages a day to stay on goal. With my
self-published books, I might give myself a little more leeway…but still around
3 double-spaced 12 pt. font Word pages each day. Usually I don’t write them all
at once—writing half of them in the morning when I wake up and half later in
the morning or after lunch.
pages a day to stay on goal. With my
self-published books, I might give myself a little more leeway…but still around
3 double-spaced 12 pt. font Word pages each day. Usually I don’t write them all
at once—writing half of them in the morning when I wake up and half later in
the morning or after lunch.
I set myself a daily goal, but for others
a weekly goal might work better. If you
have a chaotic schedule, setting a weekly goal can give you a chance to make
your goal by either spreading your goal out each day or having a marathon
writing session all at once to catch up.
a weekly goal might work better. If you
have a chaotic schedule, setting a weekly goal can give you a chance to make
your goal by either spreading your goal out each day or having a marathon
writing session all at once to catch up.
When should
we worry about word counts?
we worry about word counts?
Definitely before we submit a manuscript
to a traditional publisher because there are genre guidelines. Any publisher is
going to be worried about a 170,000 word book from an unpublished author with
no track record. My contracts hold me to
75,000 words for my cozy mysteries. I’m
usually either right under that or right over it.
to a traditional publisher because there are genre guidelines. Any publisher is
going to be worried about a 170,000 word book from an unpublished author with
no track record. My contracts hold me to
75,000 words for my cozy mysteries. I’m
usually either right under that or right over it.
Too short is also a problem, although
sometimes it’s not as much of a problem.
I tend to write really short—Midnight Ink took my 206 page book without
making a mention of plumping it up. I’ve
also written short for Penguin and haven’t heard any feedback on it (although
they did reduce the price of that book by a dollar compared to the others in
the series.)
sometimes it’s not as much of a problem.
I tend to write really short—Midnight Ink took my 206 page book without
making a mention of plumping it up. I’ve
also written short for Penguin and haven’t heard any feedback on it (although
they did reduce the price of that book by a dollar compared to the others in
the series.)
More articles on word count:
Chuck Wendig’s “How to Maximize Your Word Count
and Write More Every Day” (as always, I have to give a warning about the strong language Chuck
uses in his posts…but he does provide excellent advice.)
and Write More Every Day” (as always, I have to give a warning about the strong language Chuck
uses in his posts…but he does provide excellent advice.)
Do you track word count or pages written?
Why or why not?
Why or why not?
Image: Flickr: Tom Raftery
Elizabeth I am editing my first manuscript now and I am trying to meet 85k total. I try to write or edit 1500-3000 words each day. Right now I plan to send out to Beta readers by Sept 1st.
Elizabeth – Length (whether you measure it in words or pages ) really can make a difference in a final product, so I agree it’s something writers need to keep in mind. And as you say, there are certain things that happen in the crime fiction genre, so the writer needs to keep pace with those things. That means thinking about length too. Like you, I think more about page count than I do about word count. Somehow it just helps me more to make sense of how my writing’s coming along. And you’re absolutely right that it helps one keep to a deadline.
I do track word count, I’m still not sure what genre my novel fits into, so not sure what my word count should be, though.
Since I write best under pressure, I usually do it during NaNo or BuNo, so word count works for me. And your total count is close to what I hit. Well, actually the first draft is closer to 70,000 words, and only with revisions do I manage to add enough detail to bring it in between 75-80,000. All three books have fallen in the same range, which tells me I have my pacing down well.
Nice. Thanks.
I find writing is not filled with enough elements of self-abuse and shame. I track failed word count days, too.
Is there any sicker group of people than a room full of writers?
Locked Within was 55,000 words after edits. Very short. Silent Oath is 80,000, which fits with expectations for urban fantasy novels.
But the third book, in it’s first draft, went just over 107,000 words. I’m astonished, and convinced I’ll lose a fair bit in edits.
I like to post my word count as I finish each chapter. I frame chapters as separate snippets of story, like a tv show leading to a commercial break. I’ve found that I like there to be a thematic mid-point to my books. Even if it’s not actually in the middle of the book, having a major revelation or plot event happen either in the middle, or soon after, sets me up for building towards the climax.
Alex–And that’s the nice thing about series writing–you get a sense for natural pace in a book.
Dobson–That’s a really healthy schedule you’re keeping! Yes, you’ll be zipping through it at that pace.
Margot–The times that I haven’t checked in on my word count/page count at all…I’ve written too short. So now I do try to check in fairly regularly.
Paul–It’ll edit down, I’m sure. Even better that someone else will be doing the editing down! Gotta love trad publishing for that reason. :)
Me too. A body in the book’s middle does it for me. Like you mentioned…it doesn’t really have to be *exactly* the middle.
Karen–I think most of us fit within 60,000–90,000 words….yes, it can be tough to pinpoint some genres, can’t it?
jack–Oh no! No, you should start each day fresh with your goal. Don’t ever try to catch up…not unless you’re on a publisher’s deadline (and even then…I think I’d ask for a deadline extension instead of rushing to catch up.I’ve asked for an extension once and they weren’t at all concerned about it.) Catching up is just so dispiriting. Yes, we’re all our own worst enemies.
Definitely!
I try to write a scene per day, if I can. This equates to roughly 2K words, with a variance of 500 words on either side. I have my scenes planned already to meet my total word count based on this estimate. This gives me structure so that I know I’m writing ENOUGH, yet room to add or remove some and still meet length goals. I’ve discovered that since I think in visual scenes anyway (like a movie), writing a scene at a time is much more effective than a specific word count. YMMV. Great post! :)
I do use a word count to make sure I stay on schedule, but I like the idea of writing a scene or certain number of pages a day. Will have to try it out.
For my first novel, BABY GRAND, I diligently kept track of word counts — I wrote 1,000 words EVERY DAY and finished the novel in about seven weeks. I find word counts really help me stay on track, or else there are so many things vying for our attention every day, it’s easy to get distracted.
I keep myself on somewhat of a writing schedule using word count . I strive for 10,000 words per week. It is always so hard for me to stay on track during summer. I still commit to writing every day but it is less stressful for me to do weekly counts instead of daily.
I keep myself on somewhat of a writing schedule using word count . I strive for 10,000 words per week. It is always so hard for me to stay on track during summer. I still commit to writing every day but it is less stressful for me to do weekly counts instead of daily.
I’ve never held myself to a daily word count although I do keep an eye on the total as I enter it into the computer. But that’s the second draft because I write everything by hand first.
I enjoy your whole post.Nice work.Lots of information.
wordcounter