Bisky's Twitterling's Scribbles! discussion

Do you think there is ever a time when you can write too much in a day?

A quality over quantity issue.

I don't edit as I go, so everything I write needs editing. Nothing is ever goodd too readf first tiime.

I lose quality while trying to get my ideas down. Honestly, I did that before I read about write now edit later, since I'm dyslexic I knew I'd have to go over it anyway.

But I read a thread about people aiming for 50k a day. Part of me feels, although amazing if you can achieve it, it's too much. Something that could trigger a burn out.

I've said in another thread my record is something like 34k in a day. I can't remember exactly, but that was the first day I'd spent writing after thinking about the story for a month and being unable to write. I could have increased it, but I don't write full time yet. When I'm not unwell, I get in about 5-10k a day.

Today I've been writing for about 4 hours. I'm at 4k but I'm taking a few hours to promote and procrastinate before I dive back in.

But I was wondering, what is your opinion on word counts. Can people write too much? Or too little?

Do you despise write now, edit later? And do you have a goal you stick to everyday, because you don't pressure yourself?

Writing too much?? No such thing!! (I'll write a longer response later lol)

I don't think you can do either! Writing too much can be helpful if you just want to get away (I need one of those days). Writing too little is also possible since school has been consuming my every whim! I need to write, I've been craving it!

On a good day I get about 1-2K down in an hour. Most of that time is spent thinking about the story and what needs to happen next. I probably spend about 15-20 minutes of that time actually typing. My least productive days are when I don't have to do any thinking. Typing feels like boring busywork then, and I do anything and everything to procrastinate on that. I really think any productive writing is good and every author writes differently. The more you write the more you will be able to write. I would only suggest that you do what works for you. I also love the write now edit later philosophy, but I'm starting to think that maybe editing after each chapter might work better for me.

Writing too much seems impossible or at least n envious problem to have. But in my gut I have to agree with you, Bisky, I think fatigue would eventually set in and diminish the quality of the output. I have gone on marathon sessions, but 50k would be an admirable goal for a month, I can't imagine what a basket case I would be at the end of a day like that.

Rusty wrote: "Nope. No such thing. Now, writing too little...Therein lies the danger."

I know the feeling, I haven't had time since the first of February. It is driving me nuts!

Writing too much in any given day isn't a problem, and map props to those who can pop out 50-100K over the course of a weekend. The problem is falling in love with anything written over the time period, which could be a high probability if tied to a sense of accomplishment for having written so much. Anything written, whether it comes in a fast blast or is painstakingly composed over a period of time, must stand up under the scrutiny of editing; if it doesn't work, out it must go.

I'm baaaaaaack! :D

You should totally be proud of that awesome word count! ^^ You could go back later and edit (like you do anyway). I think it's important to just put down the bones first and add the meaty stuff on a second write, or going back right after and adding (thats what i do lol).

I have never met someone that has written 50k a day, and am somewhat skeptical tbh =/ Although I have met someone who wrote in the 30k range before ;p Even that much, i don't think its "too much" bc you can always add more, like I don't think anything is lost per se if someone has the awesomeness to produce that many words in a day.

When school isn't a problem my goal is a chapter a day, and I'm satisfied haha but when I am in school it's a lot harder to do and it's a huge problem -.-' I definitely get depressed and irritated when I don't write. Waaaaaah.

I don't think you can write too much in a day, no. Anything can be edited on later review.

I've had a couple of days where I've written around 9,000 words. In general though, I work full-time and anything over 1,000 words a day is a bit of a result.

I don't think you can write 'too much' but I have noticed that if I write much more than 3,000 words a day, it needs a lot more editing later on than if I work at a steadier pace.

Most people write too much and end up with books full of padding.

I believe one writes too much if the keyboard is covered in blood

Set yourself a minimum target maybe (500-700 words) but never a top limit. If its flowing, don't stop it.

Never never never set yourself word count goals that's all crap set yourself goals to create a brilliant chapter you are making a work of art not a telephone book or a dictionary.

Guess you aren't a fan of 'Everyone works in their own way' lol

Kamil wrote: "I believe one writes too much if the keyboard is covered in blood"
*spews tea* KAMIL!!

Everyone doesn't work in their own way there seems to be a general this is the way its done and nothing else is any good. All I hear from a lot of writers is word count word count word count!!!

This is the first thread I've talked about mine where I've not been asked about it first. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it won't for others. I work a lot more efficently with a word count goal.

Well, to be fair, word count is kind of important in general xp

But Rusty's right! Win-win :D

Most of my first draft stuff is written either longhand or, more recently, on a notes app on my tablet which doesn't have a word count facility. At the end of a writing session I can guesstimate my word count (often pretty accurately, actually, to the nearest 100 words), but it takes off the pressure of feeling I have to produce a specific amount of prose on any given day.

I think that there are as many ways to write as there are writers, and the only way to do it wrong is to not write. I have a modest per-day word count goal, but I don't beat myself up if I don't make it; life happens. If I exceed that goal? Great.

I'm a slow typist, so the story is being written in my head faster than I can get the words down. I may 'only' manage 1.5-4K words a day, but often what winds up on the page needs very little rewriting.

At the end of a story if you've done good work you did it right.

Bisky wrote: "Do you think there is ever a time when you can write too much in a day?

A quality over quantity issue.

I don't edit as I go, so everything I write needs editing. Nothing is ever goodd too readf ..."

Hey Bisky :)


I think it's a good idea to write everyday and to have a set word count but not too big a word count. Maybe something as low as 1000 words or less. That way you will not be too downhearted if you don't reach your daily count. Also you can cheat and write some more on a particular day and do an average count ;)


On the subject of writing too quickly I see so many writers (usually indie authors) producing a new book every other month and that can't be a good thing.


Ally :)

Ally, remember that some indie authors have been writing for many years and have a back catalogue of material as a result. They might be publishing a book every other month, but that doesn't mean they're writing them that quickly.

I published in November 2013, and then again in January 2014, but both books had been languishing on my computer in more or less finished form since at least 2009.

Andrew,



That's a fair point, I guess that's probably the case with a few of them.


Ally :)

a word-count serves the purpose of setting a daily goal to enforce discipline, yet some writers advocate for a daily "hour goal".

50k a day?
Wow...clearly that person doesn't have a traditional 9-5 or school in addition to their writing career. ;-)

These days, I'm lucky to crank out 10k in 3 days with my schedule. I think anywhere between 1500-5000 words a day for working/school peeps is good to work toward, however, there are times when on a deadline, or when inspiration hits, you may do more.

If you're a full-time writer, then of course, your word count may be higher. I don't think there's any set rule. It really depends on the writer, their priorities and schedule and whether they are self-publishing or with a traditional publisher who has a set deadline.

Also...I tend to focus on page count versus word count for the first draft, as it's just much easier to think about writing 3 or 5 pages a day versus 1500-5000 words a day.

@Anthony and @Bisky:

I never say "write this way" or "write that way". Because I agree with Bisky's rule that each person should do what works for them. But I WILL say "personally I do this", because it may be helpful for writers just starting out to get some suggestions. But by and large I completely agree with Anthony that writers worry too much about word count in the big picture. Daily goals to accomplish are one thing, but when it comes to a finished work, write what it should be, what it was meant to be when you saw it in your head. To me, when it's written just the way you wanted it to be written, the word count will sort itself out.

My best advice is to write 350 words a day, which happens insanely fast. In the words of Chuck Wendig, "If you can't write 350 words a day, you don't want to be a writer."

350 seems doable, especially for people with other jobs and kids.

Julie wrote: "My best advice is to write 350 words a day, which happens insanely fast. In the words of Chuck Wendig, "If you can't write 350 words a day, you don't want to be a writer.""

That is very sound advice. And it's just enough to propel you forward when writing is not your full time gig. I try for 1000 - which with kids and another job I can usually get done.

I personally do a word count because it's the easiest way to measure my pace and progress. Sometime I write more, sometimes less but at least it's there to entice me to finish.

Also _ I've tried larger word counts but if it becomes too difficult to meet it works against me and turns me into a depressed sniveling writer caught in a downward spiral of negativity...