How much do you really write per day? - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Spooky · 07-27-2005, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrwriter

Writing fiction isn't a 9 to 5 job and daily word quotas are nonsense. Write when you feel inspired and/or have something important to say. Quota and guilt writing will likely generate garbage.

The problem with that is that most people aren't inspired consistently. So if you write when you're inspired -- today, for instance -- and then don't write again for another couple of weeks... I don't see how you're making any real progress. Word quotas aren't for everyone, but they keep me on track. I treat writing as if it is a job, I do it at the same time every day and keep at it until I've reached the bare minimum. I find I'm much more productive and am often producing things that are better than I think they are in the moment.

I am of the opinion that if you don't treat writing like a job it will never become your job. So I guess it all depends on your goals.

Hodge · 07-27-2005, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrwriter

Writing fiction isn't a 9 to 5 job and daily word quotas are nonsense. Write when you feel inspired and/or have something important to say. Quota and guilt writing will likely generate garbage.

Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% technical ability. Not being "inspired" to write is just an excuse to put it off—you won't get better if you don't force yourself to write, and you don't need to be inspired if you already have your ideas and just need to execute them.

demonic_harmonic · 07-27-2005, 12:44 AM

I agree with Hodge on this one...

Daily word things ARE essential to a career.

I don't think JK Rowling says 'Eh. Not feeling inspired this week. Or next week either. I'll wait until I'm inspired.'

Publishers don't listen to that.

Wizard · 07-27-2005, 12:50 AM

Sometimes writing will come easier, and sometimes it will seem harder, but I agree that you definitely try to write even when you don't feel like it. The same goes for any kind of art you'd like to get good at. It's just discipline.

Slightly off-topic, but has anyone ever seen the movie "Throw Mamma From the Train" in which the main character, played by Billy Crystal, is a writer and begins the movie with severe writer's block? It's a great opening . . .

Hilarious movie . . .

mammamaia · 07-27-2005, 08:06 AM

apropos of nothing important, i'm surprised to see most here refer to 'word' quotas and not 'pages'...

as i mentioned above, the been-around-forever standard goal for a professional writer was to turn out 10 pages a day...

so, when did pages get turned into words?... do you think it feels better to credit yourselves with a larger number, or what?

curious reader wants to know...

blankslatejoe · 07-27-2005, 08:32 AM

ah, i use words simply because pages is relative depending on font, printer settings, amount of dialogue, print size, and double or single spacing. Words are a constant despite all those factors.

I'm no pro, but, like i said earlier, i was trying to keep up the nanowrimo pace, which is 2000 words a day.

mammamaia · 07-27-2005, 08:52 AM

since most if not all pros use only 12 pt times new roman or courier, double-spaced, 10 pages a day will always come out to approximately 2,500 words...

imo, pros still count their output by the page and not the word, but it's interesting to see how things get changed around... and maybe the standard HAS switched... i'd like to see a poll taken among full time professionals... i may be counseling my mentees according to archaic norms...

TimK · 07-27-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

apropos of nothing important, i'm surprised to see most here refer to 'word' quotas and not 'pages'...

I actually write always using standard manuscript format. I have a template and stylesheets all set up in my word processor to make it easy. And when I write, I do count how many pages. But I can convert to words on the fly: 4 pages == 1000 words.

-TimK

Kane · 07-27-2005, 11:11 AM

I've read several books and websites that dealt with how much you should strive to write each day. Most of them say 2,000-2500 words a day, 1,000 if you're just getting started. I never really knew what that equaled in pages until coming across a website that broke it down. Then I found out that 12pt Courier, double spaced, is what is considered a page, or rather, 10 words per line, 25 lines per page. Accurately, it is this format that is used, rather than actual words, apparantly based on printing methods or something.

Spooky · 07-27-2005, 08:13 PM

I think its not terribly important whether you are counting pages or words, so long as the writing is getting done. I seem to remember reading that Stephen King also has a daily word quota he meets, so its not in use only by amateurs or wet-eared newbies, as the above post implied.

mammamaia · 07-28-2005, 08:04 AM

i don't see any post implying that, spooky...

in my posts, i did refer to what the standard used to be among professional writers [standard, as in 'followed by most'], but i qualified it by adding that the old rule of thumb may have changed in recent years and i would be open to changing my advice to mentees accordingly, if that was found to be true... and, king may be the king of shock-schlock to some, but he's still not 'most' pros... right?

in a previous post i noted that ANY amount of work turned out is better than none, so the page or word count really doesn't count... just plugging away at whatever pace you can manage, is what matters...

Spooky · 07-28-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

i don't see any post implying that, spooky...

in my posts, i did refer to what the standard used to be among professional writers [standard, as in 'followed by most'], but i qualified it by adding that the old rule of thumb may have changed in recent years and i would be open to changing my advice to mentees accordingly, if that was found to be true... and, king may be the king of shock-schlock to some, but he's still not 'most' pros... right?

in a previous post i noted that ANY amount of work turned out is better than none, so the page or word count really doesn't count... just plugging away at whatever pace you can manage, is what matters...

I would hope that in your mentoring you have more personal experience and expertise to draw upon than the consensus of an internet writing forum.

And, no, I never implied that King was the be all and end all of professional writers, he was simply the first that came to mind.

mammamaia · 07-28-2005, 06:28 PM

Quote:

I would hope that in your mentoring you have more personal experience and expertise to draw upon than the consensus of an internet writing forum.

...huh?... i said i'd like to see a poll taken among 'full time professionals'... i didn't mention the forum... and yes, i do have sufficient personal experience and expertise to draw upon for my mentoring of writers...

Quote:

And, no, I never implied that King was the be all and end all of professional writers, he was simply the first that came to mind.

...i didn't say you implied anything about king... all i did was point out that i had said 'most' and one person [even if it's him] isn't 'most'...

...i'm puzzled as to why you're taking exception to what i have to say, and misquoting or misconstruing it so doggedly... have i offended you personally in some way?... if so, it surely wasn't meant, and i tender my apologies, just in case...

...can we please let this thread go back to its original purpose now?

Hand · 07-28-2005, 11:58 PM

I have deadlines, not quotas.

smcd · 07-29-2005, 02:15 PM

I try and reach 1000 words a day but I'm not all that strict on myself about keeping it. Since this is a hobby first and foremost. As long as I write something each day I'm happy.