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The Writing Process

Hello everyone, I hope life is treating you well.  Things are good here in my neck of the woods.  I hired an editor to help get my novel up to par.  No doubt it's going to be a lengthy process, but in the end, I'm sure all my hard work will pay off (gotta remain positive, right?). 

While reviewing my novel I got to thinking about each author's process.  What took me two and a half years to write would have taken Stephen King six months.  I read somewhere that he writes eight hours a day, seven days a week.  I've also heard that authors should draft at least a thousand words a day. 

Well, I have to dispute this.  I don't think there should be a set rule for writing. What works for one person may not work for another. I don't get caught up in the word count. Instead, I try to concentrate on the quality of work I produce in a day. In order for the words to flow, I have to be well rested and ready to write. On the occasions when I didn't feel like working on my MS., but forced myself to do so anyway, it was as if my muse took a sick day and forgot to tell me. The pages of drivel that came out of those times were not worth the effort.

Over the years I've learned to listen to the signals my body sends out. Sometimes I'll write eight hours a day for three weeks straight, producing several pages of prose I'm proud to read. Then, out of the blue, I'll wake up feeling disgusted by the thought of writing another word. There have been times when I've went as long as two weeks without writing, but when I finally returned to it, the words flowed again.  Long and short of it, I've decided that each writer must do what works best for them.  So what if it takes me a little longer to get to the end of the tunnel.  What matters most is that I make it there.

Do any of you throw word count to the wind when writing, or am I in the minority?  What is the force that drives you to complete your work-in-progress?  I'd be interested to know.     Until next time, happy writing. 

Comments

  1. Word count is irrelevant when I'm writing. That's one reason that something like NaNo is not for me. I let the words flow out naturally, which may be 500 one day and 10K the next. There is no right or wrong, just what works for you! :)

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  2. I don't pay too much attention to word count either. I have a set time to write, (when the baby is in school) and whatever I get done, I get done. Some days I revise, some days I edit, some days I write other things, some days I get bogged down in research.

    Like DL said, whatever works for you.

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  3. When it comes to word count, I do and I don't pay attention to it. I have a ballpark estimate in mind, whether I reach it or go over it. In the end, I do my best to keep in the word count of my chosen genre because, well, those are the rules, right?

    ♥ Mary Mary

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  4. I throw word count to the wind, too. I do believe that writing every day makes it SO much easier to write the next day, but there are definitely times when writing on a particular day does more harm than good.

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  5. ...it wasn't until I hired my editor, that true progress on my novel was made. As in your case, the price was steep, but in the end a well made investment.

    As for the word count, I threw those worries out the door and simply wrote the story. Hope this helps!

    El

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  6. D.L., I can relate. Nano has never interested me either. I usually think and mull over the plot as I write. That's why it takes me so long to complete a project. Better to do it right the first time than have to go in and fix a big mess. If I entered Nano that's what I'd produce--a big mess.(:

    Anne, like you, I try to write when the rugrats are in school. I seldom get the opportunity to write in the summer. The kids keep me hopping. Sometimes I edit when my muse had checked out for the day. That way I feel like I've accomplished something.

    Good point, Mary Mary, total word count does matter. However, I try not to pay attention to it while I'm writing my draft. I'd never leave my desk if I did.(:

    Peggy, it's nice to know I'm not alone in my writing struggles. Having to fix bad prose is more difficult than writing on a blank pallet.

    Elliot, thanks for the words of inspiration regarding the editor. I've received a lot of conflicting feedback about hiring one. As a first time novelist I want my novel to be pristine before submitting it to publishers. I figured, even if they reject my MS., I can self publish. Either way the prose has to tight if my name's on the piece.

    In closing, thanks to all of you for stopping by and commenting on my blog. Your feedback has been very helpful.

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  7. When I'm drafting I definitely set myself a minimum weekly word count otherwise I can get too easily distracted or lazy. I don't make it a daily count because some days I'm just more productive than others. Over the course of a week I can make up for any loss.

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  8. I am both happy and surprised to find another writer who feels the exact same way as I do on this topic. Every writing-how-to book that I read, on-line article or snippet from a writers workshop say that you MUST write every day, even if you don't feel like it. The advice I am most accustomed to, is...just get something down, push forward, force yourself to write because that is what writers do- we write.

    I agree that what works for one will not work across the board. I am much like you in that I go in spurts. I will often write 6-10 hours per day for weeks on end, but when I do not feel like writing, when it is just not there for me, no amount of pushing or forcing myself has ever produced anything worthwhile. The times that I have made myself write despite hating to write at that moment have done nothing, but turn me off to writing for a while. If, however I take a break when I know I need one, I find that when I jump back in I do so eagerly and with a hunger to write. I see no reason to force myself to write emotionless, drab content when a few days or even weeks without writing gets my juices pumped up to write with passion when I start back.

    Sorry so long, this is a topic I am very passionate about and am in my opinion in the minority on. It is good to know that others have felt almost resentful when forced to write. I do not feel as guilty now for the times I just don't have it in me to write.

    Great Post. I am a new follower and glad to be here.

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  9. Yes and no. I've done it both ways. For me what works best is to have both a daily word count and time goal. But not to beat myself up if I don't make one or the other or both. I'm getting ready to begin a new project. My goal is 2000 words per day in four hours every day. If I don't put these together, I'm toast. I write like a turtle. I stop to research. I think about things. I have to move ahead. My first drafts are always bad. It doesn't come together for me until about Draft 3 or 4.

    Kudos on hiring your editor. I just finished edits on my manuscript. My editor was awesome. She put her finger right on the heart of the problem. Now it's going back to her tomorrow for a reread. We'll see how I did.

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  10. Lynda, I never considered weekly word counts. T Although it looks good on paper, I could see me falling short. However, it's great that this approach works for you. You gotta go with what you know.(:

    Hi Melissa. Welcome to Aspiring Novelists. I appreciate the following. It's good to know I'm not alone here. Writing is definitely about quality not quantity, IMHO. What matters is that we eventually complete our goals. Granted, it may take us a bit longer, but in the long run, we will be happier for taking our time.

    Carol, glad to know the editor is working out for you. I've received conflicting feedback about my choice to hire one. Some people have told me that agents would rather see my best unedited work, while others have said the opposite. Since this is my first novel, I'd rather have it assessed by a professional before submitting my draft to publishers. If I only get one chance to get it right each time I query, then I want to put my best foot forward. Let me know how it all works out.

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  11. I try not to pay to much attention to my word count. It's all about content for me.

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  12. Hi Jessica and welcome to Aspiring Novelists. I agree, content is very important. If at all possible, I'd rather try to get it right the first time around (haven't done it yet, but still hopeful).

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  13. I don't focus on the numbers, just the words. My writing process is always evolving and every day is different. I'm learning to just go with it.

    Good luck with your edits!

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