Time vs. Word Count

sugarhit said:

Do you prefer to use your writing time to have a certain amount of hours to write or to have written a certain amount of words?

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I have to go by time because my time is limited. I have a couple of hours in the evening I can write, and whatever I get done in that time is what I get done... I can't keep writing for another hour if I didn't meet a word-count goal.

Neither. I tend to think in terms of scenes and chapters--finish Chapter 27 today, or write the scene where the MC visits his mother. If I get through that task and am still raring to go, I'll move onto the next scene, and will complete it unless I get interrupted or stuck on something.

I use word count because it's part of the cumulative goal. I don't pay too much attention to time because it tends to be small increments and my schedule is shifty (two PT jobs, a toddler, etc.).

I have no set time or amount. I just write until I get tired or when I have to attend to something else. It could be as little as 15 minutes or as much as three hours. When I finish a chapter I may quit at that point no matter how long I've been writing. I think that is a natural ending point. On someday's, I may only finish one scene, but that's alright.

If I use time as a goal, my writing time would be spent on the internet, telling myself I had writer's block. I get more work done in less time if my goal is either word count or completion of a chapter or scene.

A thousand words a day when in producing-new-material mode. In practice that is an easy mark for me to hit, and my average day is more like 1500-2500 new words.

Anything more challenging would make the writing feel like work.

I have to go by word count. If I go by time, I find my mind wandering and I spend my time "researching" or re-reading old stuff instead of working.

Once I've hit my daily word count, then I'm free to let myself do other things.

I typically aim for 1000 words a day, but it fluctuates. I usually write at night, anywhere from 8 p.m. to 2 or 3 a.m. I have a ton of free time to write, though, so I praise all of you who are working parents! Really incredible.

I tend to have goals with my writing, but they're not centered on word counts. I tend to think in scenes and chapters, so when I finish one, I feel like I've reached a goal. And sometimes one with a lot of words will fly out, and other times it might take days to get one hashed out, even if it's just a couple thousand words. I have one I've been struggling with for a while that's like pulling teeth.

Focusing on word count makes little sense for me. Until a scene is finished, any words can (and probably will) be written and deleted an re-written over and over again.

Roxxsmom said:

I tend to have goals with my writing, but they're not centered on word counts. I tend to think in scenes and chapters, so when I finish one, I feel like I've reached a goal.

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Me too. On writing days (most days, but not every day, due to life) I set out with the intent to write whatever the next scene is (or group of scenes, if they're short and tied together). Usually that's at least 1200 words, sometimes over 2000, but once that part is done I don't have to write anymore, unless I'm feeling really fired up. The amount of time it takes to write that much varies, though if I can I 'book off' a stretch of at least two hours for writing. If I finish sooner, I do, no worries. I don't count research and planning in "writing time," unless I'm trying to console myself over not having put words down that day for whatever reason.

I work with limited time so the clock is always bearing down on me. Whatever I can manage to get down, I'm happy with. I tried to go by word count at one time, but it's too much pressure and I end up never making it, thereby feeling down about myself. I regret all those wasted hours in my youth, that's for sure!

I make page count goals at the beginning of each day, both for first drafts and editing. I base my goals on how much time I think I'll have to write, knowing about how long it usually takes for me to write or edit a page.

My goals are generally set by word count. I have a number of words I want to hit each day (it's higher on weekends), and use as much time as needed to achieve it. However, this means I don't always get the full goal in a single writing session.

Depends on what I'm working on. If it's a first draft, I usually go by words. When I'm revising or line editing, I find that measuring progress by words can tempt me to rush through it and do a too-superficial edit. So I go by time spent editing, with the caveat that I am not allowed to use the internet for anything-- including "research"-- during editing hours (instead I make notes about things to look up later). If I'm having a hard time sticking to that, I will spend my writing hours in a local coffee shop that doesn't have wi-fi.

I go by word count. However, I'm pantsing a novel outside of my normal genre and I'm going by scenes. My goal is two scenes a day. Sometimes those are short scenes, sometimes they are long. I'm not sweating it because I'm out of my normal realm so I don't want to stress myself. When I'm in genre, I go by word count.

Usually word count or a goal of completing a scene. Of course, I also have writing challenges with writer friends to do "750 in an hour" or what have you. That helps me meet my goal and keeps me from goofing off.

Neither. I usually have an idea in my head that I want to write for that day and I write until the ideas are gone. Sometimes it'll be 600 words sometimes it's be 5k. Sometimes it'll take me fifteen minutes other times it'll be hours.

I work by scenes. It helps me work day to day when I know what I have to accomplish tomorrow.

I just go till I have nothing left. This has translated to as much as 3,000 words in a 6 or 7 hour span, to as little as 0 on a day like today when I have nothing at all.

I don't even think about word counts during writing sessions. I usually take it scene by scene, or just getting to a good stopping point. If it is a good writing day, I just go as long as I can until I run out of gas.

I'm with Axl. I much prefer to concentrate on the quality of the words that come out, rather than the quantity.

caw

blacbird said:

...concentrate on the quality of the words that come out, rather than the quantity.

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I guess someone will say it, so it might as well be me. For some people these two are not mutually exclusive.

I write primarily by time, but I keep track of the # of words written

1,000 words per session, two sessions per day.

Typically takes me ~2-3 hours to write 1k words. Some days I am rocking and I churn out 3-4k+ in a session. Other days I struggle to hit 1k, but I always try to get as close as I can before I stop.