Do you use word count goals?

[serria]

Do you set word goals for yourself - if so, how many words? Do you find word goals distracting, and focus only on getting scenes down? Or do you tend to just write whenever and how much feels natural for you, without thinking about daily goals?

For me, I never used to think about word counts or anything until I became really involved in fanfiction for a particular series. A fanfic writer friend would always talk about word goals, whether her goal for the day, or an ultimate goal for a fic. When I started thinking about it, it became a compulsion to check my word count every couple of sentences of paragraphs. Now, I don't do word counts at all, unless I'm checking how long a particular chapter is when I'm done with it.

I know they can be a useful way to push yourself to write, especially during NaNoWriMo (or similar events), but what do you think? Are they helpful for you?

Comments

[sarillia]

I got my real start in writing with NaNoWriMo and that has shaped a lot of my experience since then. Word goals seem to work really well for me.

But even so I go through different moods. Sometimes the words just aren't flowing and I regroup and try to figure out what's holding me back rather than forcing it. Other times it's going well and the word count goals help me push myself and get more done. The sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing another thousand words helps give me the motivation to write another.

Right now I'm coming off one of those stages where I've been doing mostly planning so I'm going to start setting goals for myself again. I'm thinking I'll start with a thousand a day since that's usually easy for me and see how that feels and I'll increase it depending on how that goes.