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

[agilebrit]

I need to get back into the wordcount-per-day groove, because that works really well for me. Right now I'm just doing a write-five-stories goal, which is fine, but not having the wordcount goal has me staring at the screen and going "uhhh" more often than just opening Write or Die and cranking out the words. I can edit words that suck; I can't edit a blank screen.

Last year, I had a wordcount goal, and attempted two NaNo short-story projects--one of which succeeded wildly and one of which failed by about 10K words, but I still wrote five stories, so I considered it a win. Last year, I completed sixteen stories; this year I've just got a "write a bunch of stories" goal, so we shall see what happens.

[badass_tiger]

I want to try Write or Die, but I panic easily and I'm sure that if I used it, I'd just start flailing around desperately and get as much done as if I hadn't done anything at all D: I've tried some other writing applications too, but I've found that writing in software I'm not used to actually makes my word count per day drop!

[agilebrit]

Well, I'm a big proponent of "Do what works for you." If you ask twenty different writers about their process, you'll get twenty different answers. I'm one of the fortunate ones who works pretty well under pressure--a deadline concentrates my mind wonderfully. But not everyone can (or should!) do that.

I like doing writing sprints too--Jane Espenson does those on Twitter sometimes, and so does NaNoPals. Doing it as a loosely-knit group gives you some fellowship and lets you know you're not in it alone.

[sarillia]

I tried Write or Die but it didn't work for me at all. I work best when I'm in a good mood and not under any pressure. Which may sound strange when combined with what I said before about challenging myself with word goals. The thing is, there are no consequences if I don't meet a goal. I don't beat myself up about it, if necessary I remind myself that it doesn't make me a failure or anything. The only reward when I do make it is the feeling of accomplishment I get from it. So if I don't get that, it's no big deal, but if I do, I really enjoy that feeling and I'm motivated to write some more to meet another goal.