Do word count goals really work?

Why do authors count their words?

In January I was inspired by this Facebook post to write 500 words a day.

Spoiler alert, it wasn’t easy, but I got the job done.

In the end, I wrote almost double my goal, finishing the month with 29,442 words written. Today’s blog post is going to be a look back at the days and the words, the process and the emotions. Maybe you have thought about a word count goal and are curious to see if it really works. Maybe goal setting has been a struggle for you in the past and you’d like some tips or advice to avoid pitfalls. Whatever the reason I’ve piqued your curiosity, keep reading!

My first take away tip? As prompted by the meme above, set a clear and attainable goal.

To help motivate myself, I kept this simple sticker chart.

As a parent and teacher, I’ve used this system in the past for my children or students’ behavior monitoring and /or potty training. There’s a reason why they work! It’s addicting! At least that’s how I felt. I wanted that little green sticker, or maybe more specifically, I did not want my streak of green stickers to end. (For the record, I did have yellow stickers for word counts that did not meet the word count goal and pink ones for days I skipped writing all together, but I’ll be damned if I was going to actually use them!)

Take Away Tip: Create an accountability system that motivates you.

January 1st, 2020

Notes from my Journal: It felt great to jump back into my manuscript and handwrite all over the typed pages. For some reason I’d been putting off working on this project and I’m glad I had a kick in the butt to get going again.

Take Away Tip: Sometimes the goal itself can be motivating. Set one and START!

January 3rd, 2020

Notes from Journal: I am grateful for ideas that come to me in the space between being asleep and being awake. Today it brought me two ideas, which resulted in two 500+ word chunks of a story. I usually hand write my scenes first, but for some reason typing my draft seemed like less work tonight, and more efficient as well.

Take Away Tip: Be observant not only of the world around you, but to the thoughts inside your head. Also, don’t be afraid to change up your writing routine if you are feeling stuck. Sometimes it will help get you out of a rut.

Sunday, January 5th

Notes from Journal: Matt wanted to watch a movie tonight, but I told him I needed to get my word count done first. I am grateful for the “sticker streak” because without it, I wouldn’t have had the sticktoitiveness to get my words written for the day.

Take Away Tip: Teach others in your life to respect the prioritization you have set for your goals.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Notes from Journal: For about 70% of my life, I am my own boss. People who work for someone else can blame their boss or company policies for having to go into the office or for the hours required to complete a task. When you are your own boss, YOU are the one telling yourself (as well as your family and friends) that “no, it isn’t time to relax or play or that no, you actually can’t a household task/chore in the middle of the work day”. For me, guilt occasionally accompanies those situations because no one is making me, but me. Having this little calendar takes away a bit of that guilt. I can now say, “Sorry guys, I need thirty minutes to make my word count goal.”

Take Away Tip: Mindset it is a huge thing. Make yours work for you, instead of against you.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Notes from Journal: I had thought that today might be my last full day in my writing office before my classes at Western (Technical College… where I am an instructor) started up again, so I wanted to make the most of it. I did three separate writing sprints and am thrilled with my 2,500+ words today!

Take Away Tip: Make the most of the time you have whether big chunks or small. Especially make the most of “open days” where you can make a lot of progress on a project.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Notes from Journal: Today was the first time I really had to be somewhere for work since the end of last semester. It was nice to have a schedule, but between the boys and working out and my meetings and other errands I chose to do because I was downtown for the first time in a month… it didn’t leave a lot of time for writing. Honestly, if it weren’t for my sticker streak, I probably wouldn’t have written. But I did. I sent the boys to play basketball in the basement, sat down and got it done.

Take Away Tip: Don’t let being busy derail you from your goals. It was important when you set the goal. Make it just as important today, each day.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

I subbed (substitute teaching) today. The fourth graders had two recesses, so I dug out my printed pages and added two different scenes. The two fifteen-minute pockets of time were productive.

Take Away Tip: You don’t need hours and hours to get stuff done. You’ll be surprised at how much work can get done when you use your little pockets of time effectively!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Notes from Journal: The writing was work today. To help myself out, I thought about fun parts of the story I hadn’t told yet and let myself ramble about those.

Take Away Tip: On an off-feeling day, think about a fun or easy part of your project and work there. It might get you over your initial hurdle of starting the work and get you into a good flow.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Notes from Journal: I really wanted a hot bath or a nap. I was sore from shoveling earlier in the week but knew with “date night” in my evening plans, I had better get it done before I picked up the kids from their early release day at school. I’m thankful I got the work done when I did, because after three drinks at dinner, I was in no shape to do it once I got home.

Take Away Tip: Don’t put off the work until later in the day. Get it done and then bask in the glow of accomplishment.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

My win for this week is that the work got done. It was challenging at times, but I pushed through. Some days I didn’t even count my words for the day until I typed them up a few days later, but luckily, they always added up to be more than 500!

This week’s word count was 2,500 less than last week’s, but oh well. It’s 3,500 more than if I didn’t have a word count goal and even 1,650 over the 500 words a day goal.

Take Away Tip: Just keep writing!

At this point in the month, or semester, depending on the way you look at it… my journal habits about the writing I was doing fell off. Which doesn’t afford us and in depth look at my process, but that isn’t really all that important. What is important, is that I got the words written. I know because I used my accountability tool, the aforementioned and glorified sticker calendar.

I think the overall word count calendar experience can be summed up by this ten second video clip taken in the middle of my son’s basketball tournament. (No, I didn’t know my husband was filming me at the time!)

We had over an hour break between games and rather than be social with my husband and the other players’ parents, I found a spot to sit on my own and write. Several minutes later, an NFL football game started and was shown on a big screen TV in the middle of the school cafeteria. My writing spot was flooded with kids who took up chanting (SKOL!) and cheering as their beloved team came on screen. Instead of giving up on my goal, I put my blinders on (wish I would have had earmuffs!) and kept working. I made my word count goal… and also made my husband laugh. Hey, I’m dedicated, what can I say. Sometimes the world won’t perfectly conspire to help you reach your goals. Sometimes it requires some extra effort on your part. If the goal and dream and project is worth it, then do what needs to be done.

In conclusion, I’m very happy I made this writing goal. I’ll confess that I haven’t written a single word on this manuscript since February started. But you know what? That’s okay too. I had other projects with (albeit, self-imposed) deadlines, and I know, when I head back to my manuscript next week, it will be with fresh eyes and renewed energy for the story. I guess that’s a good take away too.

Take Away Tip: Not all goals need to be forever goals. Seasonal or monthly goals are a good way to avoid burn out and also ensure that you approach your goals with an all-in attitude. Because it isn’t forever (which feels hard). It’s just for right now, and that you can do.

Happy writing!

Amanda

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