Comments on: Writer guilt and that cursed word count http://sherricornelius.com/2009/07/12/writer-guilt-and-that-cursed-word-count/ Editor, creative writer Tue, 22 May 2012 04:28:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: marta http://sherricornelius.com/2009/07/12/writer-guilt-and-that-cursed-word-count/comment-page-1/#comment-2892 marta Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:48:28 +0000 http://sherricornelius.com/?p=1283#comment-2892 I only count words in November. When I'm editing, I count pages. Word count is useless to me when editing. I try to set a goal before I sit down to work--get through a challenging scene or edit ten pages of typos--and feel half way good if I manage that. (But only ever half way good) I only count words in November. When I’m editing, I count pages. Word count is useless to me when editing. I try to set a goal before I sit down to work–get through a challenging scene or edit ten pages of typos–and feel half way good if I manage that. (But only ever half way good)

]]> By: DarcsFalcon http://sherricornelius.com/2009/07/12/writer-guilt-and-that-cursed-word-count/comment-page-1/#comment-2884 DarcsFalcon Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:12:53 +0000 http://sherricornelius.com/?p=1283#comment-2884 I will absolutely join you in removing word count goals from my consciousness! Seriously, writers often forget, I believe, that dreaming/thinking/mind-wandering aspect of working. How can you quantify "being creative"? You can't, but that's the backbone of being a writer. Perhaps - if you really need to have a goal - set a time one. Say, 2 hours a day. Or 1, or 3 - doesn't matter. You may get 10 words in that time, or 10 pages - doesn't matter. What's important is that you dedicated time to your craft. If you spend it all dreaming up characters or thinking up names or plots or researching places - it's all good. :) I will absolutely join you in removing word count goals from my consciousness!

Seriously, writers often forget, I believe, that dreaming/thinking/mind-wandering aspect of working. How can you quantify “being creative”? You can’t, but that’s the backbone of being a writer.

Perhaps — if you really need to have a goal — set a time one. Say, 2 hours a day. Or 1, or 3 — doesn’t matter. You may get 10 words in that time, or 10 pages — doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you dedicated time to your craft. If you spend it all dreaming up characters or thinking up names or plots or researching places — it’s all good. :)

]]> By: DarcKnyt http://sherricornelius.com/2009/07/12/writer-guilt-and-that-cursed-word-count/comment-page-1/#comment-2876 DarcKnyt Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:31:56 +0000 http://sherricornelius.com/?p=1283#comment-2876 I'll join you! Hell, I'll set the PACE for slow writing! I'm good at that. And those ten-page-a-day-bastards can rot. You know, I think measuring revision is something you shouldn't do as a writer. I know for me I set pretty unreasonable goals and then feel like a failure when I don't hit them. At the same time, I feel like a success just for getting any of it done. So yeah, I'm in with the slow writing thing. Definitely. I’ll join you! Hell, I’ll set the PACE for slow writing! I’m good at that. And those ten-page-a-day-bastards can rot.

You know, I think measuring revision is something you shouldn’t do as a writer. I know for me I set pretty unreasonable goals and then feel like a failure when I don’t hit them. At the same time, I feel like a success just for getting any of it done.

So yeah, I’m in with the slow writing thing. Definitely.

]]>