It's the first Wednesday of the month so it must be time for a post from all the folks in the Insecure Writers Support Group. (IWSG)
What is IWSG? Founder of IWSG and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is
"to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!"
After visiting here, please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.
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Word Count or Scene Count?
I am very aware of my daily word count this month because the first Writer's Chatroom Writer's Challenge has begun! During the entire month of February, Audrey Shaffer and the gang at TWC challenge writers to pen 42,000 words by the end of the month. That's 1500 words a day. It's not a novel writing challenge like Nano, but rather writers can work on all kinds of projects to get their word count. Of course writing stories, novels, poems are at the top of the list, but a writer can also revise pages and count that writing as well. One page of revision equals 100 words. Book reviews and more can be included. Lots of stuff that we writers do every day, but probably don't think about it as actual writing. (No, sorry no grocery lists allowed.) If you're interested in joining it's not too late. Go to the TWC discussion board/forum to find out more.
I never base my productivity on how many words I get down on the page, but rather how many chapters or scenes I have completed. I don't care if it takes me 600 words or 1200 words to complete the picture in my head.
If I dwell on making it to 1500 words, it would drive me crazy. I just write till the story or the scene is told. How about you?
If we don't make the 42000 words by the end of February, I don't think our laptops will lock up or our hair fall will out, but we may appreciate our daily job as writers a little more and flesh out that story idea or work-in-progress. And wow, what a great excuse to eat more chocolate!!
11 comments:
Love the challenge! Do blog comments count?
Hey Joselyn, I think comments are in the grocery list category. Too bad, eh?
I, too, just write until the scene/chapter is done. Sometimes it needs a lot of words to get there, and other times, not so much.
It still never stops me from participating in NaNo every November.
Best of luck to you!
I agree with you about counting productivity by scenes, not word count. I'm especially over the moon if those scenes are good ones.
It makes sense to write the scene in your head, and not worry about word count or #'s. Getting ideas out while they are fresh and full of passion works so much easier that way.
M. J. Joachim
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
We had Carole at the IWSG site last week!
I do well with word count goals. We each have to find what works best for us.
I haven't heard about this challenge!
I work really well with NaNo. The 1700+ word count goal is perfect for me, but only for one month. I'm a slow reviser.
Good luck with your manuscript this month!
M J Fifield--Nano every year is commendable. I have never met the 50000 words, but have contracted 2 books I wrote during the challenge. Write on!
Clee--Over the moon indeed! Love that expression. Thanks for stopping by.
M J Joachim--so glad to have you affirm the scene is the thing, not so much the word count. Appreciate your support (and style).
Karen--some days just sitting down to write can be a challenge, eh?
Alex, And aren't we glad there's more than one method to write a story? Thanks for stopping by.
Julie--I thought 1500 words a day in the TWC Challenge would be more doable than Nano's count. But....Thanks for your good wishes.
Hey J.Q.,
Here it is Friday and I'm still getting around to IWSG people, but that's the only way I can do it and fit all the other stuff in. Thus, my split from the group for awhile, but for now, I'm plugging away a few at a time and working in other writing.
Good to meet you and thanks for coming to my blog! As for word count and such...I'm with you. I write scenes and piece them together. I don't worry about counts so much—even with NaNo. I reached the goal the first year, was swamped with other things the second and never even made daily counts, but I didn't fret.
Writing is a job that should be fun. After all, most of us are driven to write with a passion. Don't let that flame be snuffed by making it a grind.
M.L. Swift, Writer
Hello M L, thanks for stopping in and making an excellent point. Writing should be fun. I think we forget that sometimes. Glad you came even if it is Friday. No time keepers in cyberspace.
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