tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post5408952834737991867..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: Words, words, words...Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-42097928383389208672009-11-17T15:36:46.225-08:002009-11-17T15:36:46.225-08:00You can turn off the page count in Word 2007 for W...You can turn off the page count in Word 2007 for Windows by right-clicking on the lower left corner, where the page count appears. A list should show up where you can select what you do and don't want to display there.<br /><br />(In a previous life, I was a Word Whisperer.)Ann Littlewoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-90633596103691914462009-11-17T13:50:00.723-08:002009-11-17T13:50:00.723-08:00Word count matters, but I like to get that first d...Word count matters, but I like to get that first draft done before worrying about it too much, you can add, you can take away. We are the architects, after all.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4066130428620213742009-11-16T19:04:25.283-08:002009-11-16T19:04:25.283-08:00I go by pages more than word count...but then I ca...I go by pages more than word count...but then I calculate word count every day or two for my word count widget on my blog.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-67729376521056677312009-11-16T16:25:30.328-08:002009-11-16T16:25:30.328-08:00Jemi; I usually wait until the end of the session...Jemi; I usually wait until the end of the session, but I can't seem to stop myself from looking!<br /><br />Journaling Woman; A fellow obsessor; hurrah! I won???? Hurrah again!<br /><br />Joanne; I try not to set daily word count goals. It's a tricky game to play.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-30773770359779218662009-11-16T16:21:34.109-08:002009-11-16T16:21:34.109-08:00I always have a general idea where I am in total w...I always have a general idea where I am in total wordcount, but don't set a word count goal in daily writing. Some days might only produce one or two effective pages, and others countless. I guess it's the nature of the craft.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-1260862172542882902009-11-16T16:21:10.359-08:002009-11-16T16:21:10.359-08:00I obsess over word count. I wish I wouldn't. ...I obsess over word count. I wish I wouldn't. But I do write every day, so I need to give myself that.<br /><br />When you get minute, Elspeth, visit me and comment on which "prize" you would like - oh and email me your address. You won 1st on my giveaway.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-1379012237675108482009-11-16T16:06:44.348-08:002009-11-16T16:06:44.348-08:00My old laptop had an old word-pro program. It didn...My old laptop had an old word-pro program. It didn't do word count so I rarely checked it.<br /><br />New laptop & program. Word count is right there on the main page. Sometimes smiling at me, sometimes laughing, sometimes yelling. But... I'm usually able to ignore it. I generally look at it at the end of the writing session, but that's about it.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-20999822438257533612009-11-16T15:48:05.234-08:002009-11-16T15:48:05.234-08:00Patricia; I do hope your retreat was successful; ...Patricia; I do hope your retreat was successful; I can't imagine being able to write without a closed door.<br /><br />Jill; I like your attitude, each word is one word closer.<br /><br />Jane; Anything is progress isn't it?Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-69261919367018758632009-11-16T15:36:31.716-08:002009-11-16T15:36:31.716-08:00I keep up with the word count but only because I f...I keep up with the word count but only because I find it encouraging that I'm making progress - whether the daily count is high or low.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-90645453659453231632009-11-16T14:53:27.590-08:002009-11-16T14:53:27.590-08:00I am forever looking at word count! I know what t...I am forever looking at word count! I know what the rules of thumb are for length in my genre (mystery) and each word closer to the minimum suggested word count makes me smile a bit more.<br /><br />Cheers, Jill<br />www.jilledmondson.com<br />"Blood and Groom" is now available!Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41965632517839751282009-11-16T14:03:36.791-08:002009-11-16T14:03:36.791-08:00I spent a weekend at a writing retreat and thought...I spent a weekend at a writing retreat and thought a lot about word count, even to the point of documenting how long I wrote and the word count of each session. It was exactly what I needed to convince myself (and also the hubby) that I need to shut the door of my writing room and be free of interruptions for at least two hours per session. I don't track word count that obsessively day to Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-6909680776856082752009-11-16T12:36:22.159-08:002009-11-16T12:36:22.159-08:00Helen; That's exactly my point; it DOES matte...Helen; That's exactly my point; it DOES matter. There has to be so many words, sometimes by a specific date. This is why I have trouble just letting the process fly, I seem to need to know how far along the road I am, even though right now I'm not working on a deadline.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-66023103035453529292009-11-16T12:25:44.443-08:002009-11-16T12:25:44.443-08:00I look at word count because I know how high that ...I look at word count because I know how high that count has to be by the contractual deadline. On the other hand, I am also aware that the number I have at the end of the first draft will go both up and down as I edit it many times.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-79394600602225047262009-11-16T12:19:26.665-08:002009-11-16T12:19:26.665-08:00abouttothunder; Thanks for dropping by! I'd t...abouttothunder; Thanks for dropping by! I'd think if you're happy with your pace then it's the right one for you. I understand about the wall - mine seems to come much earlier.<br /><br />Carolyn; I don't write in Word, I work on a Mac. My program can have the count disappear, but I seem to be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-60052310944900442342009-11-16T12:14:47.558-08:002009-11-16T12:14:47.558-08:00I try not to look at Word's word count in the ...I try not to look at Word's word count in the bottom left corner (any ideas how to turn it off?) but its there telling me where I am at...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-80326125907637218072009-11-16T11:50:22.282-08:002009-11-16T11:50:22.282-08:00When I wrote my first draft, my goal was 1000 word...When I wrote my first draft, my goal was 1000 words per day. Most days I exceeded it handily. Other days life, etc. got in the way. Now that I am working on a total rewrite, my pace is considerably slower so far. I'm not sweating it yet. I'm happy to be writing, and I'm really working on the craft in this go round. Still, I'm hoping that I will find my stride with it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-12330822704241106762009-11-16T11:40:59.721-08:002009-11-16T11:40:59.721-08:00Galen; I swear this laid-back attitude is one of ...Galen; I swear this laid-back attitude is one of the reasons you moved to New Mexico. It's a healthy one to have!<br /><br />Margot; I don't know if I'm giving anything for anyone to think about, a great deal of the times these posts are just what I'M thinking about! I'm going to see if I can take a page from you and just write the story. This will take courage...Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-10941715382406037442009-11-16T11:18:45.886-08:002009-11-16T11:18:45.886-08:00Elspeth - As always, you give us much to think abo...Elspeth - As always, you give us much to think about. I have to admit that I don't worry in the least bit about word count. The first thing I do is write the story. Then, as I go back and edit and so on, I pay a little attention to word count. If I see that it's low, I try to think of which characters need development, or which events I can add to, etc.. I don't let the number of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-28884634261716633272009-11-16T11:06:29.217-08:002009-11-16T11:06:29.217-08:00I pay almost no attention to word counts with exce...I pay almost no attention to word counts with exception of the grand total…as in not to exceed. I used to be in love with 100K as a total making for a good story. That still works, but I now think that might be a bit long. So, I’m aiming for more in the 85k arena. It makes me write tighter and cleaner. But, day-to-day, where am I now??? Never pay much attention to it. I get done what I get joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-54222919941193101872009-11-16T11:02:50.718-08:002009-11-16T11:02:50.718-08:00Alan; Seriously. I believe it.Alan; Seriously. I believe it.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-49941054117454560162009-11-16T11:02:08.117-08:002009-11-16T11:02:08.117-08:00When I'm in writing mode, I set daily word cou...When I'm in writing mode, I set daily word count quotas, and I'll check frequently. When I've hit my number, I've been known to get up from my computer in the middle of a sentence!<br /><br />Seriously.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-6948750538530432532009-11-16T10:56:50.786-08:002009-11-16T10:56:50.786-08:00Crystal; For me, it's negotiating the truce t...Crystal; For me, it's negotiating the truce that's the challenge!<br /><br />Old Silly; I do wish I could write high numbers like yourself. I just don't seem to be able to; your zone must be zonier than mine.<br /><br />Carol; It does seem to be a very individual choice for each writer. I think we seem to work with similar methods.<br /><br />Elizabeth; I'm trying to stay Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-23052865000331132822009-11-16T10:49:36.571-08:002009-11-16T10:49:36.571-08:00I usually just like to have a timed writing goal i...I usually just like to have a timed writing goal instead of a word count writing goal. Or else I give myself a really low word count goal that I know I will meet. <br /><br />I do keep half an eye on the word counter as I go so that I'm not waaaay off at the end of the first draft. I'm frequently 10,000 words off, though.<br /><br />ElizabethElizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-84078836404354874882009-11-16T10:48:50.642-08:002009-11-16T10:48:50.642-08:00From having written a few manuscripts, I know that...From having written a few manuscripts, I know that my first drafts come in somewhere between 75,000-85,000 words. I'm comfortable with that. So I know if I'm not starting to wrap up a few minor subplots by 50,000 words I better kick it in gear. I actually have a word count goal every day I write so I do check that. For me this works, but it doesn't work for every writer. We all have Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8939308730394555652009-11-16T10:38:10.031-08:002009-11-16T10:38:10.031-08:00I don't usually concern myself with word count...I don't usually concern myself with word count until I'm what feels about half way through writing the story. Then I'll check and see how I'm doing, knowing most pubs want at least 60K words to consider it a "novel" not a novella or novellete. I DO, however, usually make it a point to write at least 2K words a day, whether it be in a WIP, or blog posts, articles, The Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.com