How do you measure your progress? Do you use software to track when you've achieved a certain plot point? Or are you a word-count person? Writing goals are specific to the person, though every author I know measures their achievements in some way.
I love a daily word count. A good day for me is close to or just over 1000 words. More than that, I'm in the zone (which is awesome) and less means the words are a bit more of a struggle that day. Sometimes I can hit that 1000 in an hour, other times 2, however, if I'm taking longer to hit that count, I'm seriously distracted or struggling. As much as I sometimes wish I could write more in my writing sessions, I've learned about my own pace and the quality of my work. Here's how:
I've experimented with time:
Very occasionally, I will have a day where no work plagues me and my kids are away at school or their Grandma's. On these days I've told myself I'm going to write all day and push out as many words as I can. I have good intentions, yet cannot focus on my project all day. I write a bit, work on my social media, go for a walk, write some more and by the end of the day tend to end up with 1-2000 words. Not the heaping amount I was hoping for. Since these days are few and far between, I used to beat myself up about a missed opportunity.
On other days, I'm very busy yet know I'll feel better getting some words in so will carve out 30 minutes to an hour and write as fast as I can. Usually, the count ends up being 700-1200 words.
I've reframed the way I look at my productivity:
Despite the word counts being close, I often felt as if I needed to do more. As an indie author, I've learned that to be successful, you have to put out multiple books per year. Now, I'm not disputing this—most successful indies are putting out multiple titles—however, I quickly learned that this amount of pressure is not good for my mental health. I have a full life as a business owner who works full time, has 3 kids in sports, tries to connect with friends, and takes care of my health. At this time, I've determined that multiple books per year is not achievable without burnout. I'm not saying I'll never adapt, but right now, no.
I've asked myself when I feel good about stopping. When I'm in a writing groove, once I hit around 1000 words, my brain sort of slows down. At this point, I've likely created conflict, moved the plot along, and resolved something or created the feeling in the scene I wanted to achieve. It's a perfect stopping point.
I reminded myself why I do this:
I've accepted that quality over quantity is best. In the context of the rest of my life, those word counts that weren't "enough" have become a wonderful respite. I love writing. I love creating worlds and editing to make a draft better, and I love producing a book. I love connecting with others with shared interests. I love readers who enjoy my work. So, even those word counts that don't seem high suddenly matter a whole lot more.
If you're an author trying to hit a certain goal or trying to determine the best goal for you, consider:
If you had more time, are the words you get down as good as when you have limited time?
How sustainable is your writing practice?
When do you naturally feel as if you've done a good job in your writing session?
Are you trying to meet this goal for a love of the craft? Alternatively, are you on a deadline? Either answer is fine, but the amount of pressure involved matters.
Happy writing!
For more writing insights, follow me on Instagram: @cafrayauthor

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