How many words can you write in one go?

My friends, this is bothering me. What is a good word count for a day of writing? Do you sit down with a lot of ideas, put down a few hundred high-quality words, and walk away? Or, stare at the blinking line, and try to write a lot of words with the attitude that it will come out in the edit?

I ask because I have stories that just leak from me as 2,000 easy words or stories (the same number of words) that are worse than pulling teeth.

Do you have any tips to pass on? I love writing but the best ideas seem to take the longest, the most editing, and are mentally difficult.

A question I often ask myself. For me, that Latin saying, make haste, slowly applies to my writing. I spent yesterday writing about 1000 words for the opening of a story for the BDSM competition. Only 300 remain which shows that most of the time was editing. And I have to do that to be in the right frame of mind to write the next scene. If I speed write I’ll only end up with the plot I have in mind but not the language dexterity I want. Often that’s about finding the right word … I had a bland sentence about the dad in my last story that I stared at for ages until the word sourpuss occurred to me, which brought the sentence alive and allowed me to happily move on. Like you, the best ideas seem to take the longest, the most editing, and are mentally difficult. But that’s the most rewarding writing, quality trumps quantity for me.

I've written 1000-1500 words in sessions already- probably more. I don't focus on editing when doing the initial draft as that would take away from getting the story down in my opinion. The editing, I make sure to make separate from the drafting process.

I go with the advice of many writing channels on YouTube which is the above stated. That said, if you find drafting and editing simultaneously works for you, I'm not in a position to tell you how to manage your business.

Quote by CarltonStJames
if you find drafting and editing simultaneously works for you, I'm not in a position to tell you how to manage your business.

That's my process for better or worse. It's not a great way to get writing done, and I find that the critical mind can often interrupt the creative mind, sinking a story before it gets started. I know this on an intellectual level, but I still I find I'm not able to let myself go on to the next paragraph until the previous one is in pretty good shape.

However, Annie is probably right. As a writer you can't really measure productivity by the number of words on the page at the end of the day. There's a lot of work that goes into writing that isn't typing, and we often don't give ourselves enough credit for that labor.

Great question! I’ll be watching this thread for others’ answers.

For me, there’s no set answer for every story. It largely depends on my mental state.

When I first came here, I’d write a story in one sitting, quickly edit, publish. Repeat. My sweet spot is still 2-3K.

Now, as some real life struggles occupy a large piece of my mind, I write in bits. Usually the beginning and ending first, then fill in the middle in spurts. Then edit. And my editing process adds to the length, which is ass backwards, but I’m from Kentucky, so…

For your stories that feel like pulling teeth, I’d just take it one scene at a time. Break. Then tackle the next scene. Break apart the sex writing… oral… then write the penetration part.

Hope to see you in the BDSM comp. Kimmibegood’s sitting this one, but excited to read entries in a genre I love. ❤️

I think I once blew through a 5000 or so word story in a session but that's not my normal. And there were pee breaks. 😊 But probably a couple thousand is my usual, esp. if I start obsessing over the wording of particular quotes or scenes.

Thank you so much, all of you! So many different approaches, that I thought I might be alone, I experience many of these too. Today, was very unusual, I sat down three times and wrote 1,200 words. They were fragments of ideas in my head, I ordered them, did chores, cooked, kept thinking and pow! Not bad, with only corrections needed, and I lost a couple of unneeded sentences.

I have struggled these last few months, some things in my life needed attention (not my husband - he is wonderful), and they have affected my appetite to write.

I like the comment of the critical mind in conflict with the creative - this is very true. I edit as I go too, mainly as I think in French, and write English. Also, because this is how I paint, oil is very unforgiving as a medium, it has to be constantly adjusted.

I conclude the urge to write is almost hormonal. 😳

Thank you again, my friends. Like Kimmi, I would be fascinated to know how others address writing.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Hope to see you in the BDSM comp. Kimmibegood’s sitting this one, but excited to read entries in a genre I love. ❤️

My current story has elements of this. It is exhausting - well, that is one word for it. 😜 Ideas are scarce as are my energy levels! I want to enter, I love the challenge. However, if my mood does not change, I will sit this one out too, and enjoy reading them instead.

I try to write 1000 words a day. If it's a struggle (it usually is), I stop, but if they come easily, I just make a few notes for the next day, and then stop. It's like a trail of breadcrumbs for the next day's writing.

I try to stop write BEFORE the tank is empty, in other words. Leave some gas in the tank for tomorrow.

Quote by Ensorceled
I try to stop write BEFORE the tank is empty, in other words. Leave some gas in the tank for tomorrow.

Probably a good plan for writers who have the time. Given I work fulltime and have a life other than writing (no matter how hard I try, the house won't look after itself, and my wife has this funny idea that we are supposed to do stuff together 😊), I tend to drain my tank because I might not get another chance until it is full again anyhow.

Quote by Seeker4

Probably a good plan for writers who have the time. Given I work fulltime and have a life other than writing (no matter how hard I try, the house won't look after itself, and my wife has this funny idea that we are supposed to do stuff together 😊), I tend to drain my tank because I might not get another chance until it is full again anyhow.

I couldn't come close to 1000 words a day when I was working. More like 300 words, though I tried to do it every day.

First I need to ask -- am I going number one or number two?