Authors Trapped by Word Count. Get the Fuck Out of Your Own Way!

Writers, listen up!

It’s time to address something I’ve been seeing repeatedly on writer's forums. Too many of you young, and emerging authors are being trapped by word counts, or prematurely focusing on obtaining an agent or traditional publisher in a desire for validation, and a perception that these aspects offer tangible markers of progress and success. This often stems from inexperience, a need to navigate perceived hurdles, a misplaced priority on publishing over craft, information overload from online resources, and a culture of instant gratification. It’s crucial for emerging authors to prioritize honing their writing skills, completing their manuscripts, embracing the learning process, and setting realistic goals for sustainable growth in their writing journey.

Don’t get me wrong - I get enthusiasm! But I’ve also crashed and burned and stood in my own way, and cried and suffered, and mentally beat the shit out of myself with that fervor. I literally blocked my own path for a decade before I realized I needed to make a different decision, alter my perceived path. This required I dig deep (man, introspection can be a bitch), what did I really want? Was I chasing money? If so… I needed to go out and find a job. Or was it that glow of excitement and feeling of being home among the tribe of my creation every time I sat down with my characters and played in their world? I guess it was that mourning pit of loss in my core every time I thought about hanging it all up that made my decision for me. But damn, I wasted a butt-load of time worrying about and focusing on the stupid stuff.

If you feel attacked right now, don’t. I remember what it was like, standing, alone, at the trailhead of my writing journey. I had no idea what I was doing (still don’t), which way to go, who to listen to, what input to ignore - was I even properly equipped? There was so much I didn’t know I didn’t know.

None of you may know this, but the whole of my life I’ve just been winging it. Seriously, this entire time – half a century, and not a clue what I’m doing...but do any of us, really? The only thing that I am certain of, is that there are stories in me that have to get out. (See BLOG: I never wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a horse.) That they’ve taken on lives of their own once released into the world, living on hundreds of shelves, and in personal libraries, was their natural progression. Let me help you be successful in finishing your manuscript by helping you get back on track and getting the hell out of your own way.

When I was beginning, I falsely believed that by keeping a vigilant and concerned eye on my word count I was proving to The Universe that I Was a Real Writer. As that number at the bottom left of my screen grew, I Was Winning! I set an unsustainable goal of two-thousand words a day; untenable because I was basically just free-riffing it; pantsing out of control. I lost complete track of the story. Four-hundred-and-eighty manuscript pages in, and I lost touch with my characters, the plot…it was a disaster. But damn, look at my word count!

Keeping track of your daily word count, and being obsessed with it, are two distinctly different things. I still keep track of my daily word count, but it no longer drives me. My goal these days is a more realistic five-hundred words a day, Monday through Friday, though I frequently double, or even triple this if I’m in full-on flow state. The words come out authentic, not being pushed by an agenda. Every word is additive, moving my story forward, not insignificant fluff to grow a word count. Take from me - just write your story; word counts and chapter lengths will take care of themselves.

“But Dani, I want my book to be 100,000 words at least! I read somewhere that in my genre, my book has better chance at getting picked up if it’s that long.” I hear what your saying, and its true there are some entities that “request” a specific wordcount. The reality in that though, is agents and publishers are more concerned with the quality of the words you’ve submitted, over whether you’ve hit the agency’s prescribed word count.

Finding an agent and pursuing traditional publishing are valid goals for many of you. However, these aspects should come after you’ve established a solid foundation in your craft. By simply shifting your focus away from word counts, and untimely agent searches, to improving your writing skills and practicing to regularly improve your storytelling abilities, you will build a solid foundation for your creative journey and achieve lasting success in the literary realm.

Step away from self-imposed limitations. Writing without censorship leads to authentic storytelling. Trust in your unique voice and creativity, and embrace the liberating feeling of telling your story, your way. Get to the end of your writing session impressed with the story, not the word count. Trust in the process and in your ability to create something incredible. Stop overthinking and free yourself from unnecessary restrictions and self-doubt. Embrace the joy of crafting your story, unique to your voice and trust in your storytelling abilities. But at the end of the day, if you find yourself trapped by word count, get the fuck out of your own way, and let the magic happen!

-Dani