Virtual Writers discussion

21 views
Writers' Nook > Why Word Count

Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy Writers generally word count to keep track of their progress in a story. Why? Does this method make sense or is it counter productive. I just finished an essay on the subject. Take a look and tell me What you think.

http://bit.ly/1blH0hU

Have


message 2: by Ottilie (last edited Nov 12, 2013 10:13AM) (new)

Ottilie (ottilie_weber) | 6 comments Interesting, I do look at word count, but I also try to figure out if I'm rambling or is the plot missing something. I tend to write shorter though, but I rather write shorter with no hole than to have readers say I'm just filling words.


message 3: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy I agree completely. I think it is natural to word count on a certain level, especially since most writers are using computers that can easily keep track of it. I just worry that counting words leads to a "more is better" concept that might not benefit the stories.


message 4: by Heidi (new)

Heidi Angell (heidiangell) | 26 comments I use word count to keep me on task. I always have an outline if where my story is going, but tend to get a bit wordy. Using word count as I am writing my first draft, I can determine if I am lagging and need to move on, or if I am rushing to my climax and need to fill a section out (and which honestly is rarely my problem!) I do think that an author should at least be aware of word count expectations from readers. Statistics are available that show that certain genres have better responses at certain lengths. I tend ti read scifi and fantasy, both categories that do better with higher word counts. I got really annoyed recently reading a scifi book because it was too short. There wasn't enough detail of the alien world, scenes were ripped off from famous scifi movies, thereby allowing the author to use less words, and the story felt rushed. Conversly crime fiction readers prefer a quicker story. ( ie. Less word count) keeping to the nitty gritty!


message 5: by Ottilie (new)

Ottilie (ottilie_weber) | 6 comments Heidi I agree, genres are big in play. Sci-fi does need the more words so the readers understand the world, might be why I tend not to read that genre though (sorry if that sounds horrible!)


message 6: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy Heidi wrote: "I use word count to keep me on task. I always have an outline if where my story is going, but tend to get a bit wordy. Using word count as I am writing my first draft, I can determine if I am laggi..."

Interesting. You might be the first author that uses word count to reign themselves in. Most writers I've come across feel the urge to raise that number as much as possible.

I also didn't consider that different genres lend themselves to different word counts. Could you send me a link to that research?

Thanks!
Gamal


message 7: by Heidi (new)

Heidi Angell (heidiangell) | 26 comments Well, he doesn't cite the research, but this blog post breaks it down: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-b...

I've read research on different sites. I know that one report was on the SFWA. I can't really remember where the rest have been.

I do think that some authors (probably to compete with the 99 cent market) have been releasing shorter and shorter stories and calling them novels. This is a cheat to the consumers, in my humble opinion. If your story is just right at 30,000 words, then great, but list it as a novella, not a novel. Transparancy for the consumers is very important. They don't know to look at word length or metadata to determine if they are being ripped off. The more they get burned by indie authors, the less they will give other indie authors a try.


message 8: by Ottilie (new)

Ottilie (ottilie_weber) | 6 comments I have a couple of short stories out, but I call them short stories or novellas. That and I put them on sale for free a lot because I don't think ebooks should be charged much to begin with. Then again my novellas are around 4K.


message 9: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy Heidi wrote: "Well, he doesn't cite the research, but this blog post breaks it down: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-b......"

I think you ladies just gave me the idea for my next essay. Next week I plan on looking at the relationship between the length of a manuscript and its sale price.

Stay tuned...


message 10: by Mad Giles (new)

Mad Giles (Giles A. Madding) (gilesamadding) | 1 comments During the actual writing part of the process I find that I rarely even give a thought to my actual word count. Most time I use scenes completed or pages accumulated to track my daily progress.

It is during the editing and revision that I take into consideration of the overall word count. Especially if I'm working within a genre that has a typical word count expected for a single body of work. Though I am generally fine with a count that falls a little below or exceeds the norms, as long as I feel that the prose is tight and the story flows well. Obvious exceptions are when trying to publish where there is a strict word limit to qualify.


message 11: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy Mad wrote: "During the actual writing part of the process I find that I rarely even give a thought to my actual word count. Most time I use scenes completed or pages accumulated to track my daily progress.

I..."


I think I have a similar process. The completion of a scene for me carries more weight than the accumulation of words. It gives me the feeling that the story is progressing.

Question: how do you know what genres are normal for a specific genre?

Thanks for the input.
Gamal


message 12: by Michael (new)

Michael Jones (tubalschrift) | 11 comments It seems like you really should have close to 100,000 for a novel. And more is okay.


message 13: by Gamal (new)

Gamal Hennessy What's that number based on, Michael? Does that apply regardless of genre?


message 14: by Ottilie (new)

Ottilie (ottilie_weber) | 6 comments Oh gees I don't think most Young Adult novels hit 100K.


back to top