I’ve talked a lot about word count on my blog lately. Word count, word count, word count. “How many words can I crank out in a day without killing myself?” That’s the question I ask myself most mornings.

Not long ago, word count was the last thing I was worried about. When I wrote Six O’clock I was really wet behind the ears about the business side of writing. I was focused on the craft, and how I could make my novel better. Now, because I have (a little bit) more knowledge of the business side, it seems that’s all I’m worried about as I write. What does the industry say that a standard women’s fiction novel is? About 80,000 to 100,000 words. So I find myself fascinated by the word count meter at the bottom of the page, constantly watching it to see when it’ll reach a certain number. And then topping it. On and on I go until I type the best part of all: THE END. I’m not focusing on what’s more important, my novel. How are my characters growing? Are they interesting enough that my readers will turn the page? Will readers care about them?

I know that all first drafts are pretty bad, and it’s important that I get the words down to revise them. But like my editor once told me, “Don’t write words just to write words.”

Am I guilty of that? I hope not. But as I hit the final stretch of my novel I plan to worry less about word count and more about the quality of my novel.

The Good: It’s easier to use. Instead of the clicking on the header and having everything drop down, the header is horizontal so you can see everything under each link. (Don’t know if  I explained that well, but if I explained it the way my husband did, you would be lost).

The Bad: With all the neat little features you can get a little distracted. I like all the fonts that they’ve added. It’d be great to type in whatever font I want, but I stick to good ‘ole Times New Roman. Especially if I expect anybody to read anything I write. Some people might not think this a bad thing. And it probably isn’t. I just wanted to title my post, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly and something had to be bad.

The Ugly: You see that picture above? That is the word count of my work in progress. That, my friend, is driving me crazy. As I add more words, the number gets higher and I’m constantly looking at it–something I’m trying not to do. Some might say to disable that feature and keep chugging. But I can’t do it. Disabling it would be like turning my eyes away from a car accident on the side of the road. As much as I try, I keep looking.

I could spin this and say that looking at this little counter keeps me on track– my own personal trainer.

“Katrina, don’t you dare close that document! Keep writing, keep going!”

“Don’t quit on me now! Just one more sentence. I know you’re tired but you’ll thank me in the end when you’re holding that 85,000 word manuscript. You can do it!”

That’s all fine and dandy, but I don’t want a constant reminder of what I’m doing. Not right now. I don’t write to fill a page with words–I want those words to mean something.

I’m really proud of how far I’ve come in such little time, but this next book needs more time than my previous two and I don’t want to rush it. I want to take my time with my revisions and present the best book possible. But now I see my word count increasing and I hear the trainer whisper in my ear, “Don’t you want to finish this book by January? Wouldn’t that be cool?”

And it would be cool. Great even. But if I’ve learned anything in the 31 years I’ve been on the earth, I’ve learned to pace myself. My husband often tells me, “Calma te mi amor”. Which basically means to calm down. (At least I hope that’s what it means!) So I take a deep breath and exhale. There’s no reason to rush. I’ll finish this book like I do all my others–one word at a time.

That being said, I do have the NaNoWriMo spirit. Meaning, I didn’t join but I still have a goal of when I want my novel finished.  I haven’t checked my word count on my work in progress lately. (I want to surprise myself at the end of the month. Sort of like being on a diet and not checking your weight on the scale for a week.)

I do know that I have been getting a lot of writing done. I don’t know if this is due to having the spirit of NaNoWriMo or that I’m just on a roll. Whatever it is, I’m enjoying the feeling of my fingers flying (Okay, maybe not flying. How about racing? Still too fast? Okay how about going at a reasonably moderate pace? Better? I thought so.), on the keyboard. I don’t have this feeling often but when it’s here I revel in it.

Next year I may try my hand at NaNoWriMo. But if not, I’m content to just have the spirit.

Now that I’m writing my next novel I’m constantly checking my word count. Before I close out each day I want to make sure that I hit my 1,000 word goal. Most days I hit it, going above that number. Which is good for the days when I don’t.

I don’t know if this is stunting the growth of this novel by constantly checking the word count or is it helping me by keeping me on track? So my question is, how often do you check your word count when you’re writing?

Elaine tests Jerry’s theory by asking him for twenty bucks.  He gives it to her and she’s throws it out the window.

“Now let’s see if you get your twenty bucks back.”  As they leave his apartment he puts his jacket on and finds twenty bucks in his pocket.

I’m Jerry. Or rather my book is Jerry. Everytime I add a scene to my book, I remove a scene that isn’t working. So while I’m trying to increase my word count, I remain around the same number.  Even-Stevens.

My family will ask me how my book is going. 

“Okay I guess.  I’m at 74,000 words.”

“Weren’t you at 74,000 words yesterday?”

“Yes, but today it’s a different 74,000 words.”

“Okay…”

They obviously don’t get it.  Do you?