Struggling Writers discussion
Race to NaNoWriMo: 2019
>
Word Count
Sandy wrote: "Finished the first draft of my sequel! :D I did not meet up with my daily goal, at all, but that's okay. ;P"That is fabulous Sandy! Congratulations! What was your final word count?!
I have made it over34,000 words now if I could figure out how to write the fight scene
Trisha wrote: "I have made it over34,000 words now if I could figure out how to write the fight scene"Fabulous Trisha! Keep up the good work :)
I am 10 words away from 35,000 words at this very moment
I am a third way throught the fight scene and my word count is 35,341
I have a question about word count. What would be a good general word count for the first chapter of a novel?
When I am trying to figure out chapters I usually have at least 3 pages not sure on the word count
I hit 910 yesterday but I have not written today
Roxanne wrote: "I have a question about word count. What would be a good general word count for the first chapter of a novel?"That really depends on how many chapters/how big your novel is going to be Roxanne, Trisha says she does about three pages so that is roughly 750 words (depending on her spacing, font, ect). In my realistic fiction piece I usually tried to average 700-1500 words per chapter because I was telling from the first person point of view, but every chapter was a switch to a different character. This made sure the story moved along and all the little details that each character brought to the story were included. My current WIP doesn't actually have chapters (I know, shame on me) as I plan in putting them in later. Right now I just have breaks in the writing because I am just trying to get some sort of draft down.
According to my outline, the final novel will be 23 chapters. Right now my first chapter is about ten pages in my notebook, which would make it seven or eight pages once typed. I'm not sure how many words that would be...I'm not sure if I need to focus on adding more to the chapter, or if I should just focus on writing the next one. Does that sound like an alright length?
I mean, I'm going to check the word count once I type up the chapter. But I'm assuming ten pages would be a fairly big word count...
Roxanne wrote: "According to my outline, the final novel will be 23 chapters. Right now my first chapter is about ten pages in my notebook, which would make it seven or eight pages once typed. I'm not sure how man..."I would just write it and however long it is, is however long it is. The literary standard for a page is 250 words, so depending on how big you write ten pages is a good start. However, novels are usually about 80k or something... NaNoWriMo considers 50k a novel, but from what I understand a word count of 50k will be considered more of a novella by a publisher.
You say you have an outline, so, I would just fill in the outline (since that seems to be the way you right) with specific things you want to happen in each chapter and then go about writing and see how much you end up with. You want the story to flow naturally so picking a word count and then trying to stop directly at it will ruin the flow. From what I have read, the average chapter in a fiction book is about 5k (5000 words). Take that as you will, I would focus on getting the story down and then fleshing it out further if needed.
Trisha wrote: "I am at 37910 on my word count"Great! I have had to put a hold on my writing due to midterms and have vowed to do camp in April and up my word count each day so I am caught up.
I have been in a writing slump :( I can't seem to get the words down on the page, and I'm not totally sure why. I have the ideas, but every time I open my word document to write, I end up just sitting and staring at my page, and eventually just move on to something else. Strangely, the only time lately that I've been able to write was once when I was at work (I managed to get 500 words out of a bunch of scribbling on receipts between customers) and in class (not a high word count, but compared to how I've been doing lately, at least it was something). I a perfectionist, and I just can't seem to accept when the words don't come out just right the first time, so this prevents me from even trying. My inner editor won't shut up, I suppose. I get so caught up in making it perfect that I lose the joy of connecting with my characters and doing what I love. I've never been good with setting a daily word count; that just doesn't seem to work for me, what with school as well as the reasons stated above. However, I used to have these days when I'd just get hit with an idea, and when I had an idea sometimes I could pump out over 2000 words in a day, words that I was proud of too. I just don't know how to get that back.
Also, I had a question. What is the normal page/word count for a chapter? because in this thread I've seen people mention like 3 pages, so maybe 700-1500 words, but my chapters usually average 5-6 pages, almost always over 2000 words...are my chapters too long? I used to struggle to get them that long but that was always the length of my chapters so I just figured that was what I needed to get into one chapter, but is this abnormally long? Should I shorten my chapters? (This is also single spaced size 12 font, so it's not like I'm typing huge to make it 7 pages)
Irene wrote: "I would just write it and however long it is, is however long it is. The literary standard for a page is 250 words, so depending on how big you write ten pages is a good start. However..."That helps a lot! Thank you very much. :)
TheWittyRomantic wrote: "I have been in a writing slump :( I can't seem to get the words down on the page, and I'm not totally sure why. I have the ideas, but every time I open my word document to write, I end up just sitt..."Not all mine are 3 pages I have some that are 10 pages I just make sure they are at least 3 pages
TheWittyRomantic wrote: "I've seen people mention like 3 pages, so maybe 700-1500 words, but my chapters usually average 5-6 pages, almost always over 2000 words...are my chapters too long? I used to struggle to get them that long but that was always the length of my chapters so I just figured that was what I needed to get into one chapter, but is this abnormally long? Should I shorten my chapters?"I've been averaging 10 pages each chapter so far - I'm at three chapters now - so I don't think you need to worry about length or anything. ^_^
Roxanne wrote: "TheWittyRomantic wrote: "I've seen people mention like 3 pages, so maybe 700-1500 words, but my chapters usually average 5-6 pages, almost always over 2000 words...are my chapters too long? I used ..."Trisha wrote: "TheWittyRomantic wrote: "I have been in a writing slump :( I can't seem to get the words down on the page, and I'm not totally sure why. I have the ideas, but every time I open my word document to ..."
thank you both!
TheWittyRomantic wrote: "Roxanne wrote: "TheWittyRomantic wrote: "I've seen people mention like 3 pages, so maybe 700-1500 words, but my chapters usually average 5-6 pages, almost always over 2000 words...are my chapters t..."I've seen chapters range from a few paragraphs to over thirty pages -- length is therefore subjective and is tied to the author and how he / she cares to tell their story.
When you feel a chapter is finished, it's finished.
As of today, 30,000 words done on my third book. Not sure how much I'll be able to keep the momentum going but I'll keep at it!
J.G. wrote: "As of today, 30,000 words done on my third book. Not sure how much I'll be able to keep the momentum going but I'll keep at it!"Awesome! Keep going!
Up to 34,000 now. Need to reorganize though, a lot of crazy ideas!
How is everyone else doing?? I just got done with Camp Nano and have a lovely 90k.
About halfway done with one. Just starting another. Scrapped another I was halfway done with and restarted it.
Heather wrote: "About halfway done with one. Just starting another. Scrapped another I was halfway done with and restarted it."That's good! What does half way done mean for you in terms of word count?
22000.I don't know that I'll make it to 50000 like I want. The story ends when it ends.
Oh okay, so does it count as a novella then? I haven't ever looked into publishing anything, but I hear that if it's smaller than about 80k it ends up being labeled as a novella.
50k is a novel, from what I understand.
Yeah, the NaNoWriMo corporation says that, but other published authors (though traditional methods) that I have had the pleasure of talking to say that you really want double that. I am just writing my story and how ever long it takes is how ever long it takes! I am at 90k right now and am hitting the half way in the plot line, there are a bunch of sub plots though that I could base sections around if I needed to break it up though.
My writing has not been going well since my hedgehog was put to sleep due to an incurible illness. I am hoping I can get it rolling again soon.I am at just over 38,400 words right now
Irene wrote: "Yeah, the NaNoWriMo corporation says that, but other published authors (though traditional methods) that I have had the pleasure of talking to say that you really want double that. I am just writin..."I want 50k, but if the story comes to an end before that, there's no reason to stretch it out. I look at books like The Stand and The Calling and their page marks and I'm just like, "...how?"
Heather wrote: "Irene wrote: "Yeah, the NaNoWriMo corporation says that, but other published authors (though traditional methods) that I have had the pleasure of talking to say that you really want double that. I ..."I think mine is easily so big because I am world building and there is a super complex plot line (I may have to simplify it a bit). I also follow different characters from my main character to help create a rounded view for the reader and prevent "information" dumps. I hear that The Stand was originally over a thousand pages or something and the publishers declared that he had to cut it down for them to publish it because they said it would intimidate readers.
Trisha wrote: "I have hit over 39,000 words today"Fabulous! I have put a pause on writing for the next month or so since I haven't truly had the time to write.
I'm trying to write an urban fantasy short story consisting of probably 5k words - it's quite a struggle - I only passed 1k words and that took me five days. My previous stories which are contemporary romance ranged from 89k words to 159k words and I didn't have this kind of problem.
Katrina wrote: "I'm trying to write an urban fantasy short story consisting of probably 5k words - it's quite a struggle - I only passed 1k words and that took me five days. My previous stories which are contempo..."Hmm, what are you doing differently besides writing outside of what you normally write? Are you planning things differently, writing at a different time?
I don't exactly plan when it comes to writing anything. I just write whatever comes up at any time of the day when it suits me.I'm using ancient Gaulish/Brythonic deities and a creature from Breton mythology. There isn't enough information on them but it also gives me room to project them to my fancy.
It could be because I'm way out of my comfort zone with urban fantasy...? I'm still testing the waters if I can actually pull off a decent story in this genre.
Katrina wrote: "I don't exactly plan when it comes to writing anything. I just write whatever comes up at any time of the day when it suits me.I'm using ancient Gaulish/Brythonic deities and a creature from Bret..."
Okay, so have you tried planning this one? If not, I would say give it a shot and if so, try creating a few scenes of stuff that you think you want to happen (or at least brain storm).
That actually sounds like it will work out well for you, do you draw? I can't draw worth anything, but I have friends who can and when they get stuck they draw their characters.
I would say that is it, you just aren't used to writing this genre so you aren't at home with your "go tos". We have a developing Writer's Journal folder that I suggest you check out, you might find something worth while that can help you in there.
I am writing two books as of right now, but the one I'm really trying to get finished is 6,249 words. My other book is 2,949 words. It's not that great, but it's going. My other book that I had finished writing (but I'm still editing it for what seems like the fiftieth time) is around 53K. I've read that, for YA novels, 50K is a good estimate for your novel, but it just seems really short.
I like longer works myself and try to target 100k although one of mine is 150k. Some writers creep up to 500k. My projects at the moment will at least make 75k.
I don't keep word count goals. I just write until the novel is finished. The latest one i'm working on is 59,670 words so far, and it's halfway finished XD it's not uncommon for me to break the 100k mark and that's after extensive rewrites and edits. XD
I'm like you there, K.P. The story is done when it's done.BDD is at 135,000 words right now, but I suspect it will come in at between 225,000 and 250,000.
Maybe.
Maybe less. Maybe more. It has its own agenda.
After. Most of it is already basically edited. I'm one of those, lol. I go back over and over and over. By the time I get to the end there should only be a couple of editing passes to go. If I can keep myself from it. I'll go back because I remember there's one word that I think could be improved, omitted, whatever. /facepalm
Sorry to hear about your headache, but that's great, keep on going!