How Much is enough?

1,000 words a day? 5,000 words a day? 1 word a day?

How much is enough for those writers like myself who also have a "real job". Stephen King in his book "On Writing" said he recommended 1,000 words a day "just to get started". That is awesome advice, if you can manage it day in and day out. Me, there are times I can't average a word a day...okay, I have written a thousand words a day for a few days so I guess I have averaged a word a day for awhile, but you take the point. I will say I have not managed the 1K words a day as recommended by the esteemed Mr. King. I have three kids, a job and a wife...sue me.

Now, let me say this, instead of just being gripey at a noted and respected author making a statement that I cannot claim to adhere to. I would love to write a thousand a day, and in fact, it is my new motto. I will let you know how I do. My personal recommendation though, if 1K is too much for you (some recommend as much a 2-5K) then how about one sentence? I have found it hard to write just a single sentence, so usually it turns into more than that, but on those days when the kids won't go to bed, the job has really sucked and the wife needs her hunka hunka burnin' love, then once I sit down and write at least a single sentence, I feel better. I feel like I have progressed in my writing career and that I have not laughed in the face of the muse who sometimes graces my presence.

So, how much is enough? whatever you can muster mister, now get off the internet and go write something!

JG

Comments

[Jeff]

I couldn't agree more. It's all about keeping the momentum going. It's like exercise, or education or anything else. Once you skip a day, it's much easier to skip the second, third and fourth...it's the discipline to make it part of your daily routine!

[vikk]

I hosted a booksigning for Ray Bradbury and listened to him give advice to the aspiring writers. One after another, he told the same thing: Write one story a day. That has been his guide throughout his writing career.

[Joel]

Awesome comment Vikk. That is just the sort of discussion I'm hoping to generate through blogging. We could all do a lot worse than imitating a master like Bradbury!

JG

[David]

I agree with what everyone has said. Another thing to look at is maybe trying to set a time each day to write. Say you decide two hours a day, broke into anyway you wish (an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening as an example), is another way to consider time management for creative arts. However this way leaves a little less leeway as to busy schedules, such as work, spouses (Honey Do lists go in this column as well as personal time together), siblings, and kids (or pets for those who have no kids). But the important thing is to make sure that no matter how you feel, no matter your emotional mood, no matter how busy or tired, or how much you want to play, to at least get a little writing done everyday, even if it is, as Joel said, only one sentence.