Pros and Cons of Wordcounts

Okay, I'm writing this to (just about) coincide with two word count milestones that I've achieved in the last week.

First: I managed to clear the 1000 word mark on Chapter 2 of my WIP.
You may well say: "Hang on! You've been writing this thing for around six months (or more) now and you still haven't gotten past Chapter 2. Isn't that a bit slow going?" Well, yes, it is slow going at the moment, but I haven't been that slow. Chapter 2 has just been causing me problems for a while, I simply skipped past it and started work on Chapter 3 - which (for the record) I finished months ago - and the Chapter 4 (and 8 and 13). But last week I decided enough was enough and actually sat myself down and started really writing this chapter. It's now starting to properly take shape in my head and is no longer the blank spot it was a few months ago.

Secondly (and the more important milestone): the combined efforts on Chapter 2, plus additions to other chapters have meant I've now passed 9000 words!
It may not be much in terms of a novel, but it's giving me a boost right now and I just keep thinking: "Nearly at 10k!", which certainly does feel like quite the milestone.


Well, enough about me and onto my Thought of the Day: Is it good to keep a word count?
Right now my answer is an emphatic 'yes'. The thought that I've managed to get past 9k is giving me a boost and making carrying on just that little bit more enjoyable. It also lets me know how much further I have to go and lets me keep track and not write too much - which I tend to do.

But it has Cons as well:
First off is limiting you. There's a certain amount of emphasis today on not making books too long or drag out too much, as it makes the reader get bored and people can get turned away by just the sight of a large book (a la Breaking Dawn - it's massive! Though I'm not saying it's unnecessary.). But for some stories it may be necessary to get all of the important information in, or it simply is a long story (as I said). It depends on the book and plenty of people may feel pressured to cut things short, leaving their plans for the book unfulfilled.
Second, it may make you write more than necessary. Kind of the other side to the story. Aspiring authors will want their book to have equal shelf space with all the other novels out there. This can cause them to stretch things out; making a book that would be brilliant at 50k into one that drags along and comes in at 80k. There's no need for this.

So, my overall summary: write what is right for your book, do not follow trends of long or short books, finish your story when it feels right. So long as you do this - by all means - use word count as a morale booster, you're sure as anything going to need it sometimes, but don't let it dictate how much you write and what you write.


Not really much usefull in this post, but I felt the need to share my joy at getting past my markers.
Hope someone enjoys this.
W-O xxx