Average Daily Word Counts for Writers
As writers, we often set goals for ourselves to help us stay on track, keep up on our writing routines, and achieve our aspirations. A daily word count goal is one of the most common goals writers will set to track their progress. But not everyone can—or should—have the same daily writing goals as others.
In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of tracking your daily word counts, examine the daily word counts of five famous authors, what your daily word count goals could be if you are writing a book for the first time, and more.
Why Keep Track of Daily Word Counts?
Tracking your daily writing word count is a great way to see your progress, stay motivated, and remain focused on your writing goals. By setting a daily word count goal, you can hold yourself accountable see incremental changes in your output. Tracking your daily word count can also help you identify patterns in your writing habits, so you can adjust your routine if needed.
Should I Track the Number of Hours I Write or My Word Count Each Day?
Some writers like to track the number of hours they write each day, but tracking a daily word count is considered to be more effective. When you track your word count, you have a more concrete idea of your progress, which helps you continue to set specific goals for yourself. Whereas, if you track the number of hours you write each day, the number of hours to actual work produced may provide a false sense of accomplishment. For example, if you sit down to write for three hours, but you end up spending two hours on research for your book or scrolling social media, then you wrote for just one hour.
Daily Word Counts of Five Famous Authors
Many famous authors have shared their daily word counts over the years. As you’ll see, even with famous authors, there’s no one size fits all approach when it comes to a daily word count writing goal. Here are five examples of daily word counts written by notable authors:
Ernest Hemingway: 500 words per day
John Grisham: 1,000 words per day
J.K. Rowling: 1,500 words per day
Stephen King: 2,000 words per day
Maya Angelou: 2,500 words per day
What Should a Daily Word Count Be If I’m Writing a Book for the First Time?
If you are writing a book for the first time, you may not yet know what your daily word count goals should be. And the answer depends on a variety of factors, including your writing speed, the length of your book, and your overall writing goals. As general guidance, however, many writers recommend setting a daily word count goal of 500–1,000 words per day.
Do I Need to Focus on My Word Count During My First Draft?
Tracking your daily word count can be helpful during the drafting process, but it’s important for you to remember that your first draft is just that—a draft. Make the focus of your first draft about getting your ideas down on paper.
Do you have a daily word count goal? If so, what is it?