More than words

~ Meg

Yesterday, my friend Whitney who blogs about the huge renovation she and her husband are doing to their house, posted some before and after photos.  She’s been blogging since August and I commented on how much had changed in that time.  She responded by asking me if I knew how many words I’d written in that same period of time.   Whitney and I met right at the beginning of both of our journeys. Honestly, I’ve never thought about it but she made me curious and reflective.

I started this blog very tentatively back in 2014.  I posted a non-fiction piece about a trip to Ireland.  I repeated a story a tour guide had told me about fairy trees.  There’s just something about that place.  It inspires the poet and the dreamer for sure.

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Cliffs of Moher

 

Next, I wrote and posted three fairy tales set in the far, hazy past.  Then nothing for a while — months, in fact.  But then at the end of June 2015, I published my first novel.  It was time to get serious.  This blog was to be my author platform, my doorway into a community of other creators and poets and dreamers.

Since August 2015, I have written Second Chances (working title), the fourth book in my novel series at 91,853 words and started the fifth, which has a few chapters complete totaling 6,058 words.   I’ve also written a ten part series called Diary of a New Writer which totals 8,118 words.  My ongoing fictional piece Here Lies a Soldier has run up to 7,368 words so far.   My short stories based on songs add up to another 13,451 words.  The Year of Drinking Adventurously has yielded another 4,150 words.  And all the other blog posts, poems, limericks and so forth add up to 27,314 words.  For a grand total of 158,312 words in 7 months time.

Does that seem like a lot?  It isn’t really.  On average it works out to 754 words a day.  For those of you who have participated in NaNoWriMo, you’d need more than twice that many words per day to complete the challenge.  Obviously, I’m not trying to keep to a schedule as rigorous as that, but I am trying to be a consistent and productive writer.  I return once again to the important role that discipline plays in successful writing.  Without going back into exhaustive detail about it, I’ll just say that having a schedule –one that is practical and fits into your life comfortably, is key.  When you figure out that schedule, stick to it.

I love to write, it brings me a lot of joy. But it’s more than words.  I would go so far as to say that it’s been therapeutic.  There are things I can write about in fiction that I’d be reluctant to talk about otherwise.  And this community I’ve found?  Absolutely priceless.  I love you guys!

How about it, writers and bloggers?  Have you ever counted up your words?  And what do you love most about blogging?

 

Published by Meg

Easily amused, never bored and constantly distracted. My creative pursuits include writing, drawing, painting and photography.

57 thoughts on “More than words”

  2. That’s a bunch of words Dr. Meg! Very impressive. I’m not used to having people take action based on any of my suggestions so of course I think this post is AMAZING and FANTASTIC! Your word count since August even more so. 🙂 xo

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  3. Wow! That’s a lot of words…and 754 words a day average is not bad at all…it’s amazing!
    I haven’t counted my words total although I’m tempted to now! 😀
    After NaNoWriMo, I did follow a writing discipline but I keep falling off the track whenever something comes up that takes up a lot of my time.
    It’s time to get back to that discipline. I have been procrastinating for too long with my first novel, it’s time to get it out already! 😀

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  4. I pay little attention to my word counts, but I do post daily, usually, and sometimes twice a day. I’ve only been doing it since June of last year. Most of my posts are less than 5-600 words. But I’m not a writer.

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  5. That’s an amazing word count – NaNo is a one month sprint, compared to this marathon!

    I’ve never added up my word count as I tend to write short poems/haiku. All the fun of engaging with fellow bloggers, without sore fingers from typing!

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  6. I wouldn’t know where to begin on finding out. Words flow out like water sometimes, it would be like counting drops in a bucket.
    I’m very impressed that you took the time to figure it out and count them up! Way to go.

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      1. Hmm. I just got done checking that. I think I need to add it. Just figuring out how! Now I’m on a mission to count some words. I’m very curious.

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  7. That is an impressive word count. How did you count them all? Are you using pages word count? I always start my blog posts on my phone in either a note or a Google doc then move it over to my blog and put on the finishing touches. I have no clue how many words I’ve written.

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  8. Being a writer, I loved this post Meg. At first, when I looked at your grand total I was overwhelmed. When you compared it to the demands of Nano write, it didn’t seem as daunting. I have no idea. This past year (due to the surgeries) my writing was just blogging. Right now, I am cranking them out. As for what I love most about blogging. For me it is the banter. Meeting and reading other inspiring writers like you.

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  10. I have no idea about my word count either. I thought about going to each post to get the counts… but I made it through about 3 posts and thought, this is crazy! Is there an easier way than going into the edit screen for every post?? And all the other off-blog stuff I write? At least those are in word documents that have word count… 🙂

    What I love about blogging… Well, before I began, I had no idea, honestly, what sort of community blogging has. I thought I was going to post stuff… maybe someone would read it and express an opinion… and that would be it. But instead, I’ve made some lovely friends and had tons of fun with them. Sometimes, the comment threads are better than the post. Which I think is amazing — and sometimes I want to take those exchanges and turn them into a whole post. Still may do this.

    I’ve even had a couple of people ask me to do collaborations. One has started, but none have happened yet, not completely. But I hope they all do!

    Also, I love that I am mostly anonymous so I post whatever the hell I want. Personal stuff I could never speak to my family or to anyone, really. And fiction and poetry for which no one can ever look me in the eye and tell me I suck. LOL.

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    1. I did go through each post and add them up! Get a life, right?!? 😆 I feel the same way about the people I’ve met here. I love my blogging buddies! My collaboration with Kevin – well, it’s just awesome! He’s become a dear friend. And oh yeah, the comments!!! Sometimes they do deserve a post of their own! I do envy the anonymity some of you have, but that doesn’t work if you ever want to publish. You could start a fresh blog for that, though. In my case, I think that ship has sailed! At least I can goof off with everyone on ffwob! 😜

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      1. I have thought that if I ever try to publish, I will come up with a fake last name… and publish under that. (Ideas?? hahaha) Or, like you said, I could create another blog entirely to go in that direction…

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      2. The nom de plume is not a bad idea. You won’t believe how unexcited your friends and family will be about your writing. I was heartbroken to find that out. It was a really weird and unexpected thing. “Hey everyone, I’ve published a novel!” *crickets* Except of course, for a couple close friends and my hubs. If I was doing it all over again, I’d write under another name. Alas, again that ship has sailed! If and when you publish, ask me anything. I’ve fumbled through the whole process, rip roaring mistakes and all!

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      3. I will definitely take you up on that. But you know… I am chicken. I know failure is a huge part of anything like this… or anything at all. But you know me. I’m a bit consumed with thoughts of not really being good enough. It’s awful and I need confidence… (not just for writing)… the lack of confidence makes me chicken out of all sorts of things, big and small.

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      4. I get that. But the number one person you are writing for is you. It has to be. It’s a one in a million shot to become a successful, best-selling author. The ‘good enough’ has to be for you!

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      5. I know. But I’m still a chicken. Maybe if I get my shit together and I feel I have something worth sharing, I will come back to you for your opinion/advice. Please still be my friend if I suck…. LOL 😀

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  11. I’ve never added up my words. My favorite part of blogging is the community of bloggers. They’re all good people and I’ve had the opportunity to learn about life all over the world. You sure do a ton of writing. I have no doubt you’ll be a famous novelist some time in the near future and I’ll proudly say that I knew you when you were a blogger.

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    1. Aw, thank you Phil! I really love to write, it clears my head, believe it or not. I feel the same way about the people I’ve met here. It really is a wonderful community. I’m learning so much and laughing so much! Btw, I’m super glad we connected and I’m pretty sure we’re related somehow! 😀

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    2. So you think Dr. Meg will quit blogging just because she becomes famous? Ha! She’s addicted to the community as much as the rest of us. Catherine Coulter still blogs, and so does Mitch Albom.

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  12. I’m not writing short stories, novels, etc. but even in crafting blog posts I have never taken into account how many actual words are being used. I’m not sure why that is (or isn’t). As with others who have commented my favorite part of blogging is the community. So many varied subject matters being explored and opinions being shared. In a fast-paced world…some of the longer conversations I have in a day is within these comments sections! Write On, Meg!

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    1. Writers are obsessed with word counts! It helps with goal setting and plot outlining. As in how many words to devote to each chapter, subplot etc. and not to get bogged down in one section of your story and skim through another. The community is what I love, too. Sometimes the comments are more fun than the post! Thanks, Bruce!

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  13. We all probably write a lot more than 754 words a day through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc., etc. Not that those count. Until I started writing flash fiction, I didn’t pay attention to word counts on my blog at all. As I write more and more, though, I’m learning to watch the count because I don’t want to write a post so lengthy that I lose the reader’s attention, nor so short—especially when writing non-fiction—that the reader doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.

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  14. WOW! That’s a lot of words! Inspired me to go check my own too. Thank you for writing this post, was interesting to read about your journey. 🙂

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  15. I am continually amazed at the community in the blogging world. I’ve only been blogging since September and I’m not yet super consistent with my posting habits, but the encouragement I get from my fellow bloggers helps a lot. I value the connections I’m making here. Many of you make me wish I knew you IRL.

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  16. That is a big number of words! Congratulations! I had a words in February feature where I kept count of the number of words I wrote for my first novel, and I realized it helped a lot in getting me motivated. Would be great to see what my general word count will be come end of the year.

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