counting pages
Thank you, PBW - what you say about trends makes so much sense:
This is the down cycle in a trend, and it’s when the rumors start, but it’s not that no one will buy vampire paranormals. It’s that the market demands better, stronger books than most writers can write to compete with what’s already out there.
Off to work on my better, stronger book. *crosses fingers and says silent prayer* Hopefully I can push the migraine into the background because I need some serious words.
And speaking of words, while bloghopping, I saw someone ask other writers how many pages they’d ever written in one day. I saw Sharon had posted there - and she’s definitely my writing twin - I believe she’d said 90 pages in a day was her record, and that’s mine too. I’m a power writer - but the problem is the day-to-day writing…I justify it by dividing up the 90 pages or so and seeing how it would break down in a week, but really, my time would be better spent trying to achieve a nice, big page count daily. Then again, if I spent too long on a book, I get bored and let it go, so I guess power writing is the best method for me.
So, with apologies to who I stole this question from, what’s your personal pages-in-one-day record? Are you a slow and steady writer (which probably leads to less end of the book editing) or a ‘let’s get this book written as fast as I can’ writer? (okay - yes, I added another question. Blame the headache, feel sorry for me and answer them.)
Steph T.
May 14th, 2005 at 9:02 am
I think my best was 26 pages. The problem with me is, when I get into powerrrr writing, I get tired quickly. My brain starts to hurt once I push past 15 pages. I like a nice, solid day of 10 pages or so. Any more than that, and I start going a little wacky…:frazzled:
May 14th, 2005 at 9:48 am
May 14th, 2005 at 9:53 am
I THINK my record is 12 pages. I’m pathetic.
May 14th, 2005 at 10:05 am
Michelle - yes, I tend to get wacky after a power writing day to - maybe that’s why I take days off afterwards. Too many days off…
Bonnie - I’d love steady days of 10 - 15 pages.
Larissa - 12 is my favorite number:smile: It’s obviously working for you since you’ve got books out there in editor’s hands.:wink:
May 14th, 2005 at 10:09 am
17pages is my all-time best, but I’m as slow and steady writer, editing as I go and averaging 5-8 pgs per day. Lately, tho, I’ve just been sloooow, with no ’steady’.
gg
May 14th, 2005 at 10:44 am
May 14th, 2005 at 11:20 am
Hugs on the migraine. I’m a slow, steady writer. I can’t do more than 12 or so, or I am useless the next day …
May 14th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
Uhm yep, Manic, look it up, you’ll see my picture in the definition. It drives me nuts. I’d love to be like so many other authors and be DISCIPLINED and be able to sit down each and every day and write ten pages. But I lack the D word, that’s a bad bad word
So I write in manic fits. Nothing for four days and then 50.
May 14th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
The most I can remember writing in one day is 13 pages or so. When I first started out, though, I wrote a 400-page ST in 8 weeks. Didn’t count pages back then, but I must have done over 20 pages a few times with that MS.
I can’t IMAGINE writing 90 pages in one day. That’s crazy!!!:frazzled:
May 14th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
90 PAGES!!!!!
*thunk*
Okay, My best is 12 I think. I try not to count because I find it a bit depressing.
May 14th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Jaq - editing as you go is probably a big timesaver (and I *think* I’ve gotten you out of moderation - well, not me. Walt & Bekke;)
Thanks for the hugs, Jill. I’m feeling better tonight!
Emma - see, but I think that’s really quick for a ST. By the time I got through all my manic writing fits, I’d end up in that time frame…or longer…but if the mood strikes, I run with it. And honestly, it was kind of fun. I’m sick - I know.
Sasha - you’re getting tons accomplished, so not counting pages is working:wink:
Yes, Sharon - not disciplined and manic kind of desribe it for me too:LOL: I wouldn’t mind it if it hit every four days or so, but lately it’s longer stretches between the manic writing - although the manic writing is producing more word count each time…
May 14th, 2005 at 7:30 pm
When I was finishing up the last WIP I made myself do 20 pages/day for a week. It’d be great if I could do that all the time, but I aim for Stephen King’s 10 pages/day.
I think my all time hight is 50something.
May 14th, 2005 at 8:05 pm
nope. You didn’t. lol. I couldn’t *see* the authentication pattern and had to send an email to my self, then click onto the link in the email so my message would post. sheesh, the things I do for you….
May 14th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
uhm, not sure how that happened.
May 14th, 2005 at 8:14 pm
Hmmm - I didn’t think I had an authentication pattern…maybe I do and it doesn’t show up for me? (must try and fine Teresa Weir books to make up for Jaq’s troubles:biggrin:)
*must. ask. Bekke.*
*waves to Emily* Ah, mention Stephen King & I just smile.
May 14th, 2005 at 10:10 pm
I’m not sure what my record is. I wrote one book in two weeks, but I don’t know what the highest page count was for any day. My stories always snowball at the end; the first part is like pushing it uphill, the second part I’m galloping after it.
May 14th, 2005 at 10:33 pm
The thing about the 400-page ST in 8 weeks is that it SUCKED and I’ve spent the past three years rewriting and revising it. Now I’ve finally moved on to something new, and I have to say I’d rather write more slowly if it means less revisions…
That being said, to those who can write fast and have it be solid with few revisions needed….you’re going to hell, and then you’ll die.
May 14th, 2005 at 10:47 pm
My best is 20 as far as I remember. I can’t do that day after day though or I’m ready to go postal. My average is 8-10 pages a day. I guess I’m slow and steady but the thing is, I still have to revise till the cows come home.
May 15th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
LOL@going to hell. I’ve written 25-30 pages in one day but it leaves me braindead. I dont like doing it. I used to average 10-15 in a day and that was good. That’s 70-90 pages a week or a ST in a month. I alwasy end up revising
May 15th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Hi, Steph. 90 pages? Oh my God! I haven’t even come close to that. I’m the slow and steady writer…about the same number of pages everyday. Lately I haven’t written anything new. Working on revisions for 2 older manuscripts.
Heck, I’m always revising.:mad:
May 15th, 2005 at 8:41 pm
I think my personal best was somewhere near 10K in one day. I try to really keep track of my daily word counts. I’d like to be more consistent, but I seem towork in spurts of creativity.
May 15th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Charlene - I would love the ‘book in two weeks’ thing…and I’m exactly the opposite in terms of uphill/downhill - I love the beginning half. By the middle, I’m ready to cry.
Emma - I hate revisions. Hate them and give you lots of credit for staying with that book for so long. I abandon mine too soon.
Amy & Jerri - did I mention I hate revisions? ;)
Cece - but you’ve got the everyday thing going…I really want that, but I’m just not wired that way. I’m going to blame Sharon (and, of course, Larissa)
*waves hi to Deb* I totally understand the burst of creativity…
May 15th, 2005 at 10:18 pm
Honestly, I’m not sure what my personal best is. I didn’t keep track of pages per day during my first book, when I was writing without knowledge of the “rules”. However, since I’ve started keeping track, I think my best was somewhere in the teens. 16, maybe?