How much do you write in one go?

On a typical writing day, how much do you usually write? I've always believed that I have to write a chapter a day, but I'm recently realising that I don't have to! When I do, I always end up writing very short chapters.

Do you guys find that you can write a chapter and just leave it halfway through? I struggle so much to leave something unfinished, which is probably the reason I always leave myself with a dead end at the end of a chapter.

 

I don't know about chapters, as much as word count. I can easily type 1,500 to 2,000 on an average day. On a good day 2,500. on and awesome day 3,000. These are rare though and usually means I have to hit 'the zone' when the words just flow. This can take a lot out of a writer though when they emerge.

 

Before kids, I could probably sit most of the day and write away, easily 3,000 words or more.

After kids, I'm lucky if I even get 500 on a page lol. Once in a while if they're busy doing something, I'll sneak on the computer to write a little. Mostly get to work after they go to bed, but I don't always want to use that short hour or two block with only writing so I don't even do it every day anymore.

 

Minimum 5k a day 5 days a week, but it's almost always more than that. I go until I either run out of time or run out of steam. On average, I'm probably 6500-7k every da.

 

I can't even fathom those kind of numbers. Aside from the other things I need to do, I am surrounded by distractions. Some days, I'm lucky if I get any writing done.

 

On a weekday I have about 45 minutes to an hour to write. I count it a good day if I get 3-400 words in, in that time

 

I started on something today - just to see where it might go - and I managed a whopping 514 words before I burnt out.

 

I aim to write a chapter a day, and usually do. I usually write around 1500-3500 words a day, depending on how well the writing flows.
That figure might mean two chapters, not only one, because if I'm really inspired, I'll start the next chapter, but often can't finish it because I get worn out.
It's not a problem though, because the next day I just continue from where I left off. For me, it's actually better to start the next chapter the day before when I'm inspired, because I know exactly where I'm heading. And I get into the flow of things easier the next day.

 

I write about 2k before I need a break. Then I wash and repeat one or two more times a day when getting a first draft down. Two sit downs total are more regular and get me about 4-6k.

 

I might write like 500 words a day, maybe. I think that's being generous but idc. Writing a chapter in a day, though?? That's wild. It takes me weeks to get satisfied with one chapter, then I come back in a month and rewrite it. I can't get much writing done very quickly, I think I'm pretty ineffective as a writer.

 

I remember a year when I was lucky to get 300 words per day; most were half that.

Nowadays I do 500 to 1k in one sitting as average. Not counting that I edit the last scene (or whatever I happened to write the day before), before I write new words. Note that most days have two sittings. That gives me 1-2k new words per day, which sounds about right for my current streak. I'm on the roll

I break because a) time's up, or, more likely b) my brain's fried. It doesn't matter to me if I finish a scene/chapter or not. In fact I've found that it makes more sense to stop in the middle of a sentence or a paragraph, beause then it's easier on the next day to take up the thread of the text where I left off. If I break at a scene or finish a beat, I've much more trouble starting 'new' on the next day. It then feels like the dreaded 'first sentence', and we all know how difficult getting them down are.

 

At a sitting? At the max: 18kw straight through 26 mind-bending hours. At the min (for new material): 875w.
Much of the time, I'm mulling or brooding, not writing at all. When the Muse descends, I frantically peck away, at 4 to 7 wpm, until the scene or thought or vision is exhausted. I've no clue of the time other than dark/light changing outside. I make many side notes and write down thoughts right in the middle of what I'm typing, and collect it all at the next sitting.
Then I remember I'm starving and sleep-deprived and lapse into a coma.

 

When I get bit by the writer's bug (which is rare) I can write up to
8-10k in my prime time late at night which is about a 4-5hr window.

Though most days I can manage anywhere from 500 to 2-3k depending
on how much of a groove I fall into. Though I average 800-1.2 during a
normal session. I don't write everyday, and I don' t mind not finishing
up a short, a chapter, or a chunk in a given session. Progress is still progress
even if it isn't much. It all adds up to the whole in the long run.

 

Enough to recuperate from the shift+delete, so far.

But, although without artistic experience, I can easily say that, you have to sit and finish the shit you are on, or else - you will lose the memory foundation as well as the feelings you were in that was your guidance - of course this is plausible only if you are dealing in the fictious area. When there is a procedural-mechanical development, the pauses should never hamper the delivering. I never tried 'mechanizing' fiction, and I never feel the need to. So, in short, take a deep breath and finish in one go. No matter how floating your work is, natural pauses should appear - like chapter ends, but, they should have clear links for easy connection later on to other. Also, who reads in this age anyways? So, your chapters being short, if they come out that way, is actually far from being a 'bad' thing.

 

Really? You know this is a writers forum and that reading is the other half of the equation to writing?

And there is no "s" on anyway. It's always anyway.

 

Due to my physical disability I can only actively write a max of an hour and a half per day, if I have a good day. I write in blocks of 20-30 min a time and usually write between 500-800 words in 30 min.

 

Thanks. I didnt know. A bit of a boost, that

 

When I'm writing, I usually do anywhere from 1.5k-3k, which is basically enough to finish the short story I'm working on.

 

no inspiration- 0-250 words

mildly interesting idea - 500 words

compelled by story - 1k

'in the zone' - 2-5 k

 

I set myself a page count as a minimum.

 

Gracious, I don't think I have a "typical".

It can be 10 words; it can 10,000.

With your mention of having to write a full chapter at each sitting, I'm glad you found that this isn't a rule in anyone's books. Also, I try very hard not to finish a writing session at a nice clean end-point, like tying up a chapter. Doing that often leads to total block for me the next time I sit to write. I call it "empty tank syndrome". Everything was nicely tied up, so I have no loose attachment points with which to start. Everything is smooth and it's hard to get new purchase.

For me, at least, it's much better if I leave messy ends with which to start the next time.

 

I usually say it with the "s."

Anyways, I think solentador was referring to the idea that most of the public doesn't read very much, so shorter chapters are generally a good thing. I don't think he was necessarily referring to his own habits.

 

That made me curious so I went and looked at my last book. I averaged 6597 words per day, although I only counted days I actually wrote since I don't work on weekends.