Insecure Writers Support Group Post, The Writer's Chatroom Writers Challenge, Word Count

It's the first Wednesday of the month so it must be time for a post from all the folks in the Insecure Writers Support Group. (IWSG)

What is IWSG? Founder of IWSG and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is

"to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!"

After visiting here, please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.  

Check out the new IWSG Website for great writing tips.  

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Word Count or Scene Count?



I am very aware of my daily word count this month because the first Writer's Chatroom Writer's Challenge has begun! During the entire month of February, Audrey Shaffer and the gang at TWC challenge writers to pen 42,000 words by the end of the month. That's 1500 words a day. It's not a novel writing challenge like Nano, but rather writers can work on all kinds of projects to get their word count. Of course writing stories, novels, poems are at the top of the list, but a writer can also revise pages and count that writing as well. One page of revision equals 100 words. Book reviews and more can be included. Lots of stuff that we writers do every day, but probably don't think about it as actual writing. (No, sorry no grocery lists allowed.) If you're interested in joining it's not too late. Go to the TWC discussion board/forum to find out more.

I never base my productivity on how many words I get down on the page, but rather how many chapters or scenes I have completed. I don't care if it takes me 600 words or 1200 words to complete the picture in my head.

If I dwell on making it to 1500 words, it would drive me crazy. I just write till the story or the scene is told. How about you?

If we don't make the 42000 words by the end of February, I don't think our laptops will lock up or our hair fall will out, but we may appreciate our daily job as writers a little more and flesh out that story idea or work-in-progress. And wow, what a great excuse to eat more chocolate!!

Thanks for stopping by today. Come back tomorrow when award winning author and guru for writers, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, will be here to share about "Editing is Marketing" and give away her e-book, The Frugal Editor, to one commenter.

I'm a Guest Author at Muse It Up Publishing

February is the month of romance. What better romantic couple to symbolize this month than Romeo and Juliet? But what if their names were Ralph and Alice? Somehow those names just don't convey romance..LOL..

Visit the Muse It Up Publishing Blog today to discuss naming characters in my essay on What's in a Name?

Muse It Up Publishing is also holding a contest every month. Check it out at the Muse It Up Bookstore. Hurry and enter today to win the January free e-book.

Be sure to return to this blog every Tuesday and Thursday in February to see what Cupid Reads. Check the sidebar for the schedule.

Happy Valentine's Day to You!