1) How many words do you write a day?
I'm currently trying to write 2000 words a day, the first three days was easy and now I struggle a little hitting between 1200 - 1500
2) Are word counts really important when it comes to writing novels, of it would have to be substantial but could it really get you rejected? I have the word count for young adult novels range from 50k - 90k words.
Michelle,
In my humble opinion, statistics and creativity have very little in common. I understand completely your drive and self-discipline for your writing and I applaud you. Completing a task as daunting as a novel does indeed require significant amounts of both.
Unfortunately, the swiftest killers of creativity are analysis and stress.
Might I suggest an alternative.
Focus on creating one good scene per day. Focus on the scene, not the words. Let the words create themselves. I well fleshed-out scene is easily 1500+ words.
I think you will find that in changing your state of mind and sinking in to the world you create, the words will become simply tools.
The words we write are vehicles for our imagination. The destination is the completed work. The journey is the most important part, and the most enjoyable.
Thank you all for answers.
I try to write for at least two hours a day and you're right I do get stressed out when I can't hit my set word count but I felt it important to make writing every day one of my new habits.
Forgot to say that the word count list wasn't produced by myself but another notable contributor to this site. I just cut-and-pasted.
PabloJ.