I went to a gathering of local writers from Devon and Cornwall last week. Although I have been living back in the UK for five years, I have been a bit of a recluse. A lot had to do with Covid and the self-enforced isolation that seemed not only to curb my freedom, but my confidence too. It’s only now that I am slowly putting out feelers and making new writer friends.
Anyway, about twenty of us met in a lovely restaurant in Exeter and I found I was sitting next to a writer who epitomizes the word “prolific.” I won’t list the number of books of all genres (from Sci-Fi to Romance and non-fiction to ghost writing), that she churns out annually but what stopped me in my tracks (actually, I almost choked on my Halloumi fries) was her goal to write HALF A MILLION WORDS a year. And she casually said she usually comes close.
My first thought was that she had to be a robot. My second, maybe she uses ChatGPT, or maybe she’s a “first line writer.” I use that phrase because my former husband wrote for a TV show and was once accused of being a “first line writer” which upset him greatly. For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s an insult literally saying, “writing the first thing that comes to mind.” I did ask my new writer friend (who was also very nice which made it hard to dislike her) her process. Was she a Pantzer? Did rewriting, editing, and proofreading count towards the magic 500,000 words but nope, I was assured her words were all brand new.
So what’s wrong with me? If I’m lucky, on a good day, I could write nine hundred new words. I’ll probably go back and rewrite them a few times. My books under contract ask for 70,000 to 75,000 words (relatively small if you are used to 80,000 and above). Once, I wrote two books in one year so that topped at 140,000. I never used to be obsessed with my word count until that lunch.
To make myself feel better, I did a bit of research. In my defence, I still have a full-time job, a sick mother, two demanding dogs and – fanfare of trumpets – I’ve just become a grandmother for the first time … so I’m a little busy.
Even so – here are a few famous authors and their daily word counts.
- Tom Wolfe: 135 words. As you can imagine, each book takes a very long time to write.
- Ernest Hemingway: 500.
- Graham Greene: 500. He said that when he has written his 500 words, he stops – even if it’s in the middle of a scene.
- Ian McEwan: 600.
- W. Somerset Maugham: 1,000. Maugham said there was no set formula on writing. “There are three rules for writing a novel,” he said. “Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
- Peter James: 1,000. Once you start writing a book, make time to write every single day. Find a comfortable number of words for you to write each day and stick to that number. I am comfortable with 1000 words.
- Margaret Attwood: 1,000-2,000.
- Mark Twain: 1,400 to 1,800. Twain believed that location was important to his word count. I write very well on transatlantic flights, so I think he has a point.
- Lee Child: 1,800. He says it takes him about six months from the first blank screen until the end.
- Stephen King: 2,000. As a side note, if you haven’t read his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, or you haven’t read it for a while, it’s worth revisiting. Stephen says that following this would add up to about 180,000 words in three months … well on track for the annual 500,000 goal but what about rewriting? Speaking of Ernest Hemingway, he famously said that “All writing is rewriting.”
- Nicholas Sparks: 2,000. He says his is a daily goal which takes him about five or six hours to write.
- Anne Rice: 3,000.
- Arthur Conan Doyle: 3,000.
- Michael Crichton: 10,000. Okay, this one got my attention. He’s up there with my new writer friend.
POSTSCRIPT: Okay … yesterday I was part of an event at the Torquay Museum called Crime at the Coast – sitting next to me was another prolific author who writes four, 70,000-word cozies a year, screenplays for her TV job and a standalone. I didn’t have the courage to ask her if she topped half a million words a year but one thing is certain, I’m just desperately slow.
So … what about you? Do you write to a daily word count?
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The Writers in Residence 
I might have a lot of books in print and I keep a log of how many words are in those books, but I only have 2,684,194 words in print. Your friend must have a pretty strong work schedule. But I keep at it. That’s all we can do. An eye-opening post, Hannah.
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ONLY have 2,685,194??? I am in awe 🙂
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Miko here. Allow me to address the question you posed – “What’s wrong with me?”The answer: Absolutely nothing (at least as far as writing). I admire your prolific friend’s dedication to her writing, as well as her lofty goal, if the quality matches the quantity. It also reminds me of Robert Klein’s old routine about speed reading. A writer can agonize over getting the right word, but what does it matter when the reader flys by the pages at 300 miles an hour? I say be the best you can be, whatever that means to you.
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I like that thought — I always overthink things and it takes me ages to even write a tweet (not that I tweet any longer) – but you are so right! Thank you for this.
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Anonymous Maddie here, I LOVED your post, Hannah–on several levels. Love visiting England with you! And I couldn’t be on anyone’s list and you have definitely given me a measuring option to get in the grove with my latest…can’t seem to get going. And isn’t it amazing we’re communicating back and forth across The Pond like this! I remember as a kid (in the dark ages!) having a pen pal in Africa and it took several weeks to exchange letters…
Thanks for a thought provoking and energizing post, Hannah. Well appreciated this morning.
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Oh Maddie – your response made me smile and, in fact, your enthusiasm has perked me up no end! And isn’t the world so small now. My first pen pal lived in France. I was about ten. His name was Didier. We never met. I loved waiting for his letters. I think this “instant-want-it-now” society takes the joy out of anticipation. Do you know what happened to your Pen Pal? And where in Africa?
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Sadly no. Wish we had kept up… I was so self absorbed in those days, he sadly slipped away… wish I could grab back some of those times and activities.
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I’ve never really kept track of how many words I write, Hannah, but recently I’ve been cranking out three books a year. But I’m slowing down now, so next year I don’t know yet how prolific I’ll be, but less so than before. Interesting thing to think about, though. I certainly like words. Maybe I should start counting too.
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I know how prolific you are Linda!! I think I keep count to prove to myself that I have written some “words.” It sounds like you don’t need that proof … and you have so many books!!
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I like what Miko wrote: “I say be the best you can be, whatever that means to you.” We all have a different approach to our writing, and we don’t need to follow a one size fits all model.
I don’t tweet anymore, either!
Maggie (in case I’m still in anonymous jail)
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I love what Miko said too – I wrote it on a sticky note and put it on my white board above my computer. Sometimes I just need to be reminded!
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Oh Hannah – what a fun post! I envy you the lovely lunch in Exeter, surrounded by fellow writers. Hard to beat. The West Country, where you are, is my favorite part of England. I was born in Somerset, spent much of my childhood in Brixham and Bristol.
But the mention of those huge word number makes me groan. Maybe your new friend never sleeps!
Or has a secretary, like the prolific Barbara Cartland did. Although that list of others writers’ word counts is encouraging. Something to work towards. And I’m really impressed that you can write anything with your busy life over there – Grandma!
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Rosemary! I didn’t know you ailed from the West Country. Brixham is only a 30 minute drive away. I’ve enjoyed many a Pirate Festival there. I am glad I took the step to meet those fellow writers – I’m actually quite shy but spending time with kindred spirits is so important … rather like this lovely group of writers here! Do you ever get back to this neck of the woods? You have to let me know! Yes being a grandmother is still very new … I’m loving the cuddles without the sleepless nights!
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That Anonymous was Rosemary, in case you hadn’t guessed!
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Hi Hannah, now that you have thoroughly demoralized me with a demand for my daily word count, I am off to play pickleball. What a fascinating group of quotes from the writers in your post. I love Maugham’s, of course. It seems a little demeaning to ask a writer their word count- it is rally no one’s business, but of course, we all want to know! Personally, I like to check my total rather than by session as I feel it far more satisfying to see a large number rather than a small one. Say if I’d only written 78 and got stuck? Would that encourage me to forge ahead and writer drivel or to close down the document? So glad you have found your writing community – I am getting there but these New Englanders are a dour lot.
cheers, jill
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Of course … I don’t always practice what I preach! Although with the word count feature on scrivener – it’s very satisfying when a banner flies across the screen saying you’ve made it for the day. Have fun playing pickleball. It seems to be very popular and a lot of fun!
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Hannah, I wish I was there again with you – being grandma, meeting with other writers, running your dogs, even visiting your Mom (the inspiration for your Honeychurch Hall books). Hey! By the way, congrats on the new, latest one out in the series – Dagger of Death! Look at your list of books – pretty impressive to ME. (Hmm, I wonder if that book shop in St. Ives followed up with my request and bought some of your books?)
For me, with my 12 or so short stories, I think my word count might be, oh, say, around 75,000 TOTAL, for my life. Hahaha. Beat that!!
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We had such a lovely time together Jackie – and your tour around England sounded so much fun too. Thanks for the new book congrats … you are right, the Honeychurch series was inspired by my mom (now 94) – especially the character of Iris (the romance writer). The funny thing is that Mom thinks that Iris is me … so proving the theory that no one ever recognizes themselves in a book. As for your short stories and word count, I wish I could write a short story. They are harder to write than a full-length novel. Quality over quantity I think!
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Writing is about words, not numbers.
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…. I will hold onto that thought! Hard! Thanks for the comment 🙂
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