Challenge,  On Writing

Saturday Night Post

Fun Day Today…

I worked on my website stuff and some workshop recording while Kris worked this morning on writing and a video, then we headed out for a great lunch at a brand new place.

Then I shopped while Kris did some running, then deserts and home to watch a fun movie, have pizza for dinner, and I did a bunch of walking to get my steps while Kris read.

In other words, a pretty normal day for most people, totally relaxing anniversary for us. Felt weird to just relax and go slow for a day. Just not used to that. (grin)

And this blog keeps the blogging streak alive yet again on a night I just flat don’t feel like doing one. Wow, streaks are powerful things.

About 156 words total. If I did this many words on a novel every day for one year I would have a 55,000 words novel.

6 Comments

  • Mike Southern

    I wonder how many people will really think about that, Dean. Roughly 150 words/day = one 55,000-word novel/year.

    A sobering thought.

  • Philip

    Interesting side note here–and I know you’ve said this yourself before–but 50-55k to me is the sweet spot for a novel. As a reader, I love a book of that length and I purposely stay away from door-stoppers. It’s one of the big reasons I love reading old hardboiled mysteries from the 40s and 50s.

    Recently, I wanted to read my first Bosch novel by Michael Connelly and purposely selected The Overlook because it’s about 250 pages. Any mystery or thriller I’ve read that creeps over 400 pages, even if it’s still a great book, I’ve found tons of filler scenes or backstories that bog down the pace.

    This isn’t a diss to writers who write long, just an observation from my taste as a reader.

    • dwsmith

      Yup, me too. Just personal preference like you, but I grew up reading a billion novels back in the days when publishers didn’t want them over 50,000 words. So I have the same personal preference.

      • Jason M

        Same. I used to be all about the doorstoppers, but I really love shorter novels the older I get. I wonder if that’s a universal experience.