In the post, I suggested tracking the number of words you write (and the time you spend writing) across several writing sessions to figure out your average.
It might seem a bit cold and clinical to track how many words you write. After all, you might (rightly!) feel that writing should be something to enjoy. And if tracking your speed makes you feel pressured or stressed about your writing, then please don't feel that it's something you need to do.
For many writers, though, knowing how fast you write can be really useful.
#1: Tracking Your Writing Speed Lets You Plan Your Time Better
If you're writing a novel, you might want to have a clear idea of when you'll have your first draft finished so that you can book a slot on your editor's busy calendar.
Or if you're a freelancer, you'll want to know how long an assignment is likely to take. That way, you can give your client an accurate quote, plus you can plan your time accordingly.
Or perhaps you're a blogger. You might be fitting in your blogging around a day job (that's what I'm doing at present, too). If you want to fit everything into your week, it'll definitely help to know how long it's likely to take you to write a blog post.
In all these cases, you'll also want to allow time for activities like research, planning, editing, and general admin ... as well as the writing itself.
#2: Tracking Your Writing Speed Can Help You Get More From Your Writing Time
If you're timing how long it takes to write 1,000 words, you might find it that bit easier to resist distractions.
You can also watch out for things that might be throwing you off track without your realising. For instance, you might find you consistently write faster in the morning than in the evening, or that you write faster when you're at your desk in your bedroom instead of sitting on the sofa.
You might not want to track your writing speed all the time: frankly, most writers would probably find that a bit much. But if you don't currently have a clear idea of how fast you write, or if you feel that you've been more distractable than usual recently, tracking your writing speed over the course of a few writing sessions can be really helpful.
Just remember: the goal isn't to write as fast as possible! Instead, you want to figure out a comfortable writing speed – one that you can stick with and enjoy. Once you know your speed, you can plan accordingly.
Happy writing,
Ali x
