In terms of actively writing, I recently figured out that over the last 4.5 years, since I wrote that 1st short story that turned into the Stream, I’ve averaged only 476 words per day. That’s about equal to a blog post, or about 1 1/3 paperback pages per day. However, over the 4.5 years, it adds up to 775,369 words. Of those, I’ve published 481,264 words and the rest are works-in-progress. None of them has won a Pulitzer, but who knows, the next one might.
My point is, just by writing consistently, and way less than Stephen King’s 3,000 words per day, I’ve finished 5 novels and a short story collection, and I’m 1/3 of the way through a 6th novel and another short story collection.
We are writers not because we create great works, or even because we write. We are writers because the stories will never quiet until you let them out.
Begin. Do. Be whom you were born to be. I promise that you are enough.
Raw, Naked Art 
Reblogged this on This Blog Intentionally Blank.
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My original fantasy novel, begun in ’99 and shelved in ’05 was 975,000 words. I carry it with me only when there’s a semi available to haul it. For years it was the book Godzilla preferred to read, for it was its own monster. There were a couple of other scrapped novels during the same period, one about 120,000 words and the other about 150,000. I project the online story will finish at 60-65,000 words. My WIP is about 135,000 words now, but will shrink a bit. I’m also assembling a poetry collection that will use approximately 100 of the 450 poems I’ve written. Then there are some short stories…
So many words and numbers, but it’s interesting to look at them. I dare say that each word changes us a bit and after sharing so many that neither of us are the person we were. Time brings change, of course, but the amount of change that occurs when extracting hundreds of thousands of words is extraordinary.
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Christina, I cannot imagine writing a 975,000-word book. Even over 6 years, that’s quite a labor of love. I agree that each word changes us. Each affirmation improves us. After well over a million words, you must have changed quite a bit. 🙂
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Labor of love? Yeah. Ignorance is bliss? Definitely. Still, your body of work is considerable and despite all my words there’s nothing published yet. Too, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so by that measure a million words are clearly in your rearview mirror several times over. There are many ways to change.
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I guess that depends on your definition of “published.” Increasingly, I don’t consider indie publishing to be published.
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Well, than call it “experienced,” for certainly all that you’ve learned about yourself and the industry will serve you well if you turn down the traditional publishing path. No matter the path you take I wish you the best. 🙂
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Thank you.
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This is a brilliant post 🙂 Really inspirational 🙂
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.
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