Everybody Writes, 2nd Edition

30Set a Goal Based on Word Count (Not Time)

Y ou can't improve what you don't measure is the old management maxim highlighting data's key role in any operation.

It's sometimes attributed to Peter Drucker and sometimes to statistician William Edwards Deming. (Neither actually said it—but the Internet still wants to fight about it.)

Setting metrics and goals is just as useful for writing as it is for a modern-day Peter or William or whoever.

Clocking a daily metric lets you track and celebrate and feel proud of your progress.

Think of setting a daily writing goal as setting a step goal in your Fitbit. Over time, you'll become a fitter, stronger writer.

And similar to Fitbit, measure your output—words—rather than time. Said another way, but in bold:

Track the number of words you write. Not how long it took to write them.

It doesn't do much for you to stare at a blank page and blinking cursor for 30 minutes. It's depressing. It's useless.

It's far better to keep your hands moving. Keep writing. Keep going. Do not stop your fingers from choreographing their own improvised tap dance as they move across a keyboard or across a page.

Your exact word goal is your call; you set your own benchmark.

My own daily goal is 999 words. (I talked about why 999 in Chapter 8.)

Not too long ago, author and photographer Dane Sanders wrote two books in the same year for Random House. Both books became best sellers.

Dane had always made writing a daily habit. But the grind of churning out two books ...