Green Where You Water It

As writers, we all grapple with how to measure progress in a way that feels productive and meaningful.

When it comes to building a sustainable writing routine, tracking progress is essential. But there’s an ongoing debate among writers: should you focus on tracking the number of words written or the time spent writing? Both methods have their merits and drawbacks, and the best approach often depends on your personal goals, writing style, and schedule.

Lets break down the pros and cons of each method to help you decide which one might work best for you.

I’ll also share how I use both in my process, which might spark some ideas of how you can incorporate both into yours if you choose.

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Tracking Words: Focusing on Output

Tracking word count is one of the most common methods writers use to measure their progress. Whether it’s hitting 500 words a day or reaching 50,000 for NaNoWriMo, word count offers a tangible way to gauge your productivity.

Pros of Tracking Words

1. Clear, Measurable Goals:
   Setting word count goals gives you a specific target to aim for, making it easier to see progress. Hitting 500 words a day? You’re killing it.
2. Encourages Completion:
   Tracking words can push you to keep writing, even on days when it’s hard, because you’re focused on reaching the finish line.
3. Great for Deadlines:
   If you’re working on a project with a tight timeline, word count tracking helps ensure you stay on track.
4. Motivation for Fast Drafting:
   If you’re writing a first draft and prioritizing speed over perfection, tracking words can keep you moving forward.

Cons of Tracking Words

Below is a list of cons along with some ideas of how to counteract them.

Pressure to Produce

Focusing solely on word count can lead to rushed writing, sacrificing quality for quantity.

Counteract:

You have two options:

1. Accept that the quality will be temporarily lower (until you spruce it up in the editing phase) or
2. Limit the daily goal to 300-500 words instead of 2,000 words. Or even 50 words if necessary. Experiment to see at what point quality decreases to an unacceptable level for you and set goal to the amount of words just before that. Good news is, once you get more writing practice in, you’ll see that number increase.

Ignores Non-Writing Tasks

Time spent brainstorming, outlining, or editing doesn’t contribute to your word count, even though it’s essential to the writing process.

Counteract:

• Separate planning/editing days from actual writing days. On writing days count word count.
• Anytime you need to do anything aside from putting words on the page, use the sacred square brackets technique. (e.g., [edit this later, don’t like the tone] or [research time travel options])

Can Discourage Revision

Editing might result in negative word count, which can feel like a setback even when it’s progress in disguise.

Counteract:

• Separate editing days from actual writing days. Don’t look back on prior work unless it’s to sink you back into your story world so you can plow on ahead. Trend for word count is kind of obvious but just to lay it out there: word counting only applies to drafting stage, not for any other phase in the writing process. Positive point is, if you separate drafting from all other phases, focusing your effort on one thing and one thing only could give you more progress in terms of words on page. (Might not be quality words YET, but words nonetheless.)

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Tracking Time: Focusing on the Process

Tracking time is about committing to specific periods of focused writing rather than worrying about the output. For example, you might write for 30 minutes a day or set aside an hour every weekend.

Pros of Tracking Time

1. Encourages Consistency:
   Writing regularly, regardless of the output, helps establish a sustainable habit over time.
2. Inclusive of All Writing Activities:
   Time spent brainstorming, researching, or revising counts toward your goal, recognizing the full creative process.
3. Reduces Pressure:
   With no word count to hit, you can focus on writing thoughtfully rather than rushing to meet a quota.
4. Flexible for Busy Schedules:
   If your life is hectic, setting aside a specific time window can make writing feel achievable, even on your busiest days.

Cons of Tracking Time

Below is a list of cons along with some ideas of how to counteract them.

Progress May Feel Abstract

Unlike word count, it’s harder to quantify what you’ve achieved in a given session.

Counteract:

• Pair time tracking with a mini-goal for each session, such as “draft one scene” or “write 300 words.” This gives you both structure and measurable progress.
• Keep a log of what you accomplish in each session to see how time translates into results.

Risk of Low Productivity

Time spent writing doesn’t always translate to meaningful progress if distractions or slow thinking take over.

Counteract:

• Eliminate distractions during writing time (e.g., turn off notifications, use focus apps, or write in a quiet space).
• Use timed writing sprints (e.g., 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break) to maximize productivity during sessions.

Requires Discipline

It’s easy to let your mind wander if you’re not motivated by an immediate goal, like a word count.

Counteract:

• Create a writing ritual to signal to your brain that it’s time to focus (e.g., light a candle, play specific music).
• Start with small, manageable time commitments, like 15 minutes, and gradually build up as writing becomes a habit.
• Have a session goal, so you have something you’re working on completing within that 30-min or 1 hour block of time.

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Which Approach Is Right for You?

The decision between tracking words or time often depends on your goals, writing style, and personality. Here are some questions to help you decide:

Choose Tracking Words If:

• You’re working toward a specific deadline or target, such as finishing a draft or entering a contest.
• You thrive on measurable goals and enjoy seeing tangible progress.
• You’re drafting quickly and prioritizing output over polish.
• You’re a pantser and don’t require much planning

Choose Tracking Time If:

• You want to focus on the process, including brainstorming and revising.
• You’re balancing a busy schedule and need flexibility.
• You’re prone to perfectionism and want to reduce pressure on output.
• You’re a planner and are meticulous about getting all the details right

A Blend of Both Approaches

My preferred way of keeping track of projects:

I track words when I’m discovery drafting. I’m not sure of the entire plotline but I have some scenes or ideas in my mind that I want to get down on paper and it doesn’t have to be perfect.

I track time when I’m in my bookend phases: planning & editing. That’s when I use the Writing Checklist to set session goals. It keeps me focused on creating a more cohesive storyline after my initial thought dump/discovery draft phase by allowing me the time to research and map things out properly.

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Progress Over Perfection

Whether you track words, time, or both, the most important thing is that you keep moving forward. Because every word, every minute, brings you closer to telling your story.

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If you haven’t already, try experimenting with both methods: spend one day writing with a word count goal and another focusing on time. Which approach feels more natural to you?

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