perringwrites:

writingtothestars:

question time!

how many words do you think is too much for a first draft/how long are your first drafts? i think i have a problem because i’m only four chapters into shadow and ash and i already have over 25k word’s. granted, it’s the first draft so a lot is going to be purged during editing but i’m just curious. reblog or leave a note with your answer please i need help lol.

I’m underwriter, so gosh wish that was me (my first draft clocks under 60k, but it will get longer by the second draft.) Honestly I think the only way for a draft to be too long is when you’re writing just because you feel like you need to hit a word count? I mean, those are helpful when you’re trying to keep momentum, but if you have everything you need it’s time to call it done. Write as many worfs as you need to tell the story.

I’m probably both and under- and overwriter in weird ways like I’ll skip whole sections and mark them with “[write later!]” but then have 10k chapters I know I’ll carve down to like the fifth of its length. the longest first draft I’ve ever had was probably around 170k for a 40-something chapter story so… there…

I also have to agree, it doesn’t do well to look at your wordcount unless your purpose is to hit a goal. The wordcount isn’t part of your story, if a chapter needs to be 10k words then don’t shorten it down because you’re feeling insecure about how long it is the same way you shouldn’t stuff a chapter full of filler stuff just because it’s suspiciously short.