Greetings, SE’ers! Beem Weeks here with you again. Today, I’m discussing daily word counts and forced inspiration.

I’ve seen it on many blogs, in Facebook groups, and in tweets across the internet: Authors boasting of daily word counts. “I force myself to write at least a thousand words per day,” one claims. Another swears by two thousand words per day—even if the mood has all but vanished! Other writers attempt something within reach, like perhaps a daily word count closer to two hundred—no need in pushing too hard.

Word counts are fine for motivational purposes. I have no problem with daily a limit—so long as it inspires.

But inspiration is often the casualty of daily word counts. Just because an author has forced him- or herself to write two thousand words in a single sitting doesn’t mean all those words are worth another person’s time (or money) in reading.

I…