Treat writing as a job. Be disciplined. Lots of writers…
““Treat writing as a job. Be disciplined. Lots of writers get a bit OCD-ish about this. Graham Greene famously wrote 500 words a day. Jean Plaidy managed 5,000 before lunch, then spent the afternoon answering fan mail. My minimum is 1,000 words a day – which is sometimes easy to achieve, and is sometimes, frankly, like shitting a brick, but I will make myself stay at my desk until I've got there, because I know that by doing that I am inching the book forward. Those 1,000 words might well be rubbish–they often are. But then, it is always easier to return to rubbish words at a later date and make them better.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Treat writing like a disciplined job, set daily word goals, and push through low‑quality drafts to improve later.
In simple terms: Write daily, push through bad drafts.
Key Takeaway
Write 1,000 words daily.
Themes
creativity
discipline
productivity
Mood
determined
focused
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short‑story practice
- self‑editing
Key Concepts
habit formation
writing process
Questions to Reflect On
- What daily word count feels sustainable for you?
- How do you handle rough drafts?
A Different Perspective
High word counts may sacrifice depth and cause burnout.