Says who? Where is the Big Writer Referee who determines if you are producing sufficient numbers of sellable words? So you’re not SuperWriter. Relax. Breathe.

We’re supposed to be having fun, remember? OK, yes, sometimes there are parts of the book, and of the publishing process, that are less enjoyable. Yes, some of us agree to do things that we regret taking on (academic writing comes to mind, in some cases, or reviewing potential academic books for a university press). Some days it is a slog. That can be a warning sign that either 1) you are approaching the story from the wrong direction, 2) you’re writing the wrong story, or 3) you need a physical and mental break from [insert list of things here]. Or in my case, you are doing dialogue, which does not come naturally. Description flows more quickly and easily than do conversations.

Too, what is “productive?” I am half-way through one book, and starting to research read for the next one. Is reading productive? Well, in this case, yes, because the MC in NewBook is a skilled craftsman, and I need to learn how a medieval craftsman would do [The Thing]. Then it will be easier for me to write, and fit him into the economy and social system of the place and time where he lives and works.

For some people, getting ideas down in a “for future use” notebook is productive. For others, more than a few hundred, or dozen, or any words. Proofreading an old story for sale later is productive. Brainstorming “who is the antagonist, anyway?” can be amazingly productive. [Just solved that one, thank you!] Reading in the genre or subgenre to see what the current and new tropes and beats are? Productive.

For others? Last spring, it was “I put words on a page.” They might have nothing to do with what I was supposed to be writing, but they were words. It might be going through the ‘Zon, or B&N, or looking at a new-books print book store and studying cover trends for your genres. It might be doing something totally outside what you are “supposed” to be doing, to help refill the well, refresh the spirit, or learn something very different from the usual. Very few of us can produce words all day, every day. Or just “six out of seven days.” Even if you are writing on a deadline, give yourself grace, and breathing room. Productivity can be reducing clutter to make yourself more efficient once you do sit down (or stand, or walk) to write.

My peak productive was eight thousand words in a day, including footnotes. Now, it is closer to six thousand, ending the day with “I am sooo tired, brain drained, and thirsty, with eyes that will not uncross and a crik in my neck.” I can’t do that daily, because of Life, Day Job, and other things. But if I get some words down, or read toward a book? I’m good.

Productive is you, whatever that looks like for you. We’re not all Christopher Nuttall at his peak, or some of the pulp generation.