Boy, aren’t y’all a curious bunch! More answers to more questions.
Are you going for a specific word count?
No.
1. I don’t want to limit or fool myself and hitting 50,000 words (or any other arbitrary limit) would make me think that my story is done regardless of if I’d hit all of the right beats and closed up all of the plotholes. Similarly, if I get the story out but haven’t gotten to 50,000 words, I might feel pressure to add words. Knowing me, that means more plot which only works to wildly confuse matters.
2. I know enough about revising to know that the manuscript will shrink and grow during the revision and critique process, so I’m not worried about the word count right now.
Are you a Pantser or a Plotter?
For the uninitiated, “Pantsers” are those who write by the seat of their pants; they just start typing and let the muse take the pen or the keyboard. “Plotters” outline and try to plan out the story before writing.
I am a dreamer-plotter who will pants as a last resort.
Most of the future rejects started out as daydreams that can be most easily summarized as “What would happen if…”
After I’ve played in the daydream for a while, I try to wrangle what I recall into a 9-part/3-act outline with GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict). I usually find that I’m missing realistic GMC and Acts I and III of the outline.
But if I’m still interested, I try to write up notes from my memories of the daydreams (not the easiest task in the world, I don’t mind saying) while brainstorming on the pieces that I’m missing. Sometimes it works and I get most of the way to a full outline which I then try to parlay into a full manuscript. Sometimes it doesn’t, so then I pants.
Either way, I’m still trying to get to a full manuscript.
Will you read my story/draft/novella?
No.
I. Sphinx