When I was little, I’d get completely lost in a story, swept up by the voice guiding me through each page or line. Now I realize it was the narrator that captivated me—the way the voice shaped my experience, carried me into each scene, and made me feel part of the story. I’d copy lines from poems or stories I loved and then rewrite them in that same voice, as if I could learn to see the world just as the author did. The poems of Christina Rossetti, Johanna Spyri’s vivid description in Heidi, and the plainspoken voice of Laura Ingalls Wilder became my models, my companions.
When I discovered the Writers Studio years later and saw how they teach writing with a focus on the narrator, it felt like finding a home. Their approach enters critical thinking about writing through the lens of the narrator—a perspective that immediately clicked for me. And I think this focus on the narrator can become a powerful tool, an umbrella of sorts, that guides everything from character development to pacing and setting.
During the month of November, many writers take on new writing goals. And so often, we hear these goals delivered in numbers: 50,000 words in the month, 1,667 words a day, 543 words this sprint, or 2,000 words a week…the list goes on.
I think word count works for many people. I’ve used it myself with success…sometimes. But counting words doesn’t always work. Focusing too much on quantity can mean your quality takes a nosedive. Or it can push you down a path you didn’t want to go—only to realize, 28,000 words later, it wasn’t the story you meant to tell.
I’ve decided that while there are times to use word count, for me, this month isn’t that time. Instead, I’ll be focusing on other ways to make meaningful writing progress this November. So, instead of chasing a specific word count, here’s what I’ll be focusing on to make real progress.
Start with Ideas, Not Just Words
Progress doesn’t always show up in word count
Sometimes, progress is about capturing the ideas that will add depth and momentum to your story. Here are a few ways to make progress that goes beyond simply stacking up words:
1. Spend time with your characters’ backstories
Backstory work can be hugely rewarding, even if none of it ends up on the page. Dig into what drives your characters and the beliefs that shape their choices. Knowing them on this level gives you layers to pull from later on, making their motivations more believable and their relationships more complex while also making it more fun to keep writing.
2. Sketch out your key scenes
If you know certain scenes are crucial to the story, take the time to outline or even draft them. Think about what needs to happen in each scene to shift the story forward or reveal something unexpected. A strong scene can anchor your story in your mind and heart, creating emotional weight even when other parts are still coming together, helping you continue to progress.
3. Add texture to your world
Whether your story’s set in a contemporary town or a fantastical realm, spend time making the setting feel real. Details like geography, history, and social dynamics add texture and give your setting a "lived-in" feel. These choices give the story a richer backdrop and help it feel authentic, whether the world is imaginary or based in reality, and every time you make the world a little more textured, check off your progress!
Get to Know Your Narrator
A strong understanding of your narrator holds everything together
When you have a clear sense of who your narrator is, the rest of the story starts to take shape around them—pacing, character depth, and tone can all flow naturally from a well-developed narrator.
In other words, a strong narrator doesn’t just tell the story—they help unify it.
I'm going through this firsthand as I work on a collection of shorter, connected stories. I realized that even though they weren't part of a single scene, they needed a throughline to feel like one piece so the grouping would work. I decided to focus on making the narrator’s voice a steady presence across each story. This approach gave me the thread I needed, transforming separate pieces into a cohesive whole and even giving me additional story ideas to try.
Set Goals That Matter to Your Story
Skip the numbers and focus on what your story actually needs
Instead of setting high word count goals, try goals that bring out what your story needs right now. Here are a few ideas that might work, depending on where you are with your project:
1. Use dialogue to reveal character
Spend some time experimenting with dialogue. Aim to make your characters’ voices distinct—showing quirks, conflicts, or relationships. Realistic dialogue can bring characters to life, add tension, and often hints at what’s unspoken, letting you show character development in subtle ways.
2. Play with your story’s arc
Look at the way your story flows and ask yourself if there are structural changes you could make. Maybe scenes could be reordered to reveal things more naturally, or perhaps it needs a shift in pacing. Finding the right arc helps the story’s emotional beats land just right, giving it a sense of natural progression.
3. Bring out the theme through tone
You can emphasize themes by weaving them in through subtle details in tone, setting, or even the narrator’s perspective. For example, if your theme is resilience, maybe the narrator, in the middle of "dark times" for the character, has them focus on the landscape’s beauty. Tone and theme can work together to reinforce your message without spelling it out.
In one story I later published, I wanted to emphasize the disjointedness of the experience. I focused on pacing, with the narrator setting a rhythm through the structure choices. The story felt dynamic because the pace naturally sped up or slowed down to suit each scene.
Focusing on voice helped me avoid filler—it’s ultimately what made the story work and find a home in literary magazine. You can read it here.
Don’t Forget to Celebrate Small Wins
Sometimes, little breakthroughs are worth more than big numbers
The “aha” moments—like finding the right dialogue, perfecting a description, or landing on the right word to set a scene—are all "wins" that bring your story closer to what you wanted to bring to life on the page when you first started. Each of these moments adds up to a richer, more polished piece of writing that better matches the vision you had when you started.
This month, I’m focusing on spending 60 minutes a day with the same story. For me, dedicating that time to one project keeps me grounded, strengthens the narrator’s voice, and helps me build continuity without bouncing from one idea to the next.
Focus on the Story’s Heart, Not Just the Numbers
At the end of the day, real progress isn’t just about reaching a word count. It's about creating a story that resonates with you, with your readers, and feels complete. By working on the layers that make a story meaningful, you can make progress that reaches beyond the numbers.
However you choose to work this November, remember that every small step forward is progress worth celebrating!
How do you mark your writing progress? I want to know! Reach out and tell me about your writing experience.
Happy writing!
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