The Daily Word Counts of 19 Famous Writers

Every writer has their own routine. Some work late into the night, others are early risers. But one thing most successful authors have in common is the commitment to writing every day. The magic number often boils down to their daily word count.

But just how many words did some of history’s most famous writers crank out every day? Let’s take a look at the daily writing habits of 19 legendary authors—and how their routines could inspire your own.

1. Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway famously wrote 500 words per day, preferring quality over quantity. He wrote early in the morning and often finished by noon.

2. Stephen King

King is known for his prolific output, writing 2,000 words a day. His routine involves writing in the morning and reading in the afternoon, staying focused on consistency rather than perfection.

3. Haruki Murakami

Murakami's writing schedule is almost meditative. He writes 10 pages a day, which is roughly 1,500 words. He also runs and listens to music every day to clear his mind.

4. George R.R. Martin

Famed for creating the Game of Thrones series, Martin writes about 1,000 words per day, though he admits the process is often slow and deliberate.

5. Ray Bradbury

Bradbury’s daily goal was 1,000 words. He was a firm believer in writing regularly, even when inspiration wasn’t striking.

6. Agatha Christie

The Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie, wrote 1,500 words a day, maintaining a strict schedule and often working from her home office.

7. Maya Angelou

Angelou wrote about 2,000 words per day and preferred to write in a hotel room or away from her home to escape distractions.

8. Virginia Woolf

Woolf wrote 1,000 words a day, focusing on novels and essays. Her disciplined writing was balanced with plenty of walking and reflection.

9. Neil Gaiman

Gaiman sets a flexible goal of 1,500 words a day, but often exceeds it. He’s known for working in the mornings, giving himself the afternoon off for reading and relaxation.

10. Jane Austen

Austen’s writing habit was steady, with about 1,000 words a day. Though she didn’t have a rigid schedule, she was known for producing large volumes of work in short bursts.

11. Charles Dickens

Dickens wrote 1,000 words a day during his busy schedule. He also had a fast-paced, regular routine of writing in the early morning.

12. J.K. Rowling

Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, wrote around 1,000 words a day, often working in cafes, where she could observe people for inspiration.

13. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald wrote 1,500 words a day, though he often struggled with deadlines and could get distracted by his personal life.

14. William Faulkner

Faulkner wrote about 1,500 words per day, using his unique, stream-of-consciousness writing style that required a lot of mental energy and concentration.

15. Truman Capote

Capote was notorious for being a slow writer, completing around 500 words a day, but he took great care to ensure every sentence was perfect.

16. Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut’s goal was 1,000 words a day, which he worked on from early morning until noon, before spending his afternoons reading and relaxing.

17. Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy wrote around 1,000 words a day, often working from dawn until 10 a.m. and spending his day reflecting or working on other projects.

18. Jack Kerouac

Known for his spontaneous style, Kerouac wrote 3,000 words a day during his most productive periods, often writing in long, continuous bursts.

19. H.G. Wells

Wells was highly prolific, writing an estimated 1,000 words a day. He kept a consistent routine, producing not only novels but also essays and non-fiction work.

📝 Conclusion: Find Your Own Pace

While every writer’s pace and method are different, the key takeaway is this: consistency is everything. Whether you aim for 500 or 3,000 words a day, it’s the daily commitment to writing that truly builds progress.

Use these daily habits as inspiration to create your own writing routine. Who knows? You might be the next literary giant!