Missing blog word count tools
Just wrote this on the about page:
One last thing. I’m bored with long and woolly writing on many blogs. Print has hard limits. So should online writing. Therefore, I’m going to keep to a word count for posts: 300 words should be ample.
Now I’m writing, I can’t see any way in wordpress to check the number of words in a post. There isn’t in the movable type version I use at work either, or on livejournal. Can’t recall about blogger, vox etc. Will have to investigate the Mac, Windows and PC posting apps. No wonder so much blog writing is flabby.
There is (or was) a WordPress.org plugin that lets you check the word count of any post from your dashboard. If you really need it, let me know – I’ve got it installed on one of my sites.
Ben L
November 10, 2008 at 6:21 am
Oh, I just noticed you’re using WordPress.com. Can’t help, I’m afraid.
Ben L
November 10, 2008 at 6:22 am
This an interesting larger point though.
One of the touted benefits of online writing is exactly the freedom of length. No longer must an argument be truncated to fit the ad at the bottom of the column, as the column is as long as you like at no extra cost. Devices such as ‘below the fold’ or the splitting of short articles into multiple pages are used mainly by commercial sites trying to maximise ad inventory and revenue (I’m looking at you, Speccie).
So I for one looked forward to seeing my favourite writers – and new voices – given the opportunity to expand to fill the space.
But I do think you have a point. It is often the restraint of form that generates creativity, and so a self-imposed word limit may work well.
I can’t find the link but there is a graph somewhere showing two large increases in the average word-length of novels – one when the dedicated word-processor replaced the typewriter, and one when the PC replaced the word processor. In both cases ease of creation produced more creation. Were writers cramped by technology previously or are they now too untrammelled? The latter I suspect – I haven’t seen a similar graph showing a concomitant increase in quality of published novel.
Nick R
November 10, 2008 at 8:56 am
Hey Nick, agree that online offers greater freedom and flexibility. Problem is that some people abuse it on length of writing.
My approach is going to be to do more frequent short pieces, rather than long, but rare posts. ie tell experiences as they develop, rather than wait until something is “finished” before writing it up.
ianfogg
November 10, 2008 at 1:25 pm
A shy reader points me to the save/publish box, on the right, on WordPress’ write a post page. Under the large friendly buttons that make a post live, and so grab all my attention, is a word count readout in a tiny font.
ianfogg
November 11, 2008 at 12:03 am