Writing Progress Tracker

Sustainable daily goals range from 250-1000 words depending on your schedule and writing stage. For rough drafting, aim for 500-750 words per day. For revision and editing, word count may decrease but quality improves. Writing 500 words/day, 5 days/week produces 10,000 words/month - a full dissertation chapter. Consistency matters more than high daily totals. Track actual output to set realistic goals based on your personal productivity patterns rather than aspirational targets you cannot maintain.

Track both for comprehensive productivity assessment. Time tracking shows consistent work habits and identifies productive times of day. Word count tracking measures tangible output and progress toward completion goals. Some writing sessions (literature review, outlining, editing) produce few new words but are essential work. Others (drafting results) generate high word counts. Tracking both metrics gives complete picture: time invested and words produced. Calculate words per hour to identify your most productive conditions.

Break large projects into manageable milestones (complete introduction, draft methods section, revise chapter 2). Celebrate small wins - finishing a section is progress. Track cumulative word counts to visualize total progress. Share goals and deadlines with advisors or writing groups for accountability. Write during your peak productivity hours. Use timers for focused writing sessions (Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes writing, 5 minutes break). Accept that some days produce more than others - consistency over time matters more than daily perfection.