Alice Dunn

Alice writes about the human side of counting words, focusing on how writers use counts to set goals and build momentum. She treats word counters as everyday tools rather than technical instruments. Her pieces are conversational and grounded in real writing routines.

She explores the questions writers actually wrestle with at 11 p.m. on a deadline. Should you count words before or after editing? What happens to your daily count when you cut a chapter in half? Is a 50,000-word novel really 50,000 words, or does that change depending on which counter you paste it into? She works through these scenarios honestly, often arriving at it depends.

Her articles offer perspective and encouragement, not prescriptive rules. She avoids telling writers exactly how many words they should produce each day or what their target should be. Everyone's process is different, and she makes sure her readers understand she's sharing observations rather than a one-size-fits-all method.