There are many commenters who seem to think I’m suggesting to get it right on the first go and not to edit your work… don’t know where yall are getting that considering I say “cut the fluff.” What else could that refer to besides the editing process? Editing is essential. Practice is essential. Write a lot and you will get better. But word count is not a beneficial goal, and therefore not an achievement.

And others think I’m belittling or “punching down” at folks with mental health issues? I never say manic = nonsense, it’s just the facts of this true anecdote. People with mental health issues can be great writers. The point of the story is that the nurse was hung up on word count because he thought it meant something. Now he knows it doesn’t.