Writers tend to set their daily word count goals. Once they achieve a certain number, they would stop writing and leave it for the next day. This approach worked for many and it still does.
But, be aware that a daily word count can be both good and bad thing and it depends on your approach at failure.
When the writing comes easily and you can knock 500, 1000, or even 2000 words in one sitting without any problems, it gives you a reason for celebration; and celebrate you should.
However, you must be aware that on some days these 500, 1000, 2000 or even 100 words won’t come as easily as you wish them too, and sometimes they won’t come at all. This pushes many writers in a pit of despair.
Don’t fall into that trap.
Just because you failed to deliver your word count for one day, doesn’t mean that you’re a failure.
Don’t be hard on yourself. You’re your own boss in this business and nobody likes having a jackass boss. If you were working in a company where you get scolded for every single minor failure, you would have quit that job a long time ago. Don’t be the reason for quitting something you loved in the first place.
Remember your school teachers? We all had these hardass math and science teachers who would punish us for every mistake and now we hate everything related to these subjects. Don’t be one of them; especially not to yourself.
Try to figure out what went wrong and then fix it; have a different approach; try a writing a different scene, or from a different point of view.
Even if you can’t find the problem, it’s not a reason for despair. Sometimes, you just have bad days. Try to relax; take walk; exercise; read something; watch a movie; have a nice meal; spend some time with your family or friends; call someone; write an email; enjoy your life.
Even if you haven’t fulfilled your word count, cherish the fact that you did something; even if it means adding and erasing the comma. You showed up, you tried and you failed; nothing wrong with that.
Now, get up and do it again.