It depends on your goals. My daily quota helps me to achieve my monthly and yearly goals. It has served me well for a number of years. And yes, I am writing for a living, so that daily quota helps me to achieve the production levels I want, and it is not in exclusion to other parts of the writing craft.

Some people also get really stressed out by number goals. Or by large number goals. If it is making you anxious, I think you should find a goal or measurement that works better for you.

Another thing about a writing quota is that it also tells me when to stop. I am capable of writing 13,000 words in a day, but if I do that, I won’t have time to complete the rest of the writing/publishing/business tasks that I need to do. When I reach my quota, I put writing aside and take care of those other, often less pleasant, jobs.