Like nano, the rules are loose. Whatever you are comfortible with is probably fine. If at some point it feels easier because you feel like you are cheating, then that probably isn't fine.
I'm in ren'py and I'm not sure if I should include the show commands in my wordcount. On one hand it isn't writing, but it in a pure novel, those pictures would be replaced by longer description and if I want to finish I'll have to spend time setting up the assets anyway.