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S1: Day 70, 71, and 72 (70, 71, 72)
Nov. 10th, 2019 08:40 amI'm having a slow past few days as I reevaluate everything in life.
S1: Day 62 (62)
Oct. 31st, 2019 10:53 amWord Count: 3367
I didn't hit my goals yesterday, but here's why that's okay. The number above? I did that in two hoursish worth of working. Non-stop, basically constant working, during those two hours. What does this mean? This means I'm gaining word count speed! So if I can keep myself working in these 2-3 hour spurts and stay diligently working during them? That means I'll get LOTS done in less time than I originally thought.
This proves that I can do everything that I want to do in a day if I just put my mind to it. It also proves that it won't take up all of my day like I thought it would. This brings me so much hope.
I didn't hit my goals yesterday, but here's why that's okay. The number above? I did that in two hoursish worth of working. Non-stop, basically constant working, during those two hours. What does this mean? This means I'm gaining word count speed! So if I can keep myself working in these 2-3 hour spurts and stay diligently working during them? That means I'll get LOTS done in less time than I originally thought.
This proves that I can do everything that I want to do in a day if I just put my mind to it. It also proves that it won't take up all of my day like I thought it would. This brings me so much hope.
S1: Day 61 (61)
Oct. 30th, 2019 12:05 pmWord Count: 785
I have big goals for this week. Big goals.
1) To beat my all time word-count record for a day.
2) To average 7500 words over the next five days.
This will probably break my brain, but I actually want to do this. It's strange. There's definitely something wrong with me. :P
Two sleeps until nano!
I have big goals for this week. Big goals.
1) To beat my all time word-count record for a day.
2) To average 7500 words over the next five days.
This will probably break my brain, but I actually want to do this. It's strange. There's definitely something wrong with me. :P
Two sleeps until nano!
S1: Day 60 (60)
Oct. 29th, 2019 12:02 pmWord Count: 5275
That's right.
5275
Big. Day.
Today needs to be just as big if not bigger! But I'm tired, and I'm getting sick. Again. This cold plaguing our house doesn't ever want to leave, it seems. I plowed through it yesterday, so I'm sure I can do it again. I have a battle plan. I'm ready.
That's right.
5275
Big. Day.
Today needs to be just as big if not bigger! But I'm tired, and I'm getting sick. Again. This cold plaguing our house doesn't ever want to leave, it seems. I plowed through it yesterday, so I'm sure I can do it again. I have a battle plan. I'm ready.
S1: Day 59 (59)
Oct. 28th, 2019 10:57 amYesterday's Word Count: 2124
A lot of yesterday was spent doing things more than I thought it would be. The first part of the morning I worked my heart out which is where the bulk of my word count came from. Then there was family time in the afternoon, followed by a deep clean of the house before guests came over for a NaNoWriMo planning party! It should be fun this year, because I'm doing it with my son, who is also doing it with his friend, and her mom is joining in too! I have another local friend participating as well, and that makes it even more fun. Perhaps all five of us will end up getting together to work. We'll see!
For NaNoWriMo, I don't prep too hard core. Most of it was us talking about our ideas, and all that. I gave a few tips because they are first timers, and my tips are rather simple. I'll share them here.
1) Do not freak out if you miss your word count for the day. A lot of people play this game. "I'm supposed to be at 5001 words today. I'm 4897 words behind!" And have a total meltdown.
Here's what you do: Adjust the math. You're not doing 50,000 words in 30 days anymore. You're doing 49897 words in 27 days. This changes your daily goal from 1667 to 1800ish. And that is a lot less intimidating than trying to write almost 5000 words in one day. Don't break your brain. If you want to catch back up? Do a little extra. Do about 2000 words, or something along those lines. But do not freak out!
2) I find games to play. I'm a big fan of word crawls. There's a whole list of them here at: https://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/Word_crawl
My favorites are the Harry Potter word crawls, and the 8d20 challenge. Pokemon is also fun, as is the: Oh God I'm so Far Behind and Nano Ends Soon crawl.
There is another called the Over Achievers word crawl that I might attempt as well this year. Just because I have A LOT to do. A. Lot.
3) As a pantser, I usually just kind of wing things. But it helps to have a set of scenes I know need to be included in the story before I start. A goal of where I want the action to go. I highly recommend a scene list or outline direction.
4) Don't OVER plan your book, though. Some people get too caught up in the planning process and they get so fixated on that and needing everything perfect before the start. Having wiggle room in an outline helps with allowing for plot twists and other organic changes in the story that might unfold as you're working.
5) Don't overthink things period. A lot of people angst over the writing being perfect. The whole point of NaNoWriMo is to dump the story out and fix it later. Your story will not be perfect on the first writing. It will need editing and improving. That's just how it is. That's the whole point of editing. Save editing for 2-6 months after NaNoWriMo ends.
6) Meal planning isn't a necessity, but think about how you're going to spend your time cooking. Actually, think about how you're going to spend your time doing all of those nonwriting essentials of life in general. When will you write? When will you work-out? When will you do the cleaning? Is anyone going to be able to help you?
7) Think about small rewards to offer yourself for when you make your goals.
I could probably come up with more, but I'll start with those!
A lot of yesterday was spent doing things more than I thought it would be. The first part of the morning I worked my heart out which is where the bulk of my word count came from. Then there was family time in the afternoon, followed by a deep clean of the house before guests came over for a NaNoWriMo planning party! It should be fun this year, because I'm doing it with my son, who is also doing it with his friend, and her mom is joining in too! I have another local friend participating as well, and that makes it even more fun. Perhaps all five of us will end up getting together to work. We'll see!
For NaNoWriMo, I don't prep too hard core. Most of it was us talking about our ideas, and all that. I gave a few tips because they are first timers, and my tips are rather simple. I'll share them here.
1) Do not freak out if you miss your word count for the day. A lot of people play this game. "I'm supposed to be at 5001 words today. I'm 4897 words behind!" And have a total meltdown.
Here's what you do: Adjust the math. You're not doing 50,000 words in 30 days anymore. You're doing 49897 words in 27 days. This changes your daily goal from 1667 to 1800ish. And that is a lot less intimidating than trying to write almost 5000 words in one day. Don't break your brain. If you want to catch back up? Do a little extra. Do about 2000 words, or something along those lines. But do not freak out!
2) I find games to play. I'm a big fan of word crawls. There's a whole list of them here at: https://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/Word_crawl
My favorites are the Harry Potter word crawls, and the 8d20 challenge. Pokemon is also fun, as is the: Oh God I'm so Far Behind and Nano Ends Soon crawl.
There is another called the Over Achievers word crawl that I might attempt as well this year. Just because I have A LOT to do. A. Lot.
3) As a pantser, I usually just kind of wing things. But it helps to have a set of scenes I know need to be included in the story before I start. A goal of where I want the action to go. I highly recommend a scene list or outline direction.
4) Don't OVER plan your book, though. Some people get too caught up in the planning process and they get so fixated on that and needing everything perfect before the start. Having wiggle room in an outline helps with allowing for plot twists and other organic changes in the story that might unfold as you're working.
5) Don't overthink things period. A lot of people angst over the writing being perfect. The whole point of NaNoWriMo is to dump the story out and fix it later. Your story will not be perfect on the first writing. It will need editing and improving. That's just how it is. That's the whole point of editing. Save editing for 2-6 months after NaNoWriMo ends.
6) Meal planning isn't a necessity, but think about how you're going to spend your time cooking. Actually, think about how you're going to spend your time doing all of those nonwriting essentials of life in general. When will you write? When will you work-out? When will you do the cleaning? Is anyone going to be able to help you?
7) Think about small rewards to offer yourself for when you make your goals.
I could probably come up with more, but I'll start with those!
S1: Day 58 (58)
Oct. 27th, 2019 10:45 amYesterday's Word Count: 3333
A great day! Despite being busy, I got so much done and it feels wonderful! Today, I got a good kick in the pants to motivate me to do so much more than that. It's going to be a week that will make or break me. I'm choose make, of course. I will do whatever it takes to stay on task.
A great day! Despite being busy, I got so much done and it feels wonderful! Today, I got a good kick in the pants to motivate me to do so much more than that. It's going to be a week that will make or break me. I'm choose make, of course. I will do whatever it takes to stay on task.
S1: Day 57
Oct. 26th, 2019 07:17 pmYesterday I forgot to keep track of how much I wrote. I want to say it was close to 500 words. Yesterday was also a hard day for me to get things done. Today was even harder, but I've gotten things done and it's going well.
Today is also readathon, and I wanted to participate in that, but because I have so much I need to do I don't know if I'm going to be able to read at all.
Time to plow through the work and see if I can salvage some of those reading hours! Reading is very important to writing.
Today is also readathon, and I wanted to participate in that, but because I have so much I need to do I don't know if I'm going to be able to read at all.
Time to plow through the work and see if I can salvage some of those reading hours! Reading is very important to writing.
S1: Day 55 and 56 (55, 56)
Oct. 25th, 2019 11:01 amWord Counts: 4318 and 319
I had a hugely successful day recently, and yesterday I didn't have as great of a day as I wanted because the kids weren't feeling well.
Today is going to hopefully fall under successful, but it might have to wait a few hours before I can actually start with working.
I had a hugely successful day recently, and yesterday I didn't have as great of a day as I wanted because the kids weren't feeling well.
Today is going to hopefully fall under successful, but it might have to wait a few hours before I can actually start with working.
S1: Day 54 (54)
Oct. 23rd, 2019 10:02 amWord count: 867
I didn't do as much work as I wanted to. In fact, every bit of work I did was right at the end of the day. I was almost positive I was going to shut down and do NOTHING. Then I said: You know what? I'm going to edit for a bit. So I did. Then I looked at one of my projects and said: I'll write for ten minutes on this. So I did. Then I looked at my other project and said: I'm going to write for ten minutes on this one too! So I did.
The moral of the story is: Make it so. It really is that simple.
I didn't do as much work as I wanted to. In fact, every bit of work I did was right at the end of the day. I was almost positive I was going to shut down and do NOTHING. Then I said: You know what? I'm going to edit for a bit. So I did. Then I looked at one of my projects and said: I'll write for ten minutes on this. So I did. Then I looked at my other project and said: I'm going to write for ten minutes on this one too! So I did.
The moral of the story is: Make it so. It really is that simple.
S1: Day 53 (53)
Oct. 22nd, 2019 10:38 amYesterday's Count: 3486
I got plenty done, and I feel a lot better about a lot of things. There are projects that are past deadline that are trying to intimidate me, but I'm not going to let them. The deadline was missed. That's life. It's my choice to let that frustrate me to the point of quitting, or to say: "Self, you still gotta do it. Just do it and be late."
I'm doing the latter. I can't turn back time. I can't change my blunders, only accept them and do my best to make them right. So there's that.
My plan for the day is to push through a lot of my tiredness. I'm a bit lethargic this morning because I had some disjointed sleep last night. The less I'm home this afternoon, the more I'm going to be able to get done, I think. It's not a comfortable choice, but it's a choice I'm making all the same.
I got plenty done, and I feel a lot better about a lot of things. There are projects that are past deadline that are trying to intimidate me, but I'm not going to let them. The deadline was missed. That's life. It's my choice to let that frustrate me to the point of quitting, or to say: "Self, you still gotta do it. Just do it and be late."
I'm doing the latter. I can't turn back time. I can't change my blunders, only accept them and do my best to make them right. So there's that.
My plan for the day is to push through a lot of my tiredness. I'm a bit lethargic this morning because I had some disjointed sleep last night. The less I'm home this afternoon, the more I'm going to be able to get done, I think. It's not a comfortable choice, but it's a choice I'm making all the same.
S1: Day 52 (52)
Oct. 21st, 2019 11:59 amWord Count: 1202
I'm currently listening to this awesome podcast: https://podcast.jordanraynor.com
I'm about to start working. Yesterday, I did more than I thought I would, and I did less than I planned. By the time all of the chores were finished, I thought for sure I would completely fail for the day - again. I mean, I took a nap at 6 PM I was so tired. I could have kept sleeping all night if the kids didn't need me to help them get in bed.
When I got up, I knew I had to do something. So I started writing. I gave myself a small goal. The small goal turned into a bigger goal. And then a bigger one.
Today, I'm going to start in a similar way. I'm going to start, and I'm going to snowball into a bigger and bigger accomplishment list.
Happy Monday!
I'm currently listening to this awesome podcast: https://podcast.jordanraynor.com
I'm about to start working. Yesterday, I did more than I thought I would, and I did less than I planned. By the time all of the chores were finished, I thought for sure I would completely fail for the day - again. I mean, I took a nap at 6 PM I was so tired. I could have kept sleeping all night if the kids didn't need me to help them get in bed.
When I got up, I knew I had to do something. So I started writing. I gave myself a small goal. The small goal turned into a bigger goal. And then a bigger one.
Today, I'm going to start in a similar way. I'm going to start, and I'm going to snowball into a bigger and bigger accomplishment list.
Happy Monday!
S1: Day 51 (51)
Oct. 20th, 2019 10:38 amWord Count: 738
It felt like I wrote so many more words than that. Honestly, I thought I wrote a million or something. So I'm kind of confused by that number, but pleased with the progress. I made some huge leaps in my projects yesterday and I anticipate more of them today/this week.
It felt like I wrote so many more words than that. Honestly, I thought I wrote a million or something. So I'm kind of confused by that number, but pleased with the progress. I made some huge leaps in my projects yesterday and I anticipate more of them today/this week.
S1: Day 50 (50)
Oct. 19th, 2019 01:48 pmI'm feeling good about stuff. Now it's all about making the time to write. I've been doing it in small 5 minute chunks and that's worked pretty well. It doesn't feel like much, but as I slowly add it all together, it ends up being a big number.
