Tag Archives: Sam talks NaNo

The NaNo Report: Day Eight

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Hallelujah there were some words!

Today I procrastinated a lot but I eventually did the reading for one of my modules for next week (that took pretty much all day). Then at 5pm I decided it was writing time.

I worked on the Garcy Celeb/Fan AU for Ripper because it’s the thing closest to being finished (so I can cross something off my list). It was like pulling teeth. I’m going to get down on my knees and beg for a beta as I think it’s awful and I can’t put it out into the world like it is BUT that’s a December problem.

Most of today’s words were written at the end as I really, really struggled to get going. However I discovered if I actually use my second monitor life is easier (how do you forget this self?) and also I really am motivated by small numbers ticking down and then ‘just one more’.

Words written: 1540
Total count: 1688

I’ve reached day one’s pace! *cough* on day eight. My word debt is currently 11,645 words which is quite a lot. It’s an extra 530 words a day spread out over the remaining 22 days of the month. That makes for basically 2200 words a day which is more than I’ve written in a day since… quite possibly 2016.

Looking back historically I overcame a 12,747 word debt to win back in 2013 but the situation was different. I really don’t know if I can do it again.

Anyway right now I’m set to finish June 25th 2019 which I’m finding slightly amusing so at least there’s that 🙂

The NaNo Report: Day Six

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So I’ve been slacking on doing these on account of there being nothing to report – I haven’t written a word – and it’s the end of Week One tomorrow so it’s really not looking good.

I’d got all my prep ducks in a row, I’d cleared my schedule. I was anticipating having most of Thursday, all day Friday and Saturday, and most of Sunday to get those words down and hopefully build a buffer. At the very least I was anticipating having a psychological success, to get going, which would then give me momentum to carry through the rest of the month.

Yeeeeaaaah No that did not happen.

I spent those days sick in bed or sick and unmoving on the couch. Those days are gone, and so is my psychological boost.

Now back in the day this wouldn’t have been much of an issue. I have never been a particularly consistent writer. Almost every successful NaNo my chart is full of spikes as I’ll slack and then have a manic catch-up day, rinse and repeat. In present circumstances? Well I’m out of practice, if I’ve written 10k this year I’ll be surprised. I have uni which shouldn’t be a problem but is due to my executive dysfunction which has got worse year-on-year. It takes me 5x as long to do everything. I waste an inordinate amount of time and the more I hate that, the more I waste (in other words I suck) so yeah I was really counting on the positive momentum from a good start.

I don’t want to give up, I hate giving up, and the fact is I can’t give up completely because I’m an ML – I have to run write-ins and so words will happen. It’s just I’m despairing at meeting any of my goals and that makes it really hard to dredge up the enthusiasm for it. I love NaNo and I love writing but this is the second year I’ve screwed up (after 5 consecutive wins) and I’m tired.

I think I wanted it too much and now I don’t know how to deal with my own disappointment 🙁

The NaNo Report: Day Two

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Words written: 0
Total count: 0

Yeah today didn’t happen. I am feeling a bit better than I did this morning so I’m hoping that the day of doing nothing has helped. Stupid cold.

Tomorrow is double-up day and I have committed to running word sprints on discord for my region all day (I’m an ML) and so my dream goal is to catch up to pace (as I’m two days behind) but quite frankly I’ll take pace just to not get further behind, catching up can wait for better days.

I’m just hoping my brain will work. I’m very out of practice with this writing thing. What are words again? 🙂

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emospritelet:

thatravenclawbitch:

This week has been crazy and we’ve had something going on every single night and I’ve barely written a word and I feel crappy about it. November is always a terrible writing month. Why isn’t NaNo in like June? 

Same here, I’ve written like 16 words 🙁

Fun fact! Or maybe not so fun idk but NaNo’s very first year (1999) it took place in July. In 2000 it moved to November to “more fully take advantage of the miserable weather”.

Much to the dismay of college students everywhere :p hehe

Although next year when the new site launches I think there will be tools for year-round NaNo. They will still have the big event in November but it should be easier to stage your own. I fully expect many community groups will do just that.

The NaNo Report: Day One

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Taking a leaf from Worry’s book like I said.

Nothing really to report today because I’m sick. I just about managed to go to class and come home without incident. I then had a two hour nap rather than wording but as breathing is a challenge right now (and my watch is having fits because my heart rate is way too high for someone not moving) I’m going to consider day one a write-off but an acceptable loss.

Tomorrow I don’t have class so I’m hopeful that I’ll manage to scrape a few words to get off the starting block at least. It’s still only the beginning of the month, no need to panic just yet 🙂

Words written: 0
Current total: 0

#seriously I’m still annoyed that I made it halfway through the semester without getting sick#and now its my favourite time of year I get a cold and I know it’s only a cold but it’s yucky and it sucks ugh

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When did I last post? *checks* ah it was Sunday.

Ok erm well I did my presentation yesterday. It’s reading week this week so I have no assignments, no lectures, nothing except a bit of prep reading to do until Tuesday.

Which is good because I’ve been feeling awful with this cold. You know how all colds are different? Well this one is in my throat/chest, so there’s not a lot of snot but there’s an awful lot of coughing. Which hurts and makes me sick and other disgusting things (sorry for the TMI). Also triggered a migraine last night so I’ve slept most of today.

Anyway in regards to NaNo…

Current Total: 6,634
Today’s NaNo Pace: 15,000

Yeaaah I’m a little bit behind. My plan is to hopefully catch up before Tuesday when uni returns like revenge of the assignments, and I really, really want to read some fic and do my queue and spread some love to you amazing fandom people. I’m sorry that fandom stuff is always last on my list. One day I will get the hang of this time management thing.

Anyway, TLDR I’m still here and still ‘trying’ *hugs to you all*

NaNo – Day Five

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While I’m being random and procrastinating how about a status update?

You might have noticed I skipped posting on Day Three and Four… yeah it’s not going so well.

I didn’t write at all on Day Three, yesterday I wrote just shy of 1k and today so far nada – basically getting increasingly off pace. I currently have 5,555 (which was totally by accident) and I should have 8,333 by the end of the day.

This is not insurmountable and there are reasons *cough* excuses *cough* but bah basically I have mid-book blues because… I’m in the middle of the book! I started with a project that was about 35% complete. I know myself, I know how the drafting process goes and the middle is a slog.

It’s far enough away from the beginning the enthusiasm has waned and the end feels so far out of reach. I have those pesky writer thoughts like “why did you ever think you could write?” “who are you kidding this is terrible!” “burn it with fire” etc. etc. Once I get close to the end then it’s all downhill in a rush to the finish line, it’s just the middle is a sticky swamp of despair.

Not to fear though *strikes heroic pose* this book will be finished! I will get back on track eventually. It’s just a mental hurdle I have to overcome. By the end of the month I will have my finished first draft and that’s a promise.

Oh and I know I still haven’t repopulated my queue. I have liked a bunch of things in preparation but haven’t got round to it. One day. Same with my TBR pile. If you want anything read soon then send me links. I’m reading stuff under my nose first.

Now I’m really going to shut up now, I need to finish my script for the presentation I’m giving on Wednesday.

#I love you all still I promise I’m just lousy at doing things#my time management sucks

NaNo – Day Two

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Today didn’t start off great.

My alarm went off at 6am so I could get an hours writing time before the day began. It does that everyday but yeah – I just whacked it and didn’t get up this morning, which was dumb because Thursday should theoretically be the easiest day for getting up early as it’s my early day. I need to leave the house around 7:30am but apparently bed was where it was at this morning.

Thursday is my longest day but I have a big gap in the middle, 11-3pm sized gap actually so I headed for the library and did a few words. I’ve agreed to run point for a write-in on Thursday’s so I walked to a nearby coffee shop for 1:30pm and did a couple of sprints with other writers.

I was home about 6pm which was good, rush hour was kind to me today, but I had a tension headache and felt very tired. Dinner kinda revived me and I decided to try and hit 5k today. I wrote more words … but not quite enough words. Tiredness won and I’m going to bed now after typing this.

It’s 9:30pm, so that’s totally legit. Hehe actually when the clocks went back last week I actually went to bed at just gone 8pm on a Saturday night – I know how to have a good time 🙂

Today: 1,815
Total: 4,606  

NaNo – Day One

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still-searching47:

Urk I have forgotten how to word.

Seriously!

I suppose I deserve it after writing next to nothing all year, and then trying to write a) an original story and b) something partly started, I’m picking it up in the middle for crying out loud! No runaway fun with the beginning.

Still this is painfully slow, like I’m shocked and appalled at how little I’ve done when I was hoping instead for shock and awe.

I was hoping to start the first day with a bang but this is more like a whimper, a little pathetic plea of suckage. Disgruntled! That’s the word, that’s what I am.

Hmm this is not the status post I wanted to write. I wanted buzzing excitement and success. Boo hiss. Soon! Only way is up right?

Right so all of this is true ^^ BUT…

I might have been a little bit hasty with the negativity.

While it’s true I didn’t get anywhere near what I wanted, I got the daily target and then a bit extra. I also finally finished the scene which had been laying unfinished for over a year, my speed increased as time went on, and something unexpected happened. I always love that! I plan quite thoroughly but sometimes things still surprise me.

I had a new character appear. All I know about him is that he looks like Ewan McGregor in Star Wars II or III and I think he’s going to tie in with a subplot in book four that has previously had ???? all over it and “the Captain returns” so yeah that’s cool.

Today: 2,791
Total: ^^

Anyway, I need to go to my club meeting. I think I’m going to have a comic published in the uni’s “comic book society” book, it’s exciting!

NaNo – Day One

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Urk I have forgotten how to word.

Seriously!

I suppose I deserve it after writing next to nothing all year, and then trying to write a) an original story and b) something partly started, I’m picking it up in the middle for crying out loud! No runaway fun with the beginning.

Still this is painfully slow, like I’m shocked and appalled at how little I’ve done when I was hoping instead for shock and awe.

I was hoping to start the first day with a bang but this is more like a whimper, a little pathetic plea of suckage. Disgruntled! That’s the word, that’s what I am.

Hmm this is not the status post I wanted to write. I wanted buzzing excitement and success. Boo hiss. Soon! Only way is up right?