NaNoWriMo Day 2
Welcome to my little experiment, where I lift the curtain on my writing process during NaNoWriMo 2023 in an effort to feel less alone. If you’re also doing NaNoWriMo, feel free to add me as a buddy!
daily summary 📅
I had a much better writing day today, but that’s probably because I’m in the head of another character from the previous GUARDIANS OF DAWN books, so that POV comes more easily to me than this new one. I know I will have to go back and edit the previous scene that I worked on so it, well, sucks less, but that’s a problem for future JJ. Right now, I am NaNoWriMo JJ, which means that it is onwards and upwards until November 30. (And likely beyond, as 50,000 words is like…less than half an S. Jae-Jones novel.)
daily process ⏱️
8:28AM. It’s Pollux’s day at home with me while his brother, Castor, is in his daycare. I really wish my neighbors wouldn’t let their cats roam free in the streets. One, it’s 22°F this morning, and two, my dogs go APESHIT whenever they cross paths with one…or two at once, as was the case today.
I’m normally a morning person, but it gets so much harder to get going as the world tilts toward winter. I still feel the vestiges of sleep cling to me (despite having gotten a decent amount last night) even though I am normally the very definition of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I first wake up. I’m not sleepy, per se, but I feel…foggy. My thoughts are muddled, sluggish, unclear.
Great start to a writing day, eh?
8:43AM. Of course I’m out of coffee. Surely a can Monster first thing in the morning is not the healthiest thing to have, but alas, beggars in need of caffeine cannot be choosers. Maybe my shower will help wake me up.
9:45AM. The problem with writing is that you don’t have two consistent days in a row. And I just can’t seem to get in the mindset right now. Gotta love ADHD procrastination. At least I have some mental clarity now after my shower.
Well. Just gotta jump in. First focus interval, go!
10:14AM. First focus interval done. 394 words. Much better than yesterday, but then again, I am in Redacted’s voice for this chapter, so it feels easier and less stilted.
Anyway, break time. Time to blow-dry my hair.
10:28AM. It takes 200 years for my hair to dry and I don’t even dry it all the way when I diffuse. Anyway, we are back for another focus interval.
10:54AM. 973 words total. Writing is going easier than yesterday. Time for a longer break. Gotta pick up Pollux’s Trazodone from the vet.
You know what? I am really closer to hitting today’s word count already, so maybe after a shorter break I will take another focus interval. But I really do need a break first.
11:42AM. 1718 words total. I’ve hit my word count for the day. Everything is still Bodiless Voices in Featureless Rooms, but that’s okay. The point is to keep going. Except today. Today I have hit my word count before noon and I will celebrate by running errands and calling my representatives about a ceasefire.
Also lunch.
12:41PM. Took Pollux for a long walk and picked up the meds. I don’t really feel like cooking right now, so I guess I’ll Uber Eats something. Ooh, nachos sound good. And since it’s Dia de Los Muertos, I think I’ll watch Coco. Man, it’s nice hitting word counts early in the day. I suppose I could do more afternoon sessions today, but I’m trying to keep the 60% is good enough mantra my therapist gave me. Longevity, not speed. I don’t want to burn out early.
5:30PM. Well, watching Coco wrung me out emotionally so apparently I had to take a nap to recover. Oops. Now I gotta pick up Castor from daycare and get the boys’ dinner together. Still, all in all, a good day.
That’s Day 2 of NaNoWriMo done! How about y’all? Any successes? Failures?