Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday Status

So here we are—day seven of NaNoWriMo, and I thought a good day for the mneme of telling you what was up.

I am rocking my word count, and thus far have nothing to be unhappy about there. I have noticed some patterns to when I do well and when I do less well, so it is worth a day-by to see what the obstacles are...

Monday: took the day OFF: 6,315 (both kids at work—I think this was 7 hours of writing, but it might have been closer to 6.
Tuesday: back at work: 3,428 (this day shocked me, but I think was the adrenaline of a 'start'. I think this was 3 hours)
Wednesday: 2,169: This seemed more a normal expectation of a work day—seems like I had one family obstacle to attend after work, but it was brief. (probably 2-3 hours)
Thursday: 1,838: This night had just a little chaos—needy children, so I managed, but not by much. (2 hours)
Friday: 1,764: This was a conscious decision. Watched Chamber of Secrets with my son (we are watching all 6 movies leading up to the release of the 7th on the 19th (2 hours))
Saturday: 2,797: This wasn't bad at all for all the running around I did, plus watching my DUCKS hit 9-0 for their season (the first time they've had this good a record)


Total: 18,311

I will get to at least 20K today, preferably 21K. My reason for wanting to be so far ahead at the end of one week is twofold. I know myself and my writing, and I know beginnings are ALWAYS the easiest. If I could, I'd just start books all the time... When I hit about the 50% or 60% mark, words come much more slowly because I need to integrate what I've GOT with a coherent plan. Oh, I know—it would be nice to follow a coherent plan all the way through, but my characters never do what they're told well. And really, my strength is in MAKING a plan, not FOLLOWING one. The second piece is the known obstacles in November. My son turns 12 on the 18th and the Harry Potter 7th movie comes out the 19th—which means MIDNIGHT as the 18th becomes the 19th... ON HIS BIRTHDAY. Both kids have been begging for the midnight showing since the date was announced. They know my soft spot for Harry Potter and they know the end is coming. It's not the last movie, but the other comes out next summer so it won't have the same 'getting away with something' to it as going to a midnight movie when we are all supposed to have school and work the next day. I figure the 18th and 19th are 'lost days' to NaNoWriMo.

So there we have it. I'd hoped to have my house to myself and I DON'T... car wouldn't start so hubby didn't get to class (grumble on THIS topic tomorrow), and daughter is home already, but I will definitely be able to still hit my goal...

Happy writing and good luck everyone!

21 comments:

Michael Di Gesu said...

Congrats on your NaNo ... You are doing GREAT! That's almost half in a week. You'll have you ms finished if you keep this up... We're all rooting for you!

Enjoy your day.... Only twelve days to HARRY! YAH!

Michael

Colene Murphy said...

WOW! Great progress!

Yes...I side with the children. MUST got see it at midnight!! It just feels soooo much more awesome.

lisahgolden said...

You're making great progress! I have learned (once again) from this NaNo that I'm a person who may plan, but my story moves in its own direction no matter what.

James C. Wallace II said...

I stand at 11,096 and have taken the weekend off. Congrats and Write On!!!

Golden Eagle said...

Great progress for NaNo!!

Jan Morrison said...

Hi deario! I made my nut today so am off to take step-dot to march in the rain. She's involved with a Shambhala (Buddhist) organization and they like to march around and I'm happy to take her as she is at her ma's and I don't see her enough when she is there. And she is the love of my life so that is tough!
Talk to you later, I'm out the door...
So good you have words in the bank for your rainy days!

The Words Crafter said...

With all that going on, I think you've done exceptionally well. My known obstacles are a funeral (husband's very elderly grandmother passed away), Thanksgiving, and Harry Potter. I, too, am better at making a plan than sticking to it. I'm finding, though, that the simple one I have seems to work pretty well.

Happy writing and happy birthday to your son!

Old Kitty said...

You are doing brilliantly!!!!! And getting NAKED as only you could!! LOL!! You GO Girl!!! Oh but Harry Potter!!!! The world stops (well ok maybe just in the UK and US!) then! Even Nano. :-)

Take care
x

Hart Johnson said...

Thank you so much for all the support everyone! And great job to all of you who keep plugging away at it!

And YAY HARRY!

erica and christy said...

I love beginnings, too. Endings I love a little less. And middles suck lately. I write 1000 words and then delete 1500 before I can get to a scene I like (another good reason why I don't Nano). We've been watching all the HP movies, too, but for some reason we've watched them in completely random order this week.

Congratulations!
erica

CA Heaven said...

Cars are sometimes like that, useless piles of iron crap, won't start when you really need them. You're doing well with the writing. Keep going >:)

Cold As Heaven

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Overachiever!
Naw, that's cool Hart. I think I'm more the slow and plodding type. I'll never get ahead, but I'll never fall too far behind either.

Anonymous said...

Slow and plodding is my deal too. 'Course, I rarely get two hours at a stretch to just write, so that kind of explains that. I'm lucky if I get an hour of decent brain for writing in any given day, what with the dayjob and small chilluns and housework and home renovations and such.

I'm cheering you on, though, in a totally non-jealous way! :D

Dawn Ius said...

Holy crap! You ARE rocking the word count. I might start getting naked if it means that kind of productivity! Congrats, girl.
Pray for me as I strive to make up a...few thousand...words tonight. xo

Jemi Fraser said...

You're rocking the word count! I tried to put in some extra words this weekend because I know the coming week is going to be rough. Don't know where, or if, I'll find the time. Good luck :)

Mustang Sally said...

Wow, you're really smokin'!

I love me some Harry Potter. My schedule will be arranged accordingly also.

Ellie Garratt said...

Congratulations on the awesome word count! I ended the week on 11195, which I was pretty pleased with.

It's interesting you talking about needing a plan because I've decided I do need a plot after all, rather than just writing scene by scene. I'll let you know how it goes.

Meredith said...

Can't wait for the new Harry Potter!!! I should definitely watch all of them in preparation for it, like you're doing. Congrats on getting so much writing done!

Sarah Ahiers said...

just a heads up, you're one of the people i'm silently competing with in regards to word count. Not that i'm near you now, but i might be later...

Sugar said...

way to go!! I just got started (hangs head in shame) last night.. got about 1000 words in my notebook..before bedtime.. at least now I broke the barrier keeping me from starting.. and now can keep going! Yay!! we rock!!

Anonymous said...

Great job and good luck! And you're blogging?!?! How many hours a day do you sleep?!

I can't wait for Harry Potter either. Enjoy the midnight madness! LOVE doing the midnight showings. :)