NaNoWriMo Week One: Status Update

I have officially completed the first week of NaNoWriMo 2016. Feeling pretty good about it too. Here's how it all went down:

10/31 Day Before: Sitting on my couch watching a Halloween movie (Hocus Pocus to be exact!) and thinking, "You know, the scariest thing I've experienced today is the knowledge that NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow."

Day One: I didn't have any time to write this morning, because who is awake enough to write at 5:00 am? And then finally when I got home from work at 4:00pm, I was legitimately nervous to begin writing. What if I choked at the start and can't even think of an opening scene? I knew I should be writing, but bugging my husband instead was easier to do. My husband also knew that I should be writing and dutifully banished me to my desk. Miraculously, I made my word count today. I even did a little extra just because.

Day Two: I actually motivated myself today and wrote up to my word count pretty easily. I tried to push myself to do a bit more like yesterday, but then my husband started making burritos. I looked down at my keyboard, then back at the kitchen, conflict raging within me. Then promptly abandoned my novel for the burrito. *Sigh* How fickle is the heart...

Day Three: I joined my first NaNoWriMo writing group today! My friend and I came in mid-sprint where everyone was gathered at the mall. So we awkwardly started writing until the current sprint ended. At the start of the next one, our goal was to write 747 words. I came up short at 728. My friend shamed me with her exorbitant word count and I resolved to do better next time. Word count goal for the next sprint? 1,298 words... I smacked my forehead in despair. As the clock ticked, I threw out all of my perfectionist tendencies and wrote like a crazy person until I actually started to sweat. This time when we called out our word counts, mine was 1,544. I do a quick mental fist pump in the air.

Day Four: Today was the Write All Night at the library. My friend and I weren't able to come at the very start, but we got there around 8:00pm and jumped right in. It was so cool to see so many authors working away. The sound of keys tapping filled the room and you could feel the pressure as we all strove to meet the word count sprints. I broke 10,00 words today, woot woot! All in all, it was a wonderful experience.

Day Five: Well, I'm ashamed to say it, but today wasn't as productive as compared to the rest of the week. I spent my time editing and filling in gaps that I noted during the Write All Night which was a good thing. However, I only got in a measly 700 words and then lost steam. I had hoped to use the weekend to really get ahead but I'm afraid that was not to be.

Day Six: Instead of writing this morning, I took a two hour nap. I suppose I needed it though, and came in strong and met my word count later this evening! Here's hoping that the structure of the upcoming work week will force me to crank out those words again!

Hang in there everyone! Do what you can and keep on writing!