So I’m almost through the second week of NaNo, This week has been tough. Making myself sit down and open my manuscripts and type. All I kept thinking was 1,000 words or 4 pages that’s all I have to type on each manuscript and then I’ve not only achieved the required NaNo daily total but I’ve increased it so I’ll always be a little bit more in front.
This week there was also a lot happening outside of my writing goals. I’ve helped out a lot more this week at the school than I did last week. The homework has been slightly heavier this week for the children and it’s the fourth week that my DH has been away and I’m feeling it.
It would’ve been so easy to go, stuff it I’m going to read a book. You know achieving 18,744 in one week is pretty good. It’s more than I’ve done all year. But of course, I’m an official NaNo participant – I couldn’t give up. So I slogged it out. Missed one day, didn’t make my target another day and made target the other two days.
Today in my inbox was a ‘pep’ talk email from a Nano person. It was all about second week blues and about how it’s normal to feel like giving up and finding reasons not to open up the manuscript. It was a relief for me to read that and know that it wasn’t just me, that it was perhaps quite a few other people. The first week of NaNo you’re all gung-ho ready to go and you’re there every day, eager to open up your work and torture your characters. Second week comes and either the internal editor hits or the self doubts hit.
What she did mention was that work through it. Just write, it doesn’t matter if you think it’s rubbish, when you sit down and read through it all after it’s all finished, there might actually be some wonderful words and scenes.
I’m pleased to say I’ve worked through it and after 11 days, my word count is 25,109. I’m halfway through and I’m ahead of schedule. I can take a little breather every now and then. And when NaNo is all over. I can sit and add 1k to each manuscript a day until I’ve finished them both. Or maybe I’ll finish both by the end of the month. One thing I do know is, I can ease up on the pressure I’ve been putting on myself. I also know I can fit an hour or more of writing in every day. I’m conquering my self doubt demons. Editing may not be so exciting but that is what will lead to submission. Making it work and making it sparkle.
How’s the NaNo going for you? Or how’s your writing going if you’re not NaNoing 🙂
NF
