I did the math. NaNoWriMo for me is, um, basically unattainable?
I know, I know. I'm a pessimist, but building myself up and telling myself lies has never really worked for me. But, really, take a look at this. I was able to figure out just how hard it would be.
I downloaded and completed the number-y part of Sarra Cannon's Preptober Planner. I started by crossing off the days that I know I'm not going to write, which is five days during Thanksgiving and three "buffer" days. To have any hope of making progress, I need to write on the weekends.
But, even if I write on the weekends, I am SLOW. I estimate I write 250 words in 25 minutes, my ideal sprint time. If that remains true and I do all the math, I will have to write 200 sessions, which is 100 hours. 100 hours divided by 23 (the number of days I have to write) means I need to write over four hours a day.
That doesn't sound like much. But it's so much!
I can get started at 5:30, stop at 6:30 to get the kids ready for school. I drive them out there around 8:15 and don't get home until about 9:15 (yes, it's almost a half hour commute). I leave to pick them up at 2:15, and I usually don't write after they get home.
So 5:30-6:30 and 9:15-2:15 gives me six hours if I don't do anything else like walk the dog, house work, admin work, etc. Every day. And that assumes I don't need "thinking" time and that I don't get stuck.
I always get stuck. 37,000 words in every single book. I hit that point and have to start over from the beginning.
So, I suppose that's my real goal. It would be great to get to 37,000 words before the end of the year. It would be great just to get back into the writing habit.
Plus, it helps that today was a great day. 2,272 words in 7 sessions.
1,000 words is a good day for me.
Anyway, I'll see how this goes. If anything, I can really look at my words-per-session number and see if it still averages to 250.
Wish me luck!
Sandy
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3 comments
Oops! Apparently I’m supposed to moderate comments. lol There’s probably a setting somewhere I can change.
@Stephanie How are you doing? Last week was GREAT for me. This week…not so much. I’m super far behind now and it’s probably impossible to get caught up. I got stuck on a scene and I haven’t figured out how to fix it yet. Actually, I probably won’t fix it. I think I’ll backtrack a bit then go somewhere else with it. What are you writing?
@Cassey Thank you! Last week was fun and I passed my daily goals. This week. Um. I think I “wrote” for 20 minutes yesterday. I seriously need to rethink what happens next.
Good luck! Do what you can and don’t stress yourself out over it :)
Good luck!! I’m attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time this month and yesterday was a STRUGGLE for me. 1,667 words per day is a LOT of words!!! I’m trying it because I’ve been stuck for years and I’m hoping this forces me to just WRITE without constantly re-writing as a procrastination method. And so I shall write it and see where it goes. Can’t WAIT to see what you write next! You’re truly one of my faves!