My NaNoWriMo Round 4: Week 3

We’re halfway through the National Novel Writing Month writing challenge! While taking on the real deal was daunting for me on November 1, I have been surprisingly focused and determined to stick with it to the end, whether or not I make the big 50K count.

Now it’s time to report in. How did I do with NaNoWriMo this week? Here are my results:

My Progress

My goal was to continue hitting at least 1,667 words each day and to reach a count of at least 21,571 words by November 13.

How did I do?

Since last week, I have kept up my 1,667 words/day pace and on Sunday I reached a few words shy of 22K! Establishing that pace early in the NaNoWriMo game has motivated me to keep it up and, on some days, even exceed it.

My Obstacles

Good news: My career let me travel around town more this week to explore different sides of the business and meet new people across the organization. Not so good news: It made it tough to fit in National Novel Writing Month write-ins into my schedule.

As I explained last week, I found write-ins not only great for my writing but also enjoyable to meet likeminded writers who are eager to talk stories. I really wanted to fit in one this week so that I wouldn’t lose the habit of leaving my house to write. But with my crazy work schedule this week, it was a better use of my time and NaNoWriMo goals to stay at home and clock out the words instead of spending that time driving across town for a write-in.

Fortunately, I was able to make it to one write-in on a Saturday. Unfortunately, that write-in wasn’t very interested in writing but more eager to talk politics. This was disappointing, but I learned that not all write-ins are the same and that I need to do some serious investigating before making the haul out to the next one.

My Successes

I was eager to write almost every day this week because I always left the story off at an exciting twist of events. Instead of trying to muster up the energy to write after my 9-to-5, I spent my drive to and from work (and my lunch break, naturally) brainstorming ways to heighten the action or strengthen the characters.

My Goals

Like last week, my goal is to maintain my 1,667 words a day pace and to reach at least 33,340 words by EOD Sunday.

Can I do it? Stay tuned!

What are your NaNoWriMo goals this week? Share your journey below.