Six Days

Until now, my best record for hitting 50k was 18 days. I hit it in 19 days my first year, 29 days my second year, and 18 days my third year.

This year I hit it in six.

I don't know what happened this year. I think it's a combination of the phase outline and the fact that I've been enthralled with this idea since late July, but the story has been flowing wonderfully. Now that we're in the middle of the second week - always the hardest - of NaNoWriMo, I've slowed down a bit, but for this novel, "slowed down a bit" means I'm writing 4000-5000 words a day instead of 6000-10000. I seem to have turned prolific. I just hope it lasts.

Now that week two is here, the story isn't flowing quite as well as it did. But it's still going very well.

A couple of my fellow WriMos have gotten hit with plotbunnies that they're trying to fend off while finishing the current novel; I'm having the same problem. Lessons is still my top priority, but I've got another story knocking at the door, asking if there's room for it too. I keep telling it to wait, but characters are appearing in my head, and intriguing hints of a plot, and I find myself going online after I'm done NaNo-ing for the day and researching things I'll need to know for this project.

It's still an ephemeral idea at this point. I don't know if it will even last. But it's definitely caught my interest.

But for now, Lessons is more important. My goal for the month is 100k; I decided to double the usual NaNoWriMo goal this year, and I had wondered whether I'd be able to make it. Now I think I'll hit it by the end of next week.

And if you're doing NaNoWriMo, and are struggling with your wordcount, try dropping in an insane character or two, and let them babble. I've got one, and not only is she good for the wordcount, she's a lot of fun to write.