word count

[alishenai.livejournal.com]

This is my first Nano and to make it harder I haven't written anything in years. So far I've just been trying to write at least the
1,666 words per day or if I can, an even 2,000. But no more than that because I have a lot of colleage work that I need to finish. Anyway it makes me nervous to see that some people are writing 4,000 or more words per day. So I just wondered is anyone else only writing the minimal 1,666? 

Comments

If it makes you feel better.

[cyndi-lauper.livejournal.com]

I got only to 1428 yesterday and only 1298 today.

[jaeliyah.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to stay near there because I've tried NaNo before, but I've never won. In the past, I kept having spurts where I'd start off well and then just kind of lose my mojo when I got to a slow period. So this year, I'm trying to do 1700 a day and leave off at a good part so I'm excited to come back to it the next day.

Edit: Also, it makes a difference that it started on a Sunday. Word counts won't be so high today because people have work and school.

[aleeeeeeex.livejournal.com]

Actually it's 1,667. 8Db

Being a jerk aside, it's cool. Some days you're REALLY in the ZOOOONE. Other days, not so much.

Relax. ;)b 'Tis just the beginning.

[bluesunsets.livejournal.com]

Write what you can write. I know I only wrote around 4000 on the first day was because of the inspiration and the motivation to get ahead. On the second day I was around 2000. Honestly, just write what you can because you'll end up surprising yourself later. I have school, as well, and that's a major factor in how many words I can be bothered to write, so, people have different factors in their life that contribute to their pushing out of 4000 words or 1000.

I say as long as you're writing something then that's pretty amazing in itself.

[sanscesse.livejournal.com]

I didn't write anything yesterday! I had to work, and I was sleep deprived from being silly on Halloween.

Now I am at over 2500 words. I work in spurts. It makes NaNo seem like less of an obligation and more of a fun project.

[alishenai.livejournal.com]

"I work in spurts. It makes NaNo seem like less of an obligation and more of a fun project."

I can understand. I can already see myself doing some catch-up writing on the weekend, although I've been able to manage the daily word count so far.

[satellitelost.livejournal.com]

I'm like you, I want to get 1667 at a minimum, but I've been shooting for 2000 words a day. I've been able to manage the 2000, which is good, but I'm also astounded at people writing 5000 or more words per day. I'm actually getting a little scared of my story... I hope I can manage to keep up the 2000 a day pace.

[alishenai.livejournal.com]

That's what makes me so nervous, just trying to keep up the pace.

[eddiesteddy4711.livejournal.com]

I set my personal goal at about 3k a day, because I'm aiming for a 100k novel this month - yesterday and today I wrote 6k a day.

I should point out, however, that I've been outlining since June, working with the characters since June, and that I have no job and nothing better to do that sit in front of the computer for six hours a day. (1k usually takes me about 1 hour.)

The past two years when I had to play catch-up, I'd have 10k word nights. I hope I don't have to do that again this year. XD

[jen-spongemonke.livejournal.com]

ICON LOVE! ST FTW!!!!!!

[irish-injun.livejournal.com]

I'm doing as you are doing. If, for some reason I get wild inspiration, I will gladly write more, but at present I am doing the minimal and happy enough with that. I could feel intimidated by some of the high counts if I wanted to, but I learned to compare myself to myself in all areas of my life. I do a lot better that way. My best gets better from day to day. I don't even want to do someone else's best now. I think I am pretty cool. LOL!

[jarethrake.livejournal.com]

I'm aiming for 2000 a day, but so far I'm only on 3000. I should be hitting 6k today, in theory.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I'm writing a lot more than is required every day, but that's just because it's what I feel like doing. As long as you stick to your 1,667 words a day (or write less on the weekdays and more on the weekends, or something of that nature) you'll be fine. Don't worry about what other people are doing. Get to 50,000 in whatever way works best for you. :)

[crawfordwraith.livejournal.com]

One of my NaNos I got really sick right at the beginning of the month, and wrote next to nothing the first two days. But I caught up and managed to win. Do what you can - focus on the daily goal rather than looking at the whole 50K - and you'll be just fine.

[leentigress.livejournal.com]

I have had 10,000+ word days in past Novembers. I will likely see nothing of the sort this November.

The key is writing more than you would've had written if you hadn't done NaNoWriMo, even if it's only a really great paragraph or first line you never would've had otherwise.

The step after that is that it's cool to hit 50,000. To be a "winner," and be eligible for the free draft copy (that I've never actually taken them up on.)

The step after that is to worry about writing a bazillion words per day.

So I'm a former 6-day winner who's probably going to take 20-30 days to finish this year. It's all good. You're only behind if you're actually *behind*--and again, a 10,000 word day is possible. Everything is possible. Don't feel discouraged :)

[wfeather.livejournal.com]

Yes, one can do 1667 words per day and finish on time. However, that does not allow for days where inspiration just doesn't seem to come, or days when life gets in the way of writing, or days when one is simply sick and delirious. To the extent that you can, try to get at least a few days ahead, especially on weekends (presuming you are not spending Saturday and Sunday working to support your writing habit!), so that if you need to take a day or two "off" from writing, you can do it and still be at or ahead of pace.

Myself, I will be traveling Friday-Sunday next weekend, and not taking my laptops with me, so I have a vested interest in getting ahead as soon as I possibly can. Plus, with my work schedule, I cannot afford to remain at pace all month long or else I will fall behind.

[princess2000204.livejournal.com]

This is my first NaNo, I am in your shoes. I just decided to join this today, literally! Signing up and all was done a couple hours ago.

I myself have only written 3422 as what my word count is tell me. That was only because I had to go into work late. I can say I am where you are, will I be able to keep up or will i bottom out.

It's all in fun right ^_~

[janetlin.livejournal.com]

I like to have wiggle room, so my personal "budget" is 2,000 words every day. I'm chaperoning a field trip on Thursday and will be at a seminar most of the day Saturday, so I'm going to need that cushion. The hard part is not to get complacent when a good day comes around, and think that means you can loaf the next day, because you never know when something will come up.

Also I have learned since last year that sometimes it's better to stop for the night not necessarily at a "stopping point." Stop in the middle of a scene or conversation so that finishing it will provide some momentum for the next day. Otherwise it's a slow, cold start, which is frustrating and counter-productive.

[fuzziekit.livejournal.com]

the only reason I have as many words as I do is because I have had my last two nights off so I could start right at midnight and write until I went to bed and had almost the whole next day and night and I have tonight off as well (I work 3rd shift). I am trying to get a big chuck done right off the bat so that when I do have to work or gods forbid a family emergency come up (like it did last year) I will still be able to reach some of my goals. At this point in time I am just trying to write a story... the word count is just a motivation for me. Have fun with it that is the whole point right?

[solitaryjane.livejournal.com]

Me.

Anymore my brain'd explode.

Baby steps, people, baby step.

[surgerygirl.livejournal.com]

I'm only at 750 overall, and it's almost day three. So, no.

[dienaid.livejournal.com]

Do what you can. I've noticed that many prolific writers for NaNo are those that take it as more than just writing. Make it an experience. Come to sprints and other chatrooms, go to the official site, post excerpts here- don't just sit, write, and update your daily word count. Have fun and if you don't get 50,000 words by the end of the month, at least you'll have fond memories of making someone's three thousandth word be "penis."

Sprints seem to be conducive to lots of writing, btw. People got over 900 words in 15-minute time chunks tonight. Impressive. I'm aiming for "enough."

[sickofyourbs.livejournal.com]

Penis. Good times.

[flavour-of-nano.livejournal.com]

If you can keep that up every day, you'll be fine. My problem the last few days was that I couldn't write some days, so I fell further and further behind. Last year I won because I threw in several 7000 word days in a row. This year I'm getting up a buffer (I'm almost to 12k - keep in mind that this is my fourth year) in the first week, when it's easy. Easier, anyway.
Bring around a notebook with you, and write a little bit when you get a chance - even if it's just 100 words. Write extra on weekends. Think of writing as a reward for getting other work done, and you'll probably do it a lot more. Even if you only get one or two days ahead by the end of this week, that will give you room to breath in week two when, chances are, you'll really need it.
Basically, don't stress too much but try to be prepared for missing a few days. And on that note, never let yourself miss more than two days back to back - it will be very, very hard to get back into the habit again.

[flavour-of-nano.livejournal.com]

*the last few years, not the last few days. xP

[ayumidah.livejournal.com]

yeah, I'm only writing 1666. The way my story is plotted out, each chapter IS 1666 or 1667 words. In December, I may embellish some things but right now, I'm ok with this, haha.

Don't be nervous, I think people only write ahead of themselves like that in case something happens later in the month that makes them unable to meet the daily goals set, y'know?

[lumnata.livejournal.com]

The first day, I got to 1771. I am now up to 1810, and it just turned into the third day. =/

[emely-chan.livejournal.com]

As long as I make 1667 a day I'm contented and rest. I migh write 200 more but never less. Never pushing it. :)

[albreda.livejournal.com]

Still behind where I should have been on Sunday, but I know that when I get cranking, I can do 1000 words in 20 minutes, so no worries. I did 10K in one day last year, so I know I can do this, and SO CAN YOU!!!

[ladybardnano.livejournal.com]

Different things work for different people. Personally, I've found that I often tend to get sick or overly busy at some point in the month, so I made it a point to really push when I could on the first day, and planned to do so for the second day, but ended up being busy enough that I didn't even break 1000. I've seen some people who write most of their novel on their weekends/days off, and only do a couple hundred words on busy days during the week.

When I was in college, I'd often alternate between NaNo and my college work. Read a chapter of the textbook, write a page of my novel, do some math problems, write a bit more, read an article for a history class and decide that I must include the article's topic in my novel because it gave me a plot bunny to chase for a couple thousand words...