Big Push Tomorrow

[dr_pretentious]

Now if I can just average around 4K per day, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...

When I was an undergrad, and most of the way through grad school, I didn't have a sustainable daily writing discipline. Instead, I had just enough masochism to procrastinate until it was necessary to bang out, say, three twenty-page papers in three days. It was a ridiculous way to go about things. Now I have to decide if I really want to subject myself to the equivalent of that ordeal over the next three days, when I've been plugging away faithfully all month at a rate of productivity that is, by anyone's standard, pretty respectable.

Any minute now, twoeleven will come by to remind me that I don't need this arbitrary deadline, that I write just fine without it. Yeah, I know. But I have too much sense for climbing Everest or bungee jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. I have this unspent quota of recklessness, and apparently I have to use it on something.

39,263 / 50,000 (78.5%)

Comments

[dragonlaire.livejournal.com]

It's do-able. People came from further back last year. Don't think in terms of word count deficits or daily quotas. Think in terms of hours at the task. If you're willing to put in the time, the word count will follow. It's just an easier way for me to look at things.

I almost gave up myself on Saturday; I was completely frustrated, a day behind again. It seemed that every time I caught up, the writing was so bad, the result of being forced and rushed, that I had to take almost another day to edit and rewrite. Somehow I got past it; you will, too. I'm substantially behind my former pace but believe my story is better, but then I believe in a lot of irrational beliefs. I'm at 48,215 words just this minute. I'll probably cross over sometime tomorrow afternoon, but I won't validate until evening of the last day. I plan to continue the hectic schedule I've been maintaining for the last few days until the end of the month because Nano to me means 50K and 30 days both.

In any case, I'll wait for you and the others on the other side. I don't doubt for an instant that you'll make it. 4K a day isn't that hard. Write a lot of meandering dialogue if you really have to; it piles up the count effortlessly. Cheers, Doc. Waiting at the finish...

[wayzgoose.livejournal.com]

Must toss in my encouragement as well, Dr. P. I listened to you all through last year's Nano talking about the respectable word count that you average every day, not just during Nano, and how this isn't really a needed pressure. But I also remember the pride with which you posted your completion and your willingness to commit to the irrational drive once again this year, inspite of frantically editing other stories that needed to be done right before the month began. Therefore, I know that you not only can, but will complete the work in the allotted time. It is a matter of personal pride for you and has nothing to do with whether you "need this arbitrary deadline." The truth is, you want it as much as we all do, and we want to see you do it as well. Go for it and stop reading my silly meanderings.