Write-vember Diaries: Days 9 & 10

Inner-ramblings-turned-outer-writings of a girl trying to hit 50k in 30 days

As I look out to the magical pinky-purple hues of dusk, I am entirely grateful for having written today. To have had any spark that rose up and stayed around long enough for me to translate it to paper. Because that’s what writing is, isn’t it? A translation of soul.

Daily word count: 2,143¹ / 1,667
Total word count: 15,011 / 50,000
% complete: 30%

We’re over a third of the way, friends. I hope your weekend has been more consistent than mine. Are your goals in sight? Are you enjoying the process?

Break of choice: talk to the duckies (photo at base of post)
Drink of choice: Homemade mocha:

• preheat mug

• 1 tsp hot chocolate powder (Cadbury, in this case), stir in just enough boiling water to melt it

• Nespresso capsule Arpeggio Decaffeinato, “as magnetic as Florence during the Renaissance”. And I am as close as I can get to being a Florence in her Renaissance. I recommend choosing your coffee based on similar vibes. Play Ellie Dixon’s new single Renaissance to really underscore the moment

• Milk + Coffee button (if you have a machine that does that). Stir the milk as it pours onto the hot chocolate. Then let the coffee drop in.

• Stir once. Maybe twice. Lick the spoon. Get to writing.

Session Notes: Double Feature Edition

Let’s do the Time Warp again

9th November 2024

Yesterday was so peculiar in its emptiness. For the first time in this series, I had absolutely nothing to give. It was like I was opening the fridge to find it empty, and then realising I wasn’t even hungry at all, I just knew I was supposed to eat.

I felt pretty relaxed about not getting any writing done, not even for a post. Though I was sad about it. Sometimes I think these moments will just crop up, no matter how much you enjoy being creative on the days either side. If you’re a fellow Substack writer, perhaps you find this in writing posts too?

There’s a comfort in this honesty, too. If you too will find comfort in knowing that someone else on this planet has struggled with NaNoWriMo, here’s how the day shaped up. I’d love to know how your non-writing days look.

• 9am: thought about writing, given prior success as outlined in previous post. no inspiration to sit down. instead meditated, did yoga.

• 10am: procrastinated, went for walk, sorted gifting ideas, housework etc

• 3pm: tried to write for two hours. instead played with collages for other things I want to write

• 6pm: got a bit frustrated

• 8pm: considered going to the movies (it solves all things)

• 8.10pm: realised was too late to make it for the showing

• 8.50pm: finally called it quits for the day

• 9.30pm: in the land of nod

via VicPatto on Pinterest

Don’t dream it, be it

10th November 2024

Today’s been a solid day for words. I’m still a full day behind, yes, but this is a marathon not a sprint. I am embracing the elephant mindset (small steps every day and you’ll travel far). In previous NaNoWriMos, I’ve been in far deeper trouble (5 days behind?) and that never stopped me clawing things back. I am a determined soul, you can count on that.

My biggest takeaway for Day 10 was during the early portion of writing. The process involved talking directly to one of my MCs - the one who was trying to leave the scene at every moment. I could tell he was still holding on. After we explored his fears and I explained what needed to happen in the plot and why, he finally relented². Reluctantly, but I’ll take what I can get.

Yes, yes. Even as I write this, I know how PREPOSTEROUS this sounds. I get it. Florentyna viewing this post in her third eye is like Okayyy, talking to imaginary people in your head. You alright?

But it works. And it’s fun. It’s all part of the creative process - or at least mine, at that moment in time. I’m sure every writer has their own quirks and routes into a story, right? Maybe we just need to talk about them more. So this has been my attempt at doing just that.

My phone couldn't capture the beauty in the dusk sky; I love talking to the ducks, they remind me of home

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And now the sky has turned to ink. We’ve got clouds again which will keep the stars hidden, but I know they’re still there. I’m ready to make dinner and cosy up with a film.

How are your writing goals going?

See you tomorrow <3

1. if you change the order of numbers it’s 1234. who else loves numbers, please?

2. Sure, a diehard stickler for the 50k rule might decide that inserting myself into the story for a conversation “doesn’t count”, but this is my story and my rules. I got useful emotional background to play with. If that’s not a first draft territory, I don’t know what is. And I would support you in doing the same.