And just like that week #1 of NaNoWriMo 2021 is DONE!

I am a little (and by a “little” I mean COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY) in shock that we are already an entire week into NaNo and only have 3 weeks left to go. But words are being written, guys! I have no idea if they’re coherent words on my part (I highly doubt it, in fact), but they’re still WORDS. And it is a most fabulous feeling.

Per the usual, I shall be doing weekly updates with a day-by-day look at my NaNo. And can we just talk about how perfect it is NaNo started on a Monday? Not only is it the first day of the week but just happens to be the very day I always post. These weekly accounts are going to be so organized this year! (Yes, I am that much of a nerd hush.)

WARNING: These NaNo posts are written by a sleepless, over caffeinated Christine running on pure NaNo adrenaline so uh…

NANO ’21 WEEK ONE

MONDAY: DAY #1

Despite having an exhausting weekend and being half dead Sunday night, I, being the responsible person I am, couldn’t not stay up to midnight to start writing. It’s tradition! Honestly, it gets me more excited than counting down to New Year’s. There’s just something magical watching the calendar change to November 1st and writing that very first sentence. It gets my adrenaline going every single time. Which is good because, as already stated, I was rather zombified Sunday. Thankfully, once midnight came, that euphoric NaNo rush struck me and I became plenty wide awake and ready to WRITE.

(The coffee I responsibly chose to drink at midnight may also have helped but I digress.)

I have been itching to begin this book for the past 11 months, and there was something surreal about FINALLY typing those first words. I managed to get in my first 1k that night and was quite pleased with the results. I went to bed (at 2:30 in the morning *COUGH*) happy and ready to fully dive into writing all the next day.

I tend to try to get the my highest daily wordcount in on the first day of NaNo. Since I always stay up to write at midnight to get a head start, most of the time it happens. Last year, in a fit of euphoria, I beat my daily wordcount record and got in over 9k words. I suspected that wouldn’t happen again this year, especially since I feel like I’m going into this novel even more blind than the last one…despite it being a sequel, meaning I already have everything established.

Please don’t ask me how this works. Christine Logic.

Writing did, indeed, go a tad slower this day, mainly because I was writing so blindly. But it was still a very good writing day, even if sorting some plot things out was rather challenging. I managed to get all of chapter 1 and most of chapter 2 done though. AND the weather was absolutely gorgeous. A little cool but not cold and perfectly sunny. The most delightful weather for the first day of NaNo, and you better believe I spent most of it writing outside.

Some other highlights:

• I got to write a good bit in a certain point-of-view that I, mostly sadly, barely got to touch in book 1. I’m ecstatic to get to spend more time with this character this go round.
• Literally by chapter 1 the pure c h a o s has already begun and I am here for iiiitttt.
• A character who has been in my head since the early inklings of this series idea has at last made an appearance and she’s as fabulous as I had hoped. I probably looked fit for a padded room the way I was grinning madly at my laptop whilst writing a certain scene with her but here we are.

IN CONCLUSION. Day 1 was a success! It had its challenges for sure, but things always sorted themselves out and I am just so happy to be back with my Daystars!

WORDS WRITTEN: 7,070

TUESDAY: DAY #2

This writing day started out with some of my characters eating cookies, so clearly things started off to a great start. I mean, most of the rest of the day’s writing involved darkness and monsters and some serious anger management issues and someone nearly fading from existence. But ya know. There were COOKIES. So it’s fine. Everything’s good.

It was another gorgeous day spent writing outside, and I even took a walk so yay me for taking care of myself!

I mean, I was basically writing every other waking second save for mealtimes but ya know.

Today’s writing session was much like the previous’s; going fairly well, but some long pauses as I tried to figure out what the blue blazes is actually happening in this chaotic mess of a plot.

BUT. I was particularly excited about the chapter I spent most of the day on as I at last got to explore a new place and concept that has been in my head for so long now.

AND THENNN near the end of today’s writing, my story decided to randomly throw me a whole other plot thread that makes my already overly complex, absurd plot 50x more convoluted.

I’m loving it.

I hadn’t planned this idea in any form or fashion. Seriously, it came out of NOWHERE. But, really, it’s so on brand for me. Plus it may actually tie a whole lot of things together annnd I may have, at last, figured out my Main Baddy’s ultimate goal. (Yes, yes, I’m writing book #2 and still was in the dark on that. Don’t judge.) See, this is why I love pantsing so much. I don’t think this idea would have come to me if I had tried to make an outline for this thing. I mean sure, I still have no earthly clue how I’m going to tie all this together and still barely have any inkling of what all is going to go down in this book. But YA KNOW. I’m sure it’ll all work itself out.

I hope.

BUT YES. Day #2 had a lot of good writing going on and revealed to me some thiiiings. *rubs hands together and cackles*

WORDS WRITTEN: 5,001

WEDNESDAY: DAY #3

THIS DAY. This day I feel like I finally hit my momentum.

Most NaNos, despite writing the most words during the first days, it takes me a bit to really feel the story and start, ya know, really truly enjoying it. Though yes, those first two days went well, I did feel like many of the words were a struggle. It may be strange, but beginnings are my least favorite bits to write.

(Though the last two NaNos would make me eat those words, as those were some of my favorite story beginnings ever to pen but ya know, statistically speaking and all.)

But today the words were finally flowing out of me and I was having downright fun.

A huge bonus was that I was writing one of the few scenes I had vividly planned in my head. This scene actually came to me months ago, annndd is like the only scene I had sort of kind of planned so yay? BUT YES. It was a TREAT finally getting to actually write it!

And oh the chaos, guys. The sheer cHaOs. This has to be my MOST chaotic and proactive cast to ever write in my life. They almost exhaust me because they just. never. stop. Like, GUYS. Do you sleep??? How are you still alive?? A huge chunk of today’s writing (and, um, literally all the previous scenes?) are basically my characters causing utter ~havoc~ I may have spent the majority of the day cackling at the mere destruction my characters are already causing. And I haven’t even begun with the big stuff.

It’s a good time.

WORDS WRITTEN: 5,014

THURSDAY: DAY #4

Ah yes, day 4. Also known as the Day of Cinnamon Rolls.

So all the way back when I was near the end of writing book #1, it occurred to me what a DELIGHT it’d be if two particular characters end up meeting and striking a friendship. Which, quite beautifully, would actually help with the plot in more ways than one.

Fast forward nearly a year later to today and *swishes magic wand* this idea has finally formed into REAL WORDS. (Writing is so awesome sometimes, guys.)

If you haven’t guessed yet, said characters are UTTER cinnamon rolls and trying to write a conversation between two shy, hopelessly awkward muffins with 0/10 social skills brings me an absurd amount of joy. I was a happy bean.

Coincidentally, I actually had cinnamon rolls for breakfast twice this week so yay me for sticking with a theme here.

It was also a chilly, cloudy day. Perfect for cozying up under a blanket and writing adorable scenes. (Even though I also wrote some PAIN this day but, ya know, gotta keep things balanced).

ANYWHO. It’s all going quite well. The words aren’t always coming blazing fast, as I’m still working through, um, everything. Things are slooowly coming together, but like. Why must my plots be so ridiculous??

Also a Certain Important Someone (who is, in fact, NOT a cinnamon roll) made a first time appearance right at the tail end of today’s writing session and I am quiiite intrigued to see what they’re all about tomorrow. *rubs hands together*

WORDS WRITTEN: 4,445

FRIDAY: DAY #5

Due to accidentally getting a much later start than I intended and life-y stuff distracting me, today was a slightly slower writing day than the previous ones. But that’s okay. I think after 4 days of basically NONSTOP writing (and going to bed waaay too late), my poor brain needed a smidge of a breather.

BUT.

I did get to officially meet that Certain Important Someone I mentioned above and ohohoho. I think I’m gonna like this character. And, while I was at it, a couple of other characters I did, in fact, not plan randomly popped up fully formed and demanding attention so that’s great. This ginormous, overly complex story with an already overstuffed cast needed more people apparently. It’s all good.

I also got to return to Rune’s POV for the first time with this book and aaahhhh I love my stabby marshmallow. Because with Rune I get sentences like this:

Rune did his utmost best to keep a neutral expression, even though in his mind he was raising his fist in triumph.

#dork

And one last highlight for the day…

I reached 25k words!!!

Which, yes, would normally be the halfway point but because I apparently hate actually being a sane person, my NaNo goal is always to finish the entire book by the end of November (or thereabout) annd my novels basically always end up being 100k+ words. So. Yeah. I’m basically really only a quarter(ish) of the way there. But ya know, gotta celebrate the milestones! (There’s a reason I’m writing like a mad person every day, if you happened to be wondering.)

So even though I wrote in smaller pockets of time today, it was still a most successful day of writing.

Even if I have no idea where this plot is going. Someone help meee.

WORDS WRITTEN: 3,500

SATURDAY: DAY #6

After two particularly chilly, overcast days, the sun and glorious weather returned once more and with it an absolute (sun)burst of inspiration. This day ties with day #3 as my favorite NaNo 2021 writing day thus far. It was the type of day where the words kept coming with very little thought. Which was great, because most of the previous words have taken a LOT of thought. But today I really just got to LIVE in my story and watch as things unfolded before my eyes. Those are often rare moments for a writer, but they’re the ones we live for.

It probably helped that I actually sorta kinda knew where the scenes I was writing today were going.

(Yes, I am a pantser. Yes, sometimes it’s really, really hard pantsing a book, and those teeny tiny moments in time where we actually know what is going on come as a huge relief.)

It didn’t hurt that a lot of today’s writing was in Rune’s POV again and literally every time I write his POV the words just fly with the utmost ease. I don’t know what it is about him that makes it so easy to write. He’s just one of those characters I can slip into the head of effortlessly. And, really, it’s just like Rune to be so polite he makes things easy for his author…even as she’s destroying his life one word at a time.

I MEAN. AHEM. Everything is fiiine! My characters are having a grand ol’ time. It’s fluff and rainbows over here.

Aaaanyway. I hit 30k words today and it was a really, really good day.

WORDS WRITTEN: 5,046

SUNDAY: DAY #7

Today I had quite a bit going on in the real life department (I do, in fact, visit it sometimes), so I got in 2k words as fast as I could and called that a day. But, truthfully, after a week of nonstop writing, it was rather refreshing to take at least a tiny bit of a breather. Plus, ya know, I need to say hi to my family now and again.

BUT writing went really, really well today which is why I was able to pound out 2k words before the day got super busy, of which I was most grateful! A certain group of characters is meeting another character I was super anxious for them to and it’s been much fun to write! (And by “fun” I mean this scene is already bringing in the feels and Aelin threatened to stab someone with a fork so yes. Just another day with the Daystars.) The dialogue heavy scenes tend to go a lot faster, so it was perfect that’s where I was today when I needed to get in some fast writing.

Today’s writing was in Tala’s POV and I have to say, she has been a HUGE highlight of the entire week. My usually soft, keep-the-peace baby girl is Done with everyone’s nonsense and being tossed to and fro, and she has transformed into full Mother Bear Mode. I love it. It’s beautiful.

Here, have a snippet to close things off!

Tala jumped up to retrieve the canteen but a thump pulled her around. Kez leaned against the wall, and even in the darkness she could see his body shaking.

“Good gracious, Kez. Sit down!”

“I’m fine,” he murmured.

“No you are most certainly not fine. You’re on the verge of passing out.”

“Mmm.” He slid down the wall, leaning his head back and staring dazedly at the flickering blue orb.

At least he was sitting.

“Aelin, is your nose still bleeding?”

Aelin swiped an arm beneath her nose, smearing the blood already there. “A little.”

“Does it feel broken?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, that’s something. You sit as well and pinch the tip of your nostrils shut, but don’t tilt your head back. Good gracious, you two. I can’t fix one wound before your get yourselves another.”

“Get ourselves?” Aelin’s voice wheezed as she closed her nostrils. “Yeah, ‘cause I asked to have my face slammed into a table.”

“You practically did!”

Everyone needs a nap so bad.

WORDS WRITTEN: 2,007

WEEK ONE WORDCOUNT: 32,083

NOTE: I am aware that is…a lot of writing in one week. But, as mentioned, my goal is not actually the 50k, but to FINISH the book as fast as humanly possible. I purposely set aside things in November so I can get a full first draft written, because I rarely write first drafts during the rest of the year. But I’m always a little self conscious sharing my wordcount and things because I know it’s insane and it’s most definitely not for everyone. NaNo is about finding motivation to write, whatever that may look like. For me, it helps me get a full draft done quickly, but during the rest of the year my pace is sloooow, and that’s okay. We all have to create things at the pace of what works best for our life and circumstances at the time. Whatever that looks like, it is 100% okay. <3

CONCLUSION

This was a good week. A really good week. It wasn’t perfect; I had a lot of moments that brought headaches as I tried to work out how to keep this plot going and make sense of it. Many days found me staring at the screen for long minutes at a time hoping SOMETHING will come out. But, eventually, it always did. There is always the possibility I’ll hate every word when I read back over it, but where I stand right now, I am quite pleased with the events that have taken place in the story thus far. I think it’s coming along nicely. Being as how I went into this week with like…two vague scenes in my head and nothing else, the fact that I’m sitting here with 32k words is rather astounding, and I am so grateful for it.

Plus, I’m just so happy to be writing these characters again. My goodness I’ve missed this disastrous crew. I cannot wait to see what wild adventures they take me on for week 2!

Goodness knows I’ve talked enough about my week, I want to hear about YOURS! For my fellow wrimos, how did this first week treat you? And for EVERYONE, how has the first week of November been in general? Am I the only one already listening to Christmas music? #noshame