Day 3: 40k Words in 14-Day Writing Challenge
Feeling the Struggle
Day 3 is in the books, and it’s been a rollercoaster of a day. Some highs, some lows, and a lot of peanut butter toast. I’m officially past the halfway point of my novel, which feels amazing, but today brought its share of challenges. Let’s walk through it.
The Numbers
Date: 20/12/2024
Daily Word Count Goal: 3,102
Words Written: 2,276
Words Left to Write: 34,908
Okay, so I didn’t hit my goal today. But you know what? Progress is progress, and I’m celebrating that. Plus, the halfway milestone feels like a win all on its own.
The Day’s Journey
Let’s start with how my day went:
Morning Routine:
I kicked things off with a breakfast of peanut butter toast and an orange. Simple, but it gave me the energy to dive in.
Started documenting this challenge as blog posts to share with others. It’s a fun way to stay accountable and (hopefully) inspire someone else to tackle their own challenge.
Getting Started (Sort Of):
I didn’t actually start writing until 9 AM, and even then, other tasks kept pulling me away.
By 10:30 AM, I still hadn’t written a word. Not a great feeling, but I decided to shake it off and get to work.
The Writing Struggle:
I’ve been transcribing words from my notebook into my Google Doc for the past two days, but today I was starting with brand-new words. No safety net, just me and the blank page.
Writing longhand felt more connected, but it also made it tricky to track my word count. Still, I stuck with it.
Afternoon Shopping Detour:
Christmas shopping took over my afternoon. Yep, I’m that last-minute shopper. By the time I got back, it was already 9:30 PM, and I’d only written 1,800 words.
The Final Push:
At midnight, I wrapped up with 2,276 words on the computer and some extra words in my notebook to transcribe tomorrow. Not perfect, but I’m proud of the effort.
Highlights and Struggles
Big Moments:
Officially passed the halfway point on my novel! That’s a huge milestone and gave me a much-needed morale boost.
The Emotional Toll of Writing:
I wasn’t planning on it, but I ended up writing a really painful scene today. It put me in a pretty sorrowful mood, and it’s wild how much writing can affect how you’re feeling.
Later in the evening, I dove into another intense scene, but this one wasn’t as heavy. It felt cathartic, and I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Getting Lost in the Story:
I’m doing my own method of writing: a rough outline and “Frankensteining” scenes together (essentially writing the scenes I’m inspired to write and then stringing them all together afterward and filling in the blanks). But today, I realized I’m losing the throughline of my plot. Events are starting to feel out of order, and I need to take a step back to regain clarity.
Lessons Learned
Writing Longhand Has Its Perks:
There’s something about writing by hand that feels more personal and connected. But for a time-sensitive challenge like this, it’s not the most efficient. Balancing the two methods might be the way to go.
Emotions Fuel the Story:
Diving into painful scenes is tough, but it’s also where some of the best, most authentic writing comes from. Letting the story take me there was worth it.
Keep Checking the Big Picture:
When I felt lost, taking time to reexamine the structure of my story helped reignite my inspiration and gave me direction.
Motivational Hacks
Music is Everything:
Today’s writing soundtrack was a 4-hour Harry Potter ASMR ambience track courtesy of ASMR Weekly. It felt like I was hanging out at Hogwarts, which made the tough scenes a little easier to tackle.
Let Yourself Feel It:
When the writing gets heavy, it’s okay to let the emotions hit you. They’re part of the process, and they’re what make the story real.
Small Wins Count:
Even if you don’t hit your goal, celebrate what you did accomplish. Every word is one step closer.
Looking Ahead
Day 3 was a mixed bag, but I’m proud to have gotten through it. With 34,908 words left to write, I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m ready to tackle it. If you’re thinking about doing a challenge like this, just know that it’s okay to have tough days. The key is to keep showing up, even when it’s hard. Let’s keep writing—together.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own writing journey but you’re holding back, I totally get it—I’ve been there too. If you’re enjoying these updates, subscribe and let’s tackle the ups and downs of writing side by side one day at a time!