Days 4 & 5 of My 14-Day Writing Challenge
Battling the Holidays
Some days during a writing challenge feel like a victory lap, and others—well, they feel like a battle. Days 4 and 5 were definitely the latter for me. Between exhaustion, last-minute holiday shopping, and personal challenges, I struggled to find my rhythm. But even in those tough moments, I discovered some valuable insights about myself and my process. Here’s how it went.
The Numbers
Here’s where I landed:
Day 4 Word Count Goal: 3,928 (to make up for the missed words from Day 3)
Day 4 Words Written: 1
Day 5 Adjusted Daily Goal: 3,491
Day 5 Words Written: 1,131
End of Day 5 Word Count: 36,038
Words Left to Write: 33,962
Not my best output by any stretch, but progress is progress, and I’m recalibrating to keep moving forward.
What Happened on Day 4
Day 4 started rough. I woke up late (thanks to insomnia the night before), which immediately threw off my plans to get an early start. Add to that the fact that I still hadn’t finished my Christmas shopping, and my day quickly spiraled into a whirlwind of errands. By the time I got home, it was 9 PM, and I was completely drained.
I told myself I’d write in my notebook and transcribe it later, but I ended up falling asleep as soon as I lay down. Writing total for the day? One word. Yep, just one.
Looking back, I realized that living out of a suitcase and not having my own space has been taking a toll on my energy and focus. It’s a reminder of how much our environment can affect our creative flow.
Day 5: Trying to Regain Momentum
After the flop that was Day 4, I woke up on Day 5 determined to turn things around. But honestly? It wasn’t much better. My goal was to write over 7,000 words to catch up, but that quickly proved unrealistic. Instead, I recalculated and set a new daily goal of 3,491 words for the remaining days of the challenge.
The day took a difficult turn when I had a disagreement with my partner about how much time I’ve been dedicating to writing. They felt I wasn’t prioritizing our relationship enough, and it left me questioning how to balance my creative pursuits with personal responsibilities. It was an emotional blow, and it drained a lot of my motivation for the day.
I ended up writing 1,131 words—better than Day 4, but still far from what I wanted to achieve.
Highlights & Struggles
The Lows:
Insomnia, holiday stress, and feeling displaced made it hard to focus.
Dealing with personal conflict left me emotionally drained.
I struggled with guilt—about not writing enough and about how my writing affects the people around me.
The Highs:
I wrote a particularly emotional scene for my protagonist that revealed new layers of her character. She’s deeply flawed, and balancing her likability with her realness is challenging but rewarding.
Listening to a J.K. Rowling interview gave me a boost of inspiration. She talked about her self-imposed deadline to finish the first Harry Potter book before starting her teaching job. It reminded me that sometimes you just have to push through.
Lessons Learned
Adjust Goals When Needed: Writing 7,000 words in one day wasn’t realistic for me, and that’s okay. Breaking it down into smaller daily targets makes it more manageable and less overwhelming.
Environment Matters: Living out of a suitcase and working in temporary spaces has made me appreciate how much a stable, comfortable environment can impact creativity.
Writing Affects Mood: Writing an emotional scene put me in a somber mood, but it also helped me connect deeply with my story. On the flip side, the stress of falling behind or dealing with external conflicts can make it hard to write at all.
Inspiration is Everywhere: Listening to interviews with other writers reminded me that everyone faces challenges, and persistence is key. Their stories can be a source of motivation.
Moving Forward
Days 4 and 5 were tough, but they weren’t wasted. I learned a lot about myself and my process, even if the word count wasn’t where I wanted it to be. This challenge isn’t just about hitting a number—it’s about showing up, learning, and growing as a writer.
I’m going to keep pushing forward, recalibrate my goals as needed, and remind myself that every word written is a step closer to finishing this novel. If you’re struggling with your own creative challenges, just know that you’re not alone. We all have our rough days, but what matters is that we keep going.