Hi everyone!

This month I’m going to be sharing weekly updates on my NaNoWriMo progress. These posts will be a bit different than what I usually share here, so if you’re not interested in how many words I’m writing on a weekly basis, don’t fret. Things will get back to normal soon and I’ll be sharing other content during November as well.

How it’s going: It’s going well and I’m so stoked. But… let’s be real. This is not my first NaNo and I always come out of the gate full force, words flying out of my brain, down my fingers, and spilling out onto the page. It’s fantastic and I will ride that high ’til I inevitably crash somewhere mid-week two or early week three. I fully expect this is what will happen and I am prepared for it this time. So far, I’ve been diligent about updating my writing journal daily. I’ve included a list of plot holes and questions that I need to go back to and figure out. My plan is that when I inevitably crash and the words sputter out, I can use that list to help me get them flowing again..

How I’m keeping the well filled: Working out sparks creativity and gets my brain going, so I’m up and on the treadmill or the Peloton by 5 AM. That’s normal though. If I don’t get it done first thing, I won’t get it done at all. I’ve stopped watching news in the morning. I now use that time to watch videos on the craft of writing while I get my desk organized and go over my plans for the day. I’m also taking time every day to watch a show or listen to a book while I knit and I’m shutting off my devices so I have uninterrupted reading time each night. Lastly, play time or a walk with my chocolate lab Brody always centers me and helps me keep the stress and anxiety away.

What I’m watching: I’m knee-deep in my The Walking Dead rewatch. I swear that show is a goldmine of inspiration for interpersonal relationships during times of crisis.

What I’m reading (or listening to): The Stand by Stephen King (one of my top ten all-time fave standalone novels) and the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (one of my top ten all-time fave series)

What I’m listening to: I haven’t been listening to as much music as I usually do when I write. It’s because I’m not a fan of Apple Music. We received a free six month subscription when we upgraded our phones so I reluctantly canceled my Spotify. BIG MISTAKE. We’re only a month in to the free trial, but I’m reactivating my Spotify account soon. For me, it’s just a much better fit. When I do get back into listening to music, it will be instrumental EDM and classical when I write. I stick with instrumentals because I find that vocals distract me when writing. When I’m not trying to get the words out, my go-tos are Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, and 80s music (oh how I love a good 80s one-hit-wonder!). That’s not everything, but if I listed everything I like to listen to, we’d be here for days.

Challenges I’m facing: I lost a dear family member over the summer and I am their trustee and executor of their estate. I won’t go into detail, but suffice it to say that every single thing that could go wrong has gone wrong while trying to wrap up his affairs. It’s become almost a full-time job. I’m not even kidding a little. Because of this, I’ve had to revise my schedule and step back from a few things. Total bummer, but it is what it is. I try to look at the challenges this has created as a learning experience, but man, sometimes I just don’t want to learn anything else about it. You know what I mean? As for writing-specific challenges… I have serious Shiny New Object Syndrome lately and I am finding it hard to focus on my WIP. In the past 6 months this thing has gone from being a Paranormal Mystery with heavy romance to a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, to its latest iteration which includes… wait for it… zombies. So.. yeah. 🤷🏻‍♀️ First my characters were fae, then they were witches and werewolves, now they’re fae again. The struggle is real, y’all.

Week One Word Count: 17,935/50,000:

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this month? If so, let me know how it’s going in the comments, or join the conversation on Instagram.