Completed chapter 3 today, using prompt #3, which brings me to a grand total of 6,325 words thus far. Not feeling like I’m done writing for the day since the goal was one chapter per day using the corresponding numbered prompt.

Today is Day #4, Prompt #4 which means I should have been writing and finishing Chapter #4 today. The goals I set for myself were based on my output from last year. Even then, I had somewhat of a slow start before finding a groove where the words just flowed.

It’s the equivalent of an athlete being in the zone, where you have the characters programed into your subconscious well enough that you don’t really have to think about it. This is why many writers talk about the characters taking over – sometimes they follow the plot you had in mind, but often times when I hear about it they aren’t.

This is why I try not to get overly detailed with outlines. I like being in the zone because this is when the characters have the most life on the page for me. If my outlines cover just the broad brushstrokes of what I have in mind it’s not that big of a disaster if they veer off the road a tad. But then again, I’m not afraid to let them completely derail just to see where it goes.

So I’m trying not to get too stressed out about feeling behind. According to the NaNoWriMo word count tracker, I’m roughly 300 words short for today’s milestone. And hey, three chapters written is WAY better than none!

But I’m already hitting a point tonight where I feel like there isn’t enough coffee in the world to keep me running. This is where I have to choose. Do I push myself through it and get started on the next chapter, or do I give myself a break and get some rest.

If nothing else, I’m ready for a different set of songs to listen to. I still like what I’m listening to, but I’m ready for a shift in gears thematically I think. I don’t have a playlist for today’s prompt. I didn’t put playlists together when I was writing the prompts down in my notebook. And sometimes it can take quite awhile to find the songs I think fit the combination of themes presented. Like do you go by just the lyrics, or do you go by just the instrumentation? I admit I over this question with each song selected and it boils down to the song itself as to whether it feels like it fits.

So I did update Prompt #3 to include the playlist. Maybe I ought to give myself a break from writing if nothing else and maybe throw together a playlist for Prompt #4 and Prompt #5 – because I don’t know about anyone else, but I never write without music if I can help it.

But… if I find that my fatigue is more than just needing to pause from writing, I’ll take a nap. Really don’t need my brain breaking right now. The playlists may have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry about that. I’ll try to carve out some time to get the lists done to include them with the prompts, but I have a feeling they’ll be going up as I need them. I’m starting to get the vague sense I’m at risk of being overwhelmed due to poor planning on my part.