Well, it wasn’t surprising to me when I got behind in the second week. A lot of authors do get behind but the issue can be very different.
For instance, some writers get blocked in week 2. They have the time but not the inspiration.
Others find they don’t have much time or inspiration.
Others even find they get behind on purpose because they get a buzz about doing marathon sessions and heroic daily word counts.
For me it was shifting priorities. My paid work was taking more time than expected when I planned my NaNo book. The paid work takes priority over the ‘will be paid wildly obscene amounts of money for my novel and retire to write full time’ work.
In a non-writing project when priorities shift, I start by looking at how much the changes in priority affects the scope, schedule and budget of the project. I did the same with the writing project.
Can I change the scope. Yes, my goal is 80,000 words, the official goal (requirements) is 50,000 words. I can reduce my effort to the required amount.
Can I change the schedule. No, this is the month we write a book. November 30 midnight local time is my deadline.
Budget doesn’t exist for this project, and it’s one of those things that you can’t throw money at, I have to write the book.
My solutions;
- I will not reduce my goal – 80,000 is a book and that’s what I want to write.
- I can divide out the shortfall over the remaining days of the month to make it look manageable.
- I can do a marathon at the library write in to minimize the shortfall.
The result – half the shortfall made up in one write-in and the remainder is achievable in one normal writing day.
Next week, quality management!