Last Check-in Wordcount + ChapterCount: 45,053 words and 15 1/2 chapters.
Current WC + CC: 72,956 words and 28 chapters and… COMPLETE! I finished the first draft!
Yeah, that goal to write “as much of the first draft as possible this month”? How about “finish the first draft a week before the month is up” instead? Yay. 😀 This was mostly due to a light work week and getting in the writing groove. And also, my story veered off in its own direction (disregarding the outline) twice, and the second time I had to throw out the rest of the outline (like 10 more chapters), it was so different. But I rewrote the end of the outline (shaving off five projected chapters and thus 10,000+ words) and it’s much better this way, I think.
My goal for this last week of the marathon is to make preliminary edits (usually just typo check and a few minors changes at this stage for me, before I get feedback) and start sending it to my beta, while also editing a manuscript I’m beta-ing for her, AND outline my next project, that shiny new idea that popped into my head this week.
WIP Issues this week: Getting off the outline not once, but twice, but both times it was for the better and I didn’t even get hit with writer’s block adjusting it.
What I learned this week in writing: I can finish another manuscript! (The three unfinished WIPs made me think it might never happen again.)
What distracted me this week while writing: Not much. I (obviously) had a good writing week! A shiny new idea did threaten to distract me, though, as I wrote the first paragraph for that and kept brainstorming ideas. But I pushed it aside and committed to finishing what I’d started.
Last 200 words: Can’t share due to spoilers! I thought about sharing the opening 200 words, but I’m not sure I want to just now. They’re pretty dark. ;-;
Amy McNulty 
You are such an inspiration! I wish I can be as prolific as you. Congrats on finishing your WIP! 😀
Aw, thanks! 😀 I have my good writing weeks/months and then I have MONTHS where it’s a struggle to write a few hundred words a week. Just keep on truckin’ and celebrate all of your milestones along the way.
That’s amazing, well done! I adapt my outline as I go along, too, and it can often be a good thing! Good luck with revisions, and with your shiny new idea! 🙂
Thank you! 😀 Yes, I’m a huge fan of outlines now, lol. I used to be scared I’d lock myself into one version of the story and not “discover” anything new while I’m writing, but that wasn’t true at all. And the outline made me feel so much better. (I’m always afraid I’ll get stuck again!)
Great job! That’s awesome that you were able to complete a first draft especially with all the wild!plotchanges.
Give yourself a pat on the back!!!
Thank you!! 😀 I know, right? XD But it changed for the better, I think.
Whoo hoo! Finished! Congratulations!!
I outline as I go and I still make changes to sometimes. We gotta follow where the story leads. ^_^
Shiny new ideas can be quite distracting. Lol!
Good luck with this story!
Thank you! 😀
Usually the story knows where it needs to go better than I do, lol. I LOVE the things I come up with while in the middle of the zone. But at the same time, having an outline makes me feel more secure that I have a plot in place!
Thanks!
OMGoodness that word count leap rocks!! I need me some of that finishing magic.Thank you in advance. 😀
Ha, I know, right? I never do NaNoWriMo because it seems stressful to cram that much writing into a single month, but I think you just need to get 50,000 done, and I did that in two weeks here! But I don’t always write that quickly by any means.
*sprinkles the magic* here you go!
Great job! Congrats on finishing!
Thank you! 😀
Congratulations on finishing the draft, that’s amazing progress! Good luck with edits.
Thank you! 😀
That is tremendous and super exciting! Well done. You absolutely smashed your goal to bits. Congrats and keep it up. :D:D
Thank you so much! 😀
That is one epic word count! And congratulations on finishing the first draft!
I have a very vague outline at the moment but even from one moment to the next I might have something planned and then my characters are like “Nope, we’re gonna do this!” and it’s both infuriating and exciting.
Good luck with the outlining of your new project!
Thank you!!
I know, right? ^^ The characters know what they’re doing better than I do, ha. Most of the time it’s for the better, but having that outline in place helps!
Thank you! I hope I can get started on that new outline this week like I planned!
Ahhhh! Finished!! Congrats!
I’ve rewritten my outline for my WIP at least five times. I think it’s great to do this! It means the story and characters are growing and changing.
Great job this week!
Thank you! 😀 And I agree about outlines. I never wrote with them before, but that bit me in the butt once when I got stuck. So outlines can change, but I still need to write them!
Congratulations! And you finished early too! All right! Good luck with your preliminary edits.
Great job! And best of luck with your edits!
Thank you! 😀