Waking up sick during NaNoWriMo is a bummer. The first year I attempted NaNoWriMo I got sick at about my 9,000 word count and it was hateful. I didn't write much after that because I feel pretty bad and I lost momentum.
It was a head cold. I couldn't concentrate. I had no plan and was writing by the seat of my pants. That is what NaNoWriMo calls a Pantser. I have tried to plan and I get stuck on details that it just works better for me to not plan or have a very little plan. I am not sure if my lack of planning had something to do with my demise in year one or just poor planning on the physical side of writing.
I think I hit a brick wall and quit because it was my first year. I didn't know me as a writer. I didn't know how many words I could write in X amount of time. When the word count gap got higher and higher I could no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel. I also didn't know what it would take to finish and gave up.
Last year I used extra cause to not get sick. If someone came home feeling bad I used hand sanitizer and washed my hands a lot more than normal. I tried very hard to not get sick. Which should always be a goal but hand sanitizer and obsessive hand washing is not good for the skin. I managed to stay well last year and got to 50,000.
NaNoWriMo is a physical challenge too. You have to sit and type (or write) for 50,000 words. Typing for hours at a time to get your ideas from grey matter to black and white. I estimate it will take me anywhere from 40 to 50 hours to finish my story. At the 45 minute mark I know my back starts to hurt and I will need a break, short and sweet. Can't stay away from writing for too long or I will get distracted by chores and other things I could be doing.
Know your limits and plan for backaches, head colds, and other physical needs it will help you get to your goal.
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