Days 4 & 5 sort of blended together, since I actually wrote in several long spurts that started Wednesday afternoon (Day 4) and stopped at about 2am Thursday morning (Day 5). I broke it up thusly:

 

Day 4

Word count:

•  4062 / 9688

Encouragements/helps:

• Understanding and supportive family who left me alone and  made their own suppers. 
• Emotional upheaval.

Challenges and distractions to overcome:

• Stomach flu!
• Emotional upheaval. 

Odd sources of inspiration:

• My own “Magna Carta” lists. (Two lists made before starting your novel. “What makes a good book?” and “What makes a dreadful, hideous, boring book?” –  From pages 85-88 of No Plot? No Problem! by NaNoWriMo founder, Chris Baty.

Day 5

Word count

• 1562 / 11250

Encouragements/helps:

• Wrote in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep.

Challenges and distractions to overcome:

• Sleepiness, lingering nausea from stomach flu. 
• Had to work first shift (6:30 am – 3:30 pm) Thursday, which meant that as I as writing, I knew I was using up precious “getting ready for work” sleep time. Also, Thursday is freight day, a source of swollen feet and achy muscles, so I was dreading that as well.

Odd sources of inspiration:

• Sims 3. (A Sim I made, then abandoned to create a new and more interesting Sim, started a life on her own and really screwed things up. I felt guilty for abandoning her. Yes, I’m a nerd. Shut up.)