NaNo = I Can: #ROW80 and #IWSG

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for my Insecure Writer's Support Group post. A huge thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for putting together this group. I appreciate the opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch and to read how others are doing. 

It’s Day 6 of NaNo, and as of yesterday evening, I was sitting at 9,642 words. Just ahead of schedule thanks to eleven hours of flight time and seven hours of layover time since Saturday.
I did NaNo last year to kickstart an idea I’d been writing in my head for almost a year. But I let Life constantly distract me from writing it.
51,104 words in one month! And by May my young adult book, Chasing Memories, was published. I didn’t rush it, thanks to a lot of great advice. Everyone told me to take at least the month of December to let the NaNo book sit. I didn’t touch it until mid-January.
This year, I’m writing book two—an idea that’s also been in my head for a year. How did it get to be November again already?
And why, when I know I’m capable of writing 50,000 words in a month, do I struggle to write 10,000 words in a year between NaNos?
Book three is becoming clearer as I write book two, so I hope I can…
* Finish NaNo strongly. I’m shooting for 60,000 words this time and a roughly finished novel.
* Take December off and then write book 3 in January while editing book 2 around mid-January.
Now, if I can just keep the muse pumped up and the insecurity monster at bay, I should be fine. Such a simple statement to make. Why does Life seem to be in cahoots with my insecurities?
I hope I can break my bad habits (i.e., making excuses not to write or to write other things) this time. Any advice?
A Round of Words in 80 Days(ROW80) Update
Wednesdays are also my ROW80 update days. Current NaNo count: 9,642. Now that I’m back from an incredible weekend in New York City (photos during my next update), I plan to return to the #ROW80 sprints (11amPST/2pmEST).
Wishing all the best to my writing buddies, whether you are doing NaNo or not. May you have the ideas necessary to fill your days with writing.