This past weekend I participated in the 3-Day Novel Contest, an annual Labour Day Weekend event. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've ever done in my life. I ended up with 45,000 words (about 150 pages) and a manuscript I consider not half-bad.

I decided that I wasn't going to worry about my caloric intake during the contest, not wanting the mundanity of hunger to stand between me and my goal. I didn't gorge, but I ate what I wanted, when I wanted. I ate widely and well: bread, eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt, mangoes, raspberries, green peppers, hummus, various types of nuts and seeds, salmon, ravioli, and several bags of late-night popcorn. I also drank two rather than my customary one glass of wine each day.

While I didn't keep track of calories at all, I estimate I averaged about 3,000 cals per day. This morning the scale registered a 2-lb increase, of which I figure 1 pound is a true gain.

I never felt stuffed and my energy held steady. I can't help thinking it's a shame that the amount of food that keeps my mind happy and my creative juices flowing most efficiently is more than my body needs to maintain its weight. When I hear how little some people have to eat to maintain, I can't complain about my own 2,000-calorie allotment. Even so, I find it hard to accept this body-mind divide!

Freelance

That is so fascinating! I can't even imagine geting a decent manuscript from a marathon writing session like that, I love that you did!

It sounds like you were able to manage the food balancing act really well! Congratulations!

I can certainly empathize. I want to focus on college homework rather than food right now...and I find myself munching quite a bit (on good, healthy stuff, but too much nonetheless.) I wish I didn't require so much to keep my critical thinking skills up and mind happy either. :/ Congrats on the novel though!

I completely empathize with your difficulty in accepting the situation! At the same time, I'm amazed at what you were able to accomplish and I think you made the right decision (to eat what you want) and you handled it like a champ (you didn't let it derail you, nor did you gorge). I wish I could handle situations as well as you do...you inspire me to do better and make me realize that it can be done.

I went to San Francisco for a few days and I completely fell off track and even when I got back on Saturday, I had a very hard time getting back on the wagon so I ended up binging on stupid things all of Sunday.

Lucky mom- we may have been over ordering in the same resturant. I went to San Fran and Napa, two week total vacation with tons of wine equaled 8 lbs. Gained
Freelance I would say you did well all things considered! Sounds like u didn't eat till sickness and only a few days. It happens to all of us what's important is our attitude and what we do once it's done.

Freelance- that is so awesome, great to hear of something so creative, I've heard of that type of contest, not from someone who's actually done it though!

Great job

Congrats on the manuscript! I can't imagine doing anything creative in a rush. Heck, I can't even imagine doing anything creative given lots of time.

It's funny how we're all different. I'm the total opposite to you. I've spent many long weekends writing 100-plus page reports (factual, not fiction). But, when I do, I typically forget to eat and my calorie consumption goes way down. My thoughts turn to food when I have nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs most of the weekend!

I think that "Wrote Novel, Ate Food" would be a fantastic title!

This^^

Great job! Not trying to play enabler or anything, but maybe you actually needed some extra food for writing; your brain uses a LOT of glucose and you were using your brain in what I assume is a different manner than usual. Once the water goes off, you may be pleasantly surprised.

And WOW, I'm jealous that you were able to crank out a manuscript that quickly. It makes me wonder why I haven't finished my novel yet...

Agreeing with time2lose!!! Makes me want to know more. Congratulations on your achievment.

So awesome! Any plans for this manuscript?

By the way, your weekend vaguely reminds me of my college days when I often had a snack in hand while studying or writing papers. Hmmm. That might explain my freshman fifteen and the ongoing creep through those years.

I plan to expand it to about 80,000 words and then shop it around -- unless I actually win the contest (one can always dream, right?), in which case the book will be published verbatim.

Freelance

What a cool experience!

I get what you mean about the body/mind divide. Sometimes when I'm focused on a project, I don't want to eat at all. That's usually when I'm working on adrenaline. But other times, adrenaline doesn't flood by system and I find I need a lot of food to keep my energy up, definitely more than I truly need for weight management. I wonder how many extra calorie the brain truly is burning on those occasions?

OMG - 3 days?!? I've done NaNoWriMo - a novel in a month - a few times and thought I was going to die (creatively, mentally, emotionally, physically). I'm AMAZED at you.

About the food? *shrug* I wouldn't worry about it. It was only three days, you did it thoughtfully, and you ate healthily. Onward, brave author!