DSLady, so glad you enjoyed your first write-in! I've been doing this since 2006 and the first two years I didn't go to write-ins and didn't win. When I started, my wordcount grew exponentially and I started winning. (Not that winning is the most important thing, but it is very satisfying!) Plus, as you said, they're fun and great morale-builders. We give everyone an official sticker at their first event, and then we have stickers related to that year's theme which people can earn for attendance and winning word wars (and we have a rule that you can only win once at any given write-in, so lots of different people can earn them). It's amazing what adults will do for a sticker!
Don't feel bad about being behind. I've actually found that sometimes when I think I have all the time in the world to write, that's when I produce the least. There's some kind of "productive zone" between "completely free" and "soul-crushingly busy" where the words just flow. I think a little constriction on time can sometimes make it easier for me to focus, and when I have nothing to do but write, I tend to procrastinate more without realizing it. Yes, it's week 1 and you're not where you want to be, but they good news is: hey, it's week 1! You've still got so much time to catch up!
To everyone else: Nice job!
