That makes total sense about wanting to keep it more or less in your comfort zone while you're getting back in the swing of things! And since I share your appreciation for characters checking in, I love what you're coming up with.

Also yes it makes me feel so ambivalent when that happens because some of my wordcount is effectively wasted but...I mean...at least I wrote something? Better than nothing?

I think my lack of sleep is showing, I didn't realize how much I was paraphrasing you in the comment I left on your latest entry! But yeah, this is something I really struggle with too, especially since I'm not a fast writer -- but since I'm chipping away at a WIP that's a little more ambitious than my usual, I guess I'm trying extra hard to remember it right now.