I wish I could do NaNoWriMo again this year. Fact is, my deadline for this first draft is November 15, and I will need every moment up until probably 11:59 of that day to have this ready to be seen by other human beings who are not my poor husband made to read my early drafts because he loves me and knows to be gentle. I don’t even have time to gather feedback from readers as I’d planned… I’m really up against this deadline. So, what that means is of course writing a whole new novel starting November 1 is impossible. And I am sad!

Last year was the first year I took part in NaNoWriMo. Here’s how it ended: 40,607 words, 143 pages. Lotsa words, yes, but I didn’t get a full 50,000, so I didn’t “win.” I also, if you want the truth, have left that draft of the novel in a ditch and haven’t gone back. From writing it, I learned what I want the novel to be about. Which means I will now have to start again from scratch. You might think that makes last November a complete and total waste, but I don’t see it that way. I feel more centered about the project, more excited. I lost some work I did on it when my hard-drive died, but even that hasn’t ruined the project for me. I won’t give up on it. In fact, I would have been writing it this past year if another novel didn’t come to the forefront in a way I couldn’t ignore.

So… who’s doing NaNoWriMo this year? I’m excited for you, and also majorly jealous. I’ll keep my jealousy at bay, though, and cheer you on. 30 days, 50,000 words, you can do it! Anyone, anyone?

(I have no idea why my page on the NaNo site says I am an “official participant” this year. Wishful thinking? Guilt trip? Because I may have logged in to turn off the automated messages for this year, but I did not sign up, I swear!)