our hero returns triumphant:
Fireworks! I love it.
What I love even better: I finished the novel two days ago. Yep, on November 27. No frantic last-minute word padding this year, oh no!
What I love even better: For all that it contradicts itself in a million different places, I wrote a very "clean" fifty-thousand words. No notes to self, no fourth-wall breakage, no replaced contractions, no characters with names like Dumbledore's insisting that they be called by their full names only...
What I love even better: I got so inspired in the last few days that after I hit 50k, I came home and wrote another 1000+ words just because I couldn't bear not to.
What I love even better: I was lucky enough to be able to hit 50k surrounded by friends at our last write-in. Which reminds me that a year ago, I didn't HAVE those friends, and that I have met so many wonderful people through writing and NaNoWriMo.
What I love best of all: It wasn't easy. Even if I did get off to a huge start, and finish strong, there were all too many days in the middle where I just wanted to quit and trash the whole story. I'd wonder what made me think I could write, when I clearly have no inspiration, no ability, no original ideas, etc. But I kept going. I finished NaNoWriMo despite working full time and then some, despite having to organize and run two weekend camps, despite having to also entirely relearn long-lost math skills, despite an ongoing family crisis and the death of my kitty, despite having to condition a very fat and lazy old pony so she can lead a paper chase next month. I remembered that it's foolish to think that writing is something you can only do if you have lots of time to devote towards it. I remembered that if anything, writing is even more important when you don't have the time. I remembered that if you enjoy something enough, and want it badly enough, you can make it happen!
Suddenly none of the multiple enormous challenges looming in my future look quite so daunting.
And now I'm ready to put up Christmas decorations! Hope everyone on the f'list had a beautiful Thanksgiving. ♥