Here’s a quote for you:

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. – Ernest Hemingway

And when George Anders writes in Forbes Magazine:

For the next eight days, NaNoWriMo was like being strapped to an aerobics machine that some demon had cranked up to Level 20. I was panting and sweating to keep pace.

he ain’t lyin’.

But it’s not a bad way to spend a month. I’m not known for my moderation when it comes to creative work. I tend to keep going and look at the clock later. When you mix writing with ways to measure it and keep yourself on goal, all bets are off. Over the past few years I’ve found that staying close to goal or getting ahead when you can are both good things. Playing catch up is possible. Taking a break is good, especially if you’ve built a little cushion or are on par with goal. But that looming number is always there.

This year’s NNWM for me had a particular goal, to find the END of the story I’ve been working on. I started in a new place and worked furiously towards being able to write “FIN” under the last paragraph. I’m not sure what the edited view will look like but I felt good walking away from it on the thirtieth around eight thirty.

The first of December dawned with no problem. I set no alarm. I allowed myself the luxury of lounging. I got breakfast and – went back to bed to read. This should have been a tip off. I napped. An even bigger tip off.

I had a walloping case of NNWM hangover apparently which hit me as I started out to attend my first ever TGIO (Thank God It’s Over) party and made me turn around lest my body embarrass me somewhere along the way. Went to bed early and got up reasonably on time and felt better. Just tired. And feeling like I should be writing. But that’s not the plan now, no writing. Wait for editing. Wait for rewrite.

Rest.

Hats off to everyone who stuck it out through the month, whether you hit the purple line or not. You put down words and thoughts you didn’t have down on November first and that alone makes it a good thing. If you got into the habit of writing – YEAH! If you found yourself obsessed by the notion of what would happen next, how will it turn out, how can that character know what to say? – NNWM has done its work.

And as a side note, this year the Albany region of NNWM had a liaison who did a great job of encouraging people to meet in their areas and have fun together and we did. It was a whole different ballgame from the past two years and it was great to have a facebook page to cheer each other onwards. Thanks all!