It’s November! So let me start with two questions:

1. Who is doing NaNoWriMo?
   and
2. Who definitely is not doing NaNoWriMo?

I feel like this is all over my everything. Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, and don’t even get me started on tumblr! I love that everyone is motivated and pushing themselves!

Everyone wants to be the horse. Some days you’re the camel. Some days, you’re the donkey. 

Writing sprints don’t work for me. I am much more of a plodder. Like there are some horses built for speed or pretty necks or whatever and then some that just pull things? I’m a pull things-er horse. That was a bad metaphor. Let’s try again. Romantically, I’d say I’m the turtle, not the hare, though realistically I like naps way too much to say I’m not at all hare-y.

I think I lost it again.

Whatever writing animal I’m not, I like the sense of community at this time of year, but I have never been able to fully say “okay, 50,000 words in a month, go!” Especially not in a month full of the last good weather, the start of holiday season, and all the work attendant on preparing for the beginning of bad weather and…holiday season.

So, for those definitely not participating, or who feel that they should be able to hit those goals if they’re a “real” writer, this is for you: it’s not for everybody.

The goal is words on a page. The real goal is a story with a beginning, middle and end. Perhaps some characters. While I think it’s true that you can’t just rely on inspiration to get you through, everything else is on your terms.

I’m on the last chapter of book three! Last chapters are the hardest for me, because everything has to tie up, wind down and leave everyone at rest. So, of course, means I’m at loose ends, completely wired and keyed up beyond belief. Which is, I feel, really the attitude to have when going into all those bad weather and holiday plans.

On that note, happy writing, and GO VOTE! Seriously, if you haven’t sent in a provisional or gone to early voting, now is the time to do that. Absolutely Tuesday is the last day to do that. No excuses. We owe it to each other to at least make the effort. Like with writing, it’s not about inspiration, it’s about progress. Get it done!