As new Port Townsend residents, we are surprised and pleased at the quality of artwork on display at Northwind -- and we have seen great artwork all over the world! With its Arts to Elders program and literary readings, Northwind provides a great service to the community.

Many writers, myself included, have trouble getting past the "inner censor" that trips us up. Completing a novel is hard...hitting that 50 page or 75 page mark, we run into trouble telling the story. We convince ourselves that we're no good at this, and we usually quit.

NaNoWriMo helps us change that.

As we write, write, and write, moving too quickly for the censor to nab us, we get past our doubts and fears. With the online support and available in-person writing sessions, we lose the isolation that also causes writers to struggle. We get the much-needed pats on the back that help us navigate the marathon that is NaNoWriMo.

Now in the midst of revising my work, I can say that my first draft was no worse than any other first draft I've ever done--but it was easier because I didn't have time to ruminate, worry, or indulge in self-sabotage.