My Nonprofit Reviews

NaNoWriMo was easily the most fun I had in November. I was working full-time so I knew it would be time-consuming, although I didn't really know what else to expect. I shouldn't have worried. The encouraging e-mails arrived frequently enough to spur me on but not so frequently that I felt harried. The input from people taking part was especially heartening towards the end, it was good to hear the organisers themselves were behind on their word count!

Real Life friends were supportive if not understanding; they all wanted to know what I would gain at the end, what the tangible benefit was. Towards the end I was berating myself for taking on something so overwhelming with no clear payoff - November had seen a death in the family, my best friend was away travelling, and I felt very much alone in my ridiculous endeavour. Why not do it another month indeed?
That day a NaNo mail from Lemony Snicket arrived, one of many from different authors. Lemony Snicket is a literary god to me, so this felt very much like a sign! Suddenly the ridiculous was fun, suddenly it made sense to do it because other people were too; other people were having a hard time, other people were asking themselves why they'd started this, but they were doing it. Suddenly I wasn't alone.

Less than an hour from midnight on the day of the dealine I hit 50,000 words and basically fell to the ground in a heap, exhausted, my poor hand cramping up. But I smiled because I'd done it. I felt something I hadn't felt since I'd graduated 2 years ago - acheivement. A sense that I could. I tried to e-mail my travelling friend but I ouldn't type another word. It didn't matter. That cyber certificate confirmed what I felt. I had done it. I could do it. All because of the kindness and craziness of NaNoWriMo volunteers.

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