This is going to be a quick update: I’m proud to report I won NaNoWriMo with a total of 50,195 words! I was planning to update my blog as I go along, but I was just so drained every day that I really struggled to even catch up to the recommended word count even towards the end. Posting a blog update just felt like more struggle. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way, honestly, but I can tell you, if it weren’t for my outline, I probably would have completely lost. However, because I already know the direction it’s heading, writing the story became less exciting to me. Does that make me a natural pantser? Pantsing makes me go off-tangent pretty quickly, though, so that was why I felt – and still feel – that outlining is the smarter move for me. Not to mention during pantsing, when I get a writer’s block… I really get a writer’s block. Outlining means, even when I’m not feeling it, I know what to write about, even though it may not excite me at that time. Is there a nice and sweet middle ground for this? Regardless, I’m definitely learning more about myself and the kind of writer I am. And that’s one of the great things about NaNoWriMo!
Did you participate in NaNoWriMo? Did you learn something about yourself as a writer?
Steph Arven 
Yayy you go girl!! ❤
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thanks!
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Yes. I got 50,031 words – it ended up looking like an outline or a plan with first draft parts in between. I felt okay with that, though. I knew there was repetition in it, but that was a way to find my way round one long manuscript – I did have chapters but that side of things didn’t continue. I was just putting ‘Later Chapter’ by the end of it. I knew I didn’t plan and outline before I began – I know I can’t do it.
However, what I have – it has surprised me, and I’ll put it away for a while and then get back to it.
Congratulations on your achievement!
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Thanks and congratulations to you too! I’m glad you ended up surprising yourself and putting “later chapter” is totally fine!
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Congratulations! The shirt and the smile look great on you. I did not buy a shirt, even though my messed-up word counter said I was a Winner, because I logged only 36,703 words toward the goal. (Too bad, too, nice design this year.) But I am wearing the smile because in this competition there are no losers other than those who don’t make the effort at all.
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You are absolutely right! Haha! Love that you’re “wearing the smile” that’s awesome.
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