My NaNoWriMo challenge ended rather abruptly several days before the end of November.
It wasn't my idea. I was at 43,410 words, and it looked like I'd be able to close the gap to 50,000 easily. I'd even taken November 30,off work as an extra 8 hours I could use to finish writing if I needed it.
On Wednesday, I wasn't feeling very well. By Wednesday evening, my eyes weren't appreciating light. Thursday morning I woke up with a full-fledged fever. Friday I was not only feverish, but I was sick enough that I was having trouble following the plot on an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9.
So as of midnight on November 30, my word count was still at 43,410. I was not a winner this year, and there really wasn't much I could have done to prevent it. I had a lot of fun, though. I learned a lot. Several people I know even had fun reading them, which was the most amazing part of the whole process.
I'd had another goal for 2012. That was to read 26 novels over the course of the year. I'm currently sitting at 23 completed, and 3 in various stages of being read sitting beside me. I could have finished this goal, I think. Trouble is, I had a choice to make over Christmas. Sit down and read like a fiend to get those 3 books done in a week, or spend time with my husband and cats and family and friends.
The way I've seen it, I've read about 22 more books than I did last year. I think this particular goal has been a raging success. Sure, I didn't hit 26. But I've been having a lot of fun this week, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.
I'm now thinking of goals for 2013. Things I can do that will result in fun, challenge, and education. Things that will add to my enjoyment of life. Reading and writing will definitely be part of those goals, in spite of me not reaching what I'd hoped for them in 2012. Both have been so rewarding, however, that I can't imagine not doing them again next year.
That is the point of these goals after all. Therefore, I have achieved everything I wanted in 2012. I'm sure 2013 will be the same.
Congratulations! I know that I had a hard time reaching my reading and writing goals at the same time as my focus was scattered. I also found it hard to focus on the story I was writing when I started reading something else. Good luck with everything in 2013!
ReplyDeleteI think looking at it in the "more than I did last year" way is the way to do it...that's 43,000 words you didn't write last November, and the 22 books you didn't read last year :P I'd definitely call that being a winner! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI think you did great on both counts. Good luck in 2013.
ReplyDeleteI had no reading goals at all in 2012 but it's the first time I've kept a list of what I read. I read 10 books - not even 1 per month. So I think going for this goal of 26 books and having to read a book a fortnight is going to mean wasting a lot less time in front of the tv! Thanks for the idea.
As for NaNoWriMo, I couldn't even contemplate trying that! Well done!