I DID IT!!! It being NaNoWriMo in which I won for writing (over) 50,000 words in (under) 30 days. It was a pretty brutal undertaking, because I was in the midst of a torrid romance, getting engaged, refurbishing a vintage camping trailer (named Stonehenge), and preparing for the holidays; all while working 40+ hours a week.
November 1st I set my alarm for 3:16am, and got up to write knowing that the faster I finished the less likely I'd be to scrap the project. On the 13th of November, 17 days early, I completed my 50k, but I continued writing until the draft was complete at 55,504 words. The rest of the month I slacked off, outlining new books, doing character development tasks, and generally enjoying my life. The book I completed is a mess, I'm sure, because writing at that speed doesn't allow your internal editor to repair as you go - which is both a blessing and a curse. It allows you to get large word counts, but those words are often incoherent and rambling.
Next year I'll be a newlywed, and I'm not sure if I'll compete again. It was a thoroughly stressful endeavor, but ultimately satisfying. I guess we'll have to see what November 1, 2016 brings.
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