UhOhNaNo

            I'm doing NaNoWriMo. My students are flying along. All of them met their first goal (1,250 by the first week). They're finding things that work for them. They're going back and weaving in bits of storyline as they create it. They're listening to really loud music on their headphones. They're using name generators.

          I suggested cutting and pasting in bits of research so they can draw from it... and then they can delete it. I'm not sure anybody has tried it out yet, but it's working for me.

         My word count goal, at the end of today, is supposed to be 12,800 and some change (maybe a lot of change). What I have right now is only 6,014 words... which makes me a loser.

       However, after reading Pat Wahler's post, I feel muuuuch better about my pathetic word count.

       Has NaNoWriMo gotten me to begin a writing piece I might not otherwise take on?

       Check.

       Has NaNoWriMo prodded me forward, pushing me to write puddles and small ponds of words?

       Check.

       Has NaoNaWriMo energized me about what--for me--is a challenging project?

       Check.

       So, at the end of November, I hope both Pat and I are losers. By the time we have eaten too much on Thanksgiving and are recovering from a carb-overload, I hope we will be able to look back at the daily writing we did and be happy... happy we kept plodding forward. Happy that we didn't give up. Happy that we have more words down on paper than if we had said "NoNoNaNo."

       'Cause if we were willing to take the risk and write, we're winners...