Written by Karen D. Swim
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| From Words For Hire |
Last night around 11 pm, I realized that I was less than 1500 words away from my goal. Was I seriously going to pull this off? With visions of yams and a stress free Thanksgiving in my head, I leaned in and went for it! Right around midnight I had typed the final period on my first draft. I uploaded my obfuscated text (thank you YWriter for including this function) to the NaNo word count validator. Confetti fell, bells rang and the screen blinked YOU WON! Actually the confetti, bells and blinking were only in my mind but hey you know anyone who even attempts this is deserving of bells and confetti, don’t ya think. So the screen is flashing and I did what any winner would do, I started bawling. Yep, that’s right I cried. Go figure, I have had the same reaction at the end of every marathon I’ve run (well that might be from the pain but you get the picture).
I wiped my eyes and downloaded my winner’s goodies (don’t ya love the instant gratification of the digital age) and then started sobbing again. So at 12:15 I was a sobbing, dancing mess but heck I think I’ve earned just a bit of craziness.
Now, here’s where it really gets good folks. I am not special. Nope not one bit. (Yes that’s the sound of loved ones hysterical with laughter in the background.) No magical superpowers, unless you count the super human ability to blunder my way through this thing called life. And if I can meet a crazy, big fat goal, you can too. I encourage you to try. Yes you may fail along the way. However, you can get up and try again and you know what you just might make it.
Go ahead, take a risk. We can dance and sob together when you meet your big fat hairy goal!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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November 27th, 2008 on 4:31 pm
Congratulations! It was your post about participating that made me think I could complete the writing, since I shared your hesitations. I didn’t come close! But, I’ll do it next year. Thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving
Shari
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November 28th, 2008 on 4:16 am
Congratulations, Karen! You are special – but everyone of us is, too. Our goals may be different (I like the picture of a big, fat, hairy one), but they can be reached – you showed it. Thank you for your encouraging post, and thank you for just being around! Hugs from Berlin,
Ulla
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November 28th, 2008 on 4:35 am
Congratulations and Happy Thanksgiving, Karen. You have something special to be thankful for this year as well as having well-deserved pride in your accomplishment.
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November 28th, 2008 on 4:46 am
Oh Karen, I am so, so proud of you!
Congratulations on your fabulous achievement
Joanna
x
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November 28th, 2008 on 5:06 am
Congrats for making it!! I couldn’t commit the time myself. Perhaps next year!!
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November 28th, 2008 on 8:54 am
Karen, congratulations! It’s indeed an overwhelming achievement! If all goes well, I can see myself crying at the end of this year as well. Thanks for inspiring me to keep going
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November 28th, 2008 on 10:18 am
Karen, Congratulations! You deserve a good cry after such an effort. Thanks for leading by example.
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November 29th, 2008 on 10:28 am
Karen,
Congratulations! I changed my mind about doing NaNo because it was too difficult with the play. I am proud of you that you kept in in the face of adversity! Good for you!
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December 1st, 2008 on 2:01 am
I’m so happy for you! That’s such fantastic news! Woot woot! I’m dancing for you…
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December 1st, 2008 on 9:14 am
Congratulations, Karen.
Your draft is something into which you have obviously invested considerable time and effort.
To cry means you are just human, and heck, those tears of joy are far better than tears of pain.
You are right on target with your comment about goals. He or she who has a fair dinkum go at something may or may not achieve his or her end goal, but they will always know that they have given their best shot..
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December 1st, 2008 on 9:34 am
Happy December 1st everyone! I took the long weekend off and am back catching up today! I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you for taking the time to read and share in my moment of joy. As I gave thanks this past Thursday, you better believe that your names and faces were included in my prayers. To come here most days of the week and share time with you, to learn from you, be inspired by you, converse with you – WOW I am overwhelmed with gratitude! So thank you for enriching my life with your presence.
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December 2nd, 2008 on 7:08 pm
Woo hoo! I went through the same thing at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, the last day of NaNo. Cried like a little fool. But you know what? There’s nothing better than tears of joy. Of course, now it’s time to start sobbing over the revisions that lie ahead…
Yay! We did it! Dancing, crying, and writing. Now there’s a combo I can get down with
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December 12th, 2008 on 11:36 pm
Congratulations Karen – I feel like I’m a bit late to the party. It must have taken a lot of work to write so many words in a month. Are you going to work on your novel now and try to get it published?
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December 13th, 2008 on 11:36 am
Hi Cath! You are right on time! It was a lot of work and tremendously satisfying! I am now going to spend loads of time editing, polishing and yes trying to get published. I will be sure to share updates on the process. I am actually very excited to get my first rejection letters too, lol! Then I can really call myself a writer!
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