NaNo | Words For Hire

Written by Karen D. Swim

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!