NaNoWriMo 2012, A Summary and Some Tips

What do you get when you combine sleep-deprivation, two kids and an insane deadline? I’m still looking in the mirror to try to decide what to call it. I’ll get back to you on that. Regardless, I won! My fifth consecutive year of participating in and winning National Novel Writing Month is complete and would you believe that the way this year played out was still a shock to me? Before I explain why, I’ll give you the customary screenshot and obligatory squee.

Squeeeee!

But let me tell you, this was by no means an easy feat. I’ll admit, there was more than one meltdown and I very seriously thought about quitting at least twice a day. Meeting my daily word count has always taken me just a couple of hours a day, but getting those two hours has never been so hard.

This Year’s NaNoWriMo Stats

Above you can clearly see my word count stats. Pretty consistent, no? No…at least not per my usual. I fell behind a couple of times during the month and while I did write most days, I had to fight hard to keep my head above water. Here are some more fun stats–

Things about NaNoWriMo I previously thought were a myth:

– Sleep deprivation (My first November with a kid in the Terrible Twos and a baby who eats constantly.)
– Questionable hygiene (Let’s not go too far into this lest you think less of me, but I’ll just say flossing, shaving, and washing my hair were not always at the top of my priority list.)
– Incredible word count feats (3K days became common for me–previously unheard of.)

Things you shouldn’t also try to do during November:

– Start a new weight loss regimen
– Let your kids teethe
– Have house guests
– Argue with a two year old
– Create a new marketing plan that you’re excited to implement
– Give up sugar

Things that saved me:

– Word sprints
– Wrimo friends nearby
– Word sprints
– A supportive husband
– Confidence

Yes–after four years of winning National Novel Writing Month I came into it with so much confidence that, despite all my hurdles, I would still win, and that I could write more in one day than I thought possible in previous years. This is what kept me going.

Also, I cannot thank enough the women I with whom wrote every night. They kept me focused and cheered me on when my kids wouldn’t go to sleep before midnight, when my best friend came to visit for a week, when I visited the in-laws for Thanksgiving, when I was operating on three hours of sleep, and when I got stuck on my story. Thanks to them, I completed my word count goal in the nick of time and I am almost finished with this draft of my novel.

Will I attempt this insanity again next year?

C’mon…you know me well enough to answer that… 😉