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Thoughts on NaNoWriMo 2016

Yesterday was the last day of NaNoWriMo 2016.

I hit over 25,000 words.

That was not my original goal for the month: I was aiming for the traditional NaNo goal of 50,000 words in 30 days.

However, a little bit more than halfway through, I evaluated my progress and decided to change my goal to 25k.

I'm proud of reaching my secondary goal, and I think I did a good job, considering. However, I'm still a little bummed that I didn't hit 50k like I did last year, and I want to figure out why.

First, I've had less time to devote to it this year since my work schedule is different.

Second, I wrote historical instead of contemporary fiction, and did less research instead of more, due to the aforementioned different work schedule.

Third, though, it wasn't my first rodeo. Last year, I was motivated to win my first NaNoWriMo. I followed my scheduled writing plan exactly, and I got a huge head start, finishing 4k in the first day alone.

I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives,and, although, as usual, I don't agree with her entirely, she suggests that the first time one does something, one is more likely to succeed, i.e. first marathon, first diet attempt, but it's harder to keep up the effort after that. Interesting phenomenon, and I wonder if some of it is at work here.

Anyway, I've got a new goal. 75,000 words by January 30.

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