As one will infer, NaNoWriMo was not a great success this year.

In fact, it was a catastrophic failure, as I didn’t reach even the quarter way mark.

To put it in better perspective, I’ve failed at least five years of NaNoWriMo in recent memory. Last year was the outlier.

And what an outlier it was. Actual finished novel.

So what went wrong?

I shouldn’t have tried rewriting last year’s draft. Maybe.

Last year I was just struggling to finish. This year I was struggling to finish and do it right.

And this has proven to be more remake than rewrite. I added a major character and his presence changes things. For the better, I believe.

Anyways, what do I do now?

Reset the clock.

I’m writing a novel this month. Same one I’ve been working on since the start of November.

The NaNoWriMo site allows a certain leeway. You pick the dates, it keeps track of them.

Thus I’ve picked the end of December. I’ve put in what I have as the current count for today and am moving ahead with the business.

Why? Not continuing isn’t a choice. I like this novel and want to see it finished.

I’m using the tools given to me as an incentive. Giving me a goal every day to move one step closer to finishing.

What happens if I fail again? I reset the clock and go again. I lose no money doing this, any more than I gain money in finishing.

The important part, as always, is finishing.

Now, below is where I stand as of today, December 1, 2024. Actually I’m in better standing than this. I have some more writing from November that I think I can salvage. That doesn’t matter right now. What matters is pushing on.