Dear NaNoWriMo 2011,
I regret to inform you that I must resign my attempt at meeting your mighty challenge. Once again, my real life refused to be abandoned for thirty days and instead, ran rough shod over my dream of completing my novel’s draft of fifty thousand words in one month. Mind you, I am not tossing this particular novel aside to languish unfinished in a drawer or box somewhere. These characters still have quite a few adventures left in them. In fact, there are at least two more murders, and three steamy love scenes for them before I can comfortably put a “The End” on that last page.
And no dear NaNo, it wasn’t you. It was me. I was the one who just didn’t muster up the courage to forgo my day job, sleep, and my social life in order to give you the full commitment you desired. Sometimes, NaNo, the best intentions are those easiest to leave behind when the promise of good food, good friends, and good times beckons. I wouldn’t trade those moments for any bit of the sequestered writing life I would have lead these past twenty-eight days had I given you my all.
I hope we can part as friends. With the understanding that sometimes, people deserve fourth, fifth, maybe even sixth chances to get it right. I promise to write, to check in with you periodically to see how you’re doing. I hope you’ll let me keep the few gifts we’ve exchanged so far. I don’t know where I’d be without the small sense of accomplishment when I earned my badge in 2008, or the fantastic start of a great novel you’ve given me this year. Please, don’t hate me for not being able to give you what you required. I know for a fact, there were many others who not only met your needs, but surpassed them and on day twenty to boot.
Know that I look upon the time we’ve spent together as moments to be cherished forever. So until we meet again next year my dear, sweet NaNoWriMo, keep me close to your heart as I will keep you close to mine.
Signed,
Damn it, I can’t believe I didn’t make it this year either.
Dana Ellington, MAPW 
I’ve never tackled the month long challenge- because I know myself so well. I’m a Holiday Hound. I LOVE all things about the holidays, from planning menus, to grocery shopping, to finding the perfect centerpiece for the table, so I admire your efforts. It just seems to me that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years were determined calendar events WAY before NaNoWrIMo…why did they choose November? Why not February when everyone is hunkered down waiting for spring?
LOL – I’d never thought about it this way. It’s a cinch I’d probably get even less writing done though during the warmer months. February would be good, I also think October wouldn’t be a bad alternative. Hmmmm, now I’m going to have to head on over to the NaNoWriMo website and search for an answer to that question – just why did they pick November?
Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving a thought provoker of a comment. Always appreciate the visits. 🙂