November 21, 2003

    I've tried to put off this post for a few days now, but I have to face the facts.  I'm quitting NaNo.  Twenty-one days and 31,350 words into it, I've got to throw in the towel. 

    At the beginning, I envisioned a lot of things that would make me not reach 50,000 words.  Procrastination and lack of commitment were the top ones.  But I've kept right on schedule, and kept plugging away.  I now have lots of plot ideas.  I have action, intrigue, and even a sex scene (okay, an implied sex scene).  I think I would have made it.  The thing that is stopping me is the one thing I didn't consider.

    I'm in pain.  Burning, aching pain that runs up and down my forearms, anytime I do just about anything.  Between the 7000 word marathon and the 500-words-in-ten-minutes sprints, I've busted my arms.  This post is about all I will be able to type today.  I can't use a mouse for very long.   I can't even read a book for very long, because holding up the book hurts.  The only comfortable thing to do is watch TV.  The last two nights I have gone to bed early, out of boredom. 

    I've been able to squeeze out 2500 words in the last to days, but I don't think that was smart.  I might feel better in a few days and be able to do a run of 3000 word days and finish by the 30th, but that doesn't seem too smart either.  The last thing I want to do is damage my long term ability to type.

    So I quit.  I'm bummed.  I have a hard time finishing projects, but this one was going so well.  I might set aside a ten day period later on and try to finish, just for my pride.  But I'm definitely doing this thing again next year, and I'll be more careful then.  I'm going to go cry now.