_:n2e9d9c9802de4c45a425d29989bc74ebxb506
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"I really should go to bed, I have surgery in the morning. (Having it done to me, not doing one.  You don't want me to have something sharp in my hand.)\r\nI agree with you, especially the \"take their format, website, and rules in stride.\"  It's not even a means to an end, but a means to get somewhere out there in the middle.\r\nAs excited as I am about it, I'm not throwing myself into their community, buying a shirt, or having NaNoWriMo tattooed on the underside of my testicles.  \r\nBut this is what it did give me:  I looked at my body of unfinished work and scribbled ideas, and whittled it down to something that I could say, \"Okay, if I really am going to write a novel, this is the one I am at peace with attempting.\"\r\nAnd it also gave me a goal, albeit an arbitrary one, and goals are good.  It's a the whole mental thing.\r\nAnd it gave me a schedule--right now I'm planning, although to the untrained eye it might look like I'm drinking and playing online poker.  But the month to do the writing is a deadline, and I need that.  I work better under pressure.  I think a lot of humans do.\r\nI consider you and the many writers who comment here to be my \"writing community.\"  It's a fine line between anarchy and...whatever this is.  But the words of encouragement, both general and specific, make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  Like belly button lint."
<http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/10/04/25-things-you-should-know-about-nanowrimo/?replytocom=349426>