To Nano or Not to Nano?

The question is coming up fast, to Nano or not to Nano?

Nanowrimo stands for National Novel Writing Month where you try to write a 40,000 word novel in the month of November. Check it out here.

Honestly, I love Nanowrimo. I have been writing since I was …geez I don’t, know, young. About 3rd grade I guess and it is something I genuinely enjoy doing. When I first heard of Nano I was so excited something like this existed and I finished my 40,000 words with half the month to spare. Then I squeezed out a kid and ever since then I have struggled to keep going with Nano every November. Some of it had to do with bad story ideas but most of it just lack of free time. It’s hard to work 8 hours and then come home to spend time with your family and after spend the last few hours of your day typing away. I’m a lazy person I really just want to chill out and watch TV 90% of the time!

So this year, I happen to have a lot of free time, (Why do I feel guilty saying that?) but still it’s complicated. I just finished a novel and what I really need to do with that free time is edit. Edit edit edit, figure out where commas are supposed to go and not supposed to go.

Buuuut…there can always be a new project right? I don’t know, I’m so torn.

Just for fun here are the subjects of my past Nanowrimo attempts:

2012: Werewolves, my first year and Nano win!

2013: Zombies, a lose though I got about 15,000 words written

2014: I think this was about a girl who could see the future. I can’t remember and I helpfully titled it “Thing.” I won this year too!

2015: More zombies but this time they plant themselves like weeds and create spores or something. I finished this year too! (I guess I finished more than I rememeber)

2016: A guy has an extra voice in his head and he had to figure out where it’s coming from. Quit after like 1,000 words!

2017: A supernatural mafia story, I actually really like this idea but I could not get it off the ground. Quit after about 1,000 words on this one too.

I realize, again, as I write all my crazy ideas down that if you don’t write this all probably sounds bonkers. This is something I realize also whenever I talk to people about writing! They just don’t usually get it and I end up feeling all embarrassed.

Does anyone else Nano? Should I start something new this November?