Nano Champions

What is success?

Some defined it as reaching a goal.

Others say to try and fail, but don't fail to try.

Perhaps Ben Sweetland said it the best: "Success is a journey, not a destination."

All of the Kindred Heart Writers participated this year in National Novel Writing Month or as we affectionately called it Nano. We know many of our readers also joined us on this writing adventure.

To be a Nano winner, one must complete 50,000 words by midnight November 30th. But all who took part in this journey are champions, no matter how many words you wrote.

One of the key benefits of participating in Nano is the lessons we learned as writers. Here are some of our thoughts:

• Karen: “It's wild and crazy. Sometimes I thought I was out of my mind, other times I was sure. But I did find out it is possible, as long as the story continues.”


• Laura: “This month of NaNo madness taught me that focus is a really good thing, as are challenges, goals, and pushing oneself. Even though I did not make 55,000 words, I am four chapters ahead of where I was on October 31st! Without NaNo, I wouldn't have pushed myself to that point this month. It was a good experience, and I'd do it again.”


• Johnnie: “The more specific I am in a scene, with the action, the dialog, the more words I write in less time. Conversely, when I summarize what's going on, it takes longer to reach my word count goals. Show, don't tell is good advice for NaNo progress.”


• Clella: "Here is what I learned: Writing is not my top priority right now. My topic was probably not broad enough for 50,000 words. I don't mind publicly missing a goal as much as I thought I might. I must edit some as I write. I CANNOT JUST WRITE (I did try) I'm glad I tried. I have almost 15,000 words that I would not have written. I feel I have the basis for a different type of memoir."


• Jeanie: "I learned that my topic was large enough for a book (I worried it may be more of an article that book length). I wrote non-fiction and Nano gave me the opportunity and the incentive to categorize and organize my research and material and to learn what chapters worked and which ones didn’t. Now the real work begins: REWRITING!"

Cheers to the Victors: You who pick up that pen or plucked at the keys and created words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs and “gasp” – even a book. Remember “success is a journey, not a destination.”

You are Champions!

Perhaps the reward of the spirit who tries. Is not the goal but the exercise." Edmund Vance Cooke

"Keep these concepts in mind: You've failed many times, although you don't remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. . . . Don't worry about failure. My suggestion to each of you: Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." Sherman Finesilver