Indeed, Michelle! In 2009, I did NaNo for the first time and "lost" with 47k. I felt like a loser. I had began this story with intend to crack the "magical" threshold and lousy 3k kept me from doing it. I messed up.

Only later, it dawned on me that it's not the 50k that actually counts but the trying and sticking with it for 30 days. In that Nov 09 I had written more than in the (then) whole two years on WDC TOGETHER. That was a great boost, simply knowing I CAN do it.

NaNo was no longer a mere contest to win but a creative and personal challenge. I still wanted to win but not to brag with it but to prove myself ... and it worked in 2010 & 2011. I REALLY did outgrow myself and that was a great boost.

This year I'll try to complete the NaNo "hattrick" and reach for the stars again. The story's just too eager to be told, outward "distractions" or not.