My first year in prep, I was so excited about being here and prepping a novel and finishing Nano for the first time ever! So excited. I was so good, too. I prepped every day and I posted and then something happened (I can't even remember what it was) and I timed out. I didn't even realize I had done it until it was too late. I was so crushed I sat and cried at my computer forever. I didn't want to finish. What was the point, right? I'd lost the challenge.

The thing is, this isn't the challenge we're prepping for. After some hard talks with Brandiwyn🎶 and Storm Machine , I pulled myself back up and I finished the prep. I had a novel prepped for NaNoWriMo. And that year for the first time ever I won Nano.

So this is my encouragement to you if you've timed out, don't give up. This challenge is just to get your novel going. Sure there are fun things when you win without exceeding, but there are fun things when you win after you've stumbled. If you pick yourself up after the disappointment of timing out and keep going, you are a winner.

Don't give up! Your novel is still waiting for you.