Sunday, Oct. 25: CONTEST ROUND

Dear Future Annemarie,

         First off, congrats on being so determined to complete NaNoWriMo! I am so proud of you for pushing yourself to a new level of writing. As a younger, fifteen year old sophomore in high school, the odds were against you. Everyone was telling you to quit and just stick to school. But hearing that just angered you, and made you more committed to prove to everyone that you can do it all. You're unwavering perseverance and strength is what will help you pull through this competition.

         I know you can not only push through this month, but push through it and win. Don't expect it to be easy though. It'll take restraint, focus, and resilience. You will have to be 100% dedicated to this novel. Priorities will have to change. Goofing off the whole weekend? No way. Slaving over your novel every spare second? No way! Your difficulty will be about finding balance while you write. There are ways to write a 50,000 page novel in one month without killing yourself. Just remember: school first, then happiness, then novel. There's no need to ruin your bright future and happiness with one month. The goal for you is to try your best. And if you really do your best, there's no doubt you'll have a fabulous novel by the end.

         When you win, imagine how accomplished you'll feel. Just think about seeing your fantasy come to life. Consider where this could take you in the world! Think about how you will be able to tell people you've written a novel. Take into account how this is training for your bright future as a writer! This could be the novel that starts you on the path of being a published author. And even if you don't get to that point on the first try, don't be upset. This is all about you evolving and improving your writing capabilities. Taking this step is such an accomplishment, no matter where it takes you.

         Don't listen to what others think. Do what you feel you have to do. This is your novel, your dream, your life.

Write on!
Annemarie McDaniel
Sunday, October 25, 2009