Another November,

another goal.

Except this year,

I’m already bending the rules a little,

or a lot,

depending on whether you’re a purist or not.

Once again,

the goal is to write 50,000 words.

But I have a slightly different plan this year.

I reread my blog from last year,

revisiting my goals

and was stunned by how far I’ve come

In only twelve months.

Not only did I write book 5,

as I’d planned and hoped,

but I’ve finished the next three installements in that spin off,

as well as books six, seven, and am eight,

completing my original series-

The one that started with my first book

In NaNo of November 2015,

Intended to be a life achievement,

Like climbing Everest,

Or floating down the Nile.

Instead,

it spawned something much bigger

Than just a novel I’d hoped to write

If someday ever came.

It filled the well of creativity

I’d wondered if I even possessed

after years of study

and child rearing

and work.

Much like with anything else,

with practice came ideas,

Which more beget more.

I’ve also written two books of another trilogy,

and several short pieces for anthologies

of fiction and non fiction alike,

and more blogs than days in the year.

All because one night

when I waited for my newborn to fall asleep,

in the quiet stillness of the dark

I thought to myself,

“Is this all that I can be?”

And then as always,

I decided to find out the answers

For myself.

So let’s see what Nanowrimo holds for me

In 2018.

For now?

The goal is to finish a short story,

Naunet and the Necromancer,

Finish Gaia’s Grace,

The last in my Dragon trilogy,

And return to writing my fantasy series.

Full speed ahead!