When quitting feels like winning

My story of NaNoWriMo 2025

Hiiii, writer dear.

Last night, I gave myself an unexpected gift. A gift so good that it still had me smiling this morning and through this afternoon.

I’m bowing out for the remainder of NaNoWriMo—and I am reallllllly relieved.

This is atypical for me; I have a history of either white-knuckling my way through a task no matter the cost, or shaming myself if I don’t complete it. So to quit—and feel at peace with it!—is especially unfamiliar.

It could be because November has been a good month for me and my Secret Novel. For the last few weeks, I’ve drafted and revised, reconsidered and had a handful of epiphanies. Not only have I polished a number of scenes, I’ve built cohesion and momentum between them. I trust my characters more than I did before—and hope they feel the same. Looking ahead, I have more plans than questions, and feel confident that I have the stamina to keep on keeping on.

As of last night, I have at least 15 Good Enough scenes: half my original goal. And! A win.

Even though I initially set out to write 30 Good Enough scenes, that number was arbitrary.¹ Unnecessarily stressful. Interfering with my ability to focus and finish.

So last night, I let it go.

Because:

1. I’m learning the difference between discipline and dread. One keeps us consistent. The other makes us wish we’d never started. I don’t want to regret or resent this book, so I’m giving myself the grace of letting enough be enough for the rest of the month.

2. I asked (and honestly answered) myself: What will happen if I stop now? Of course, I’d prefer to finish NaNoWriMo with more progress than less, but what’s at stake if I don’t? And is it worth how frustrating and frazzling it’d be to force it?

3. I’m satisfied with what I’ve achieved so far. Today’s version of my Secret Novel compared to a month ago is so much more readable. I wrote before sunrise, between other responsibilities, and instead of doing other things I wanted to do. I’m proud; I took my NaNoWriMo commitment seriously, and have quite a bit to show for it.

Just under six days remain in November: still enough time for me to try to hit 30 Good Enough scenes. But this NaNoWriMo, I’ve written and rewritten more than enough. I’m going to give myself a much-deserved break—and hope you do, too.

Thank you for being a writer, and thank you for being a reader of Writer Dear.

~Kerry

1. And overly ambitious. One scene a day during the busiest November I’ve had in years was a biiiiiiig ask.