I quit

I hate to say it, but it's true.

Earlier this month, I turned in the manuscript of Burn, promptly developed a three-day migraine (during which time I lost my stomach lining, a lung and half a kidney through vomiting so hard) and decided this year, it was probably best if I just quit NaNoWriMo.

I despise the thought of giving up on something I've begun, so you can imagine how I mentally kicked myself for doing this, although of course, I saved the kicking until after the migraine.

Anyway, my reasons?

Due to various health problems and other difficulties, I fell behind with my projected word count and while it would have been possible to catch up if I'd had a couple of 5k-word days, I realised that wasn't likely, given that I haven't had a 5k day in months. To go from a very low daily turnout to several 5k days in a row? A lot of pressure to put on myself, and given that my head was already pounding, I decided I didn't need the added stress.

Maybe I could have caught up again if I'd pushed myself. Maybe those several 5k days in a row would have been possible. Maybe I am a quitter. But...*shrugs* I'm still writing. It's not like I've stopped completely. I've just come to realise I'm not going to finish the book I'm currently working on by the end of the month without developing seventeen migraines and having a nervous breakdown alongside. So, not worth the risk, healthwise.

I'm sorry and it's regrettable, but it's not the end of the world.

Jared Leto says so.