Nanowrimo part two.

Telling people that you are doing NaNoWriMo always prompts two questions at the end of the month.
The first is did you win?
The second is can I read your book now?
In my case, the answer to both questions is no.
To win Nano you need to have written 50000 words I was nowhere near, in fact, I was behind from the start. I have had an email from the organisers commiserating and telling me sometimes it takes more than one attempt. Initially, I was disappointed there is little doubt that I was neither well enough prepared nor did I give enough time to it. It has only taken a few though to start feeling quite pleased with myself. I wrote close to 35000 words which is a good half of my book. I am hoping that I can finish the first draft by the end of the year. I have learned a lot about the process of writing. This was my first attempt at a full-length novel, for the next one I know more or less what I need to do to prepare. I know that sitting and writing one thing at a time is not for me. Having more that one project on the go helps me to think, I can switch from one to another when I get stuck. I can now visualise what a novel feels like to write, despite not having finished yet, which will help me finish. It will help me plan the next book.
By the end of the year or shortly thereafter I will have a raw first draft. My plan is to put it away for a month or two to give me some objectivity and then start the editing process. My initial thought was that the whole process to self-publication would be about 4 months, I now think that it will be about six so I should have a book ready for reading by April or May. I am happy with that. Other people are faster I know, some are slower but the advantage of getting older is being able to work at a pace you enjoy.
So the next question has to be would I do Nano again, and I would maybe with less fear and more organisation. Also with the knowledge that it is with the aim of writing something not just getting words on paper and so I will be the one in control of how much I write, not the numbers on a chart.