Today is the deadline for my writing challenge. I’m both disappointed and happy to report that I was able to write 19,000 words. Disappointed because I didn’t reach my word count goal, but very happy about the writing that I completed during the challenge. And I believe that I benefited from this experiment in a few ways.
1. I finally learned to write and keep writing, to move my writing forward without critiquing or editing as I write. The critiquing and editing came later for several of the projects, after I got the words on the page. This method allowed me to complete more writing than I would have if I edited as I wrote.
2. I discovered that I need to let the writing itself have some control in the writing process. The topic, the tone that begins to develop on the page, and the insight that rises to the surface as I write regulates what should be said almost as much as I do.
3. This challenge re-confirmed for me that writing is what I want to do with the rest of my life. I don’t know exactly how that will play out right now, but I know that I have to figure it out. My near future will afford me plenty of time to write. I want to use the time wisely.
4. Keeping track of how much I’m writing is a good strategy. It shows me that I am accomplishing something, and allows me to feel proud of my work.
Though I didn’t reach my goal, I’m feeling pretty good about the project. I may challenge myself again this summer, when less will stand in the way of my reaching whatever word count goal I set for myself.
Person on the Page 
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