O Best Beloved Writer,

You are a brave one. You are about to go confront a dangerous, scary monster: the dreaded blank page. Not only are you going to face it, but you will defeat it by filling it with 50,000 messy, chaotic, beautiful words. In thirty days.

I know you are frightened. The monster doesn’t come alone; he will find allies by pulling your inner demons out of you. You know his crew: self-doubt, perfectionism, and procrastination. But you can beat them. You have everything you need: a great idea, belief in the process, inspiration from success stories, and thirteen tools. 

You can do it. I believe in you. Before you know it, the holiday season will arrive, and you will be clutching your perfectly imperfect manuscript in your hands. You will dance around your office with it in your hands. It will be the best holiday gift you ever gave yourself.

Now, to quote my grad school professor, go forth and conquer/do great things (the variation depended on his mood). 

Love,

Sarah Fox

NaNoWriMo Winner 2000

P.S. Happy Halloween!