![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEAomARR6ugWlPwyr3vfEfdZ_wtLiG6EESpPdyX9spKhBW2KG1htu-aKG1k3a-3B1OVzgLF-Jt4riNsfDLRmqBqi3kVvSX7Y4T_0Pk-pyzm3601Z2XhC_so2PXp5kkTNFLHoMgbYux2U_/s320/nanowrimo_participant_09_120x240.png)
Last year, I topped out at around 60,000 words. My half-finished novel boasted a plot that was slipperier than a greased pig with holes the size of Lake Michigan. It was an ugly, deformed little baby. But it was my baby. And I did it. Just by the act of writing, I learned a lot.
Last year's participation in NaNoWriMo led almost directly to this year's published book. While I didn't start work on Freeform Peyote Beading until January of 2010, NaNoWriMo is how I first learned of Createspace.com and their printing options, including full-color interiors. And it's where I developed the confidence to tackle the challenge of producing a full-length book. It may be a while before my novel-writing skills are up to the task, but a technical book was just the right speed.
Last year I attempted a fantasy adventure with world-building and the works. This year, I'm going for something different. Like many authors these days, I've decided to try my hand at retelling a classic fairy tale with a twist. I've settled on Beauty and the Beast, and my question is what would happen to the story if the roles were reversed? If the Beast were a woman, and 'Beauty' a man?