I am convinced that the (lovely, brilliant) people who conceived NaNoWriMo were not parents of small children. Because any parent of small children knows that November 1st – the day after Halloween – is an inauspicious day to embark on any grand enterprise.

Surely, were they parents of small children, they would know that one’s toddler, coming off a sugar high like a junkie comes off smack, will spend the day growling and spitting and writhing and refusing to eat anything that is not wrapped in cellophane. Certainly, had they young children, they would have understood that one’s spouse would have to pay for coming home a few hours early on Halloween by staying late every day for the rest of the week and working on Saturday. Of course, if they were parents, they would understand that the best you can hope for on the day after Halloween is to scout around your house for unwrapped, once-licked lollipops before the ants find them for you.

I wrote an 1800-word synopsis today. Does that count? Please tell me it counts.