As many people know, November is National Novel Writing month, a time when people often challenge themselves to write a whole novel in a month, or at least 50,000 words. (Trust me, that’s a lot.) This year, I had a few blogging friends who participated in NaNoWriMo, and they wrote posts about what they learned from it.

While I don’t take the challenge, blogging for me is as much about the act of writing as it is the subjects I write about, so I am thrilled to highlight my amazing blog friends who took the plunge.

 

But before we get to those people, I don’t normally hype my other blogs here, but since I’m talking about writing, I have to mention, I’m really, really pleased with how this poem I created from spam messages turned out. We all get spam all the time. Why not do something creative with it?

Okay, now on to people who actually wrote something themselves.

 

Daily Money $hot’s Jana, my first, and still best, blogging friend completed the NaNoWriMo challenge (plus some) after 4 years of just not being able to get it together. I am so thrilled for her and so totally curious to read what she wrote. I can’t wait. In the meantime, I’ll have to settle for the 7 money lessons she learned along the way.

Jodi of Heart Like a Dog did not achieve the 50,000 word goal, but what she learned from NaNoWriMo will still be a great help going forward.

At My Broken Coin, Aloysa doesn’t actually mention if she completed the challenge or not, but she does tell us what she learned about herself (and the process) in November. My favorite? That she learned respect for anyone whose ever finished a novel, even a bad one. And I honestly have to agree.

 

And while it’s not writing a novel in a month, I also want to send a shout of congratulations to Pretty Fluffy, because their eBook is finally out– 52 Weeks of Treats, Simple & Healthy Dog Treat Recipes for Every Season. If you’ve ever thought of making treats for your dogs, check it out.

If baking (or cooking of any sort) isn’t for you, but you’re still looking for a great gift for dog lovers, check out the Holiday Wish List posted by new to me blog Dog Tested Mother Approved. You’re almost certain to find something perfect for the hard to shop for canine on your list.

Now, I’ll be honest, I can’t mention Pretty Fluffy without thinking about Frugal Beautiful and vice versa. As far as I know, they have nothing to do with each other. The Pretty Fluffy girls are in Australia and Shannyn recently relocated to California from Chicago. But they seem to have the same sense of style, the same love for their dogs, and the desire to get them great things without spending a ton of money. For Shannyn, it’s just not Christmas if she’s not celebrating with the fur babies.

 

But not everything I read this week had to do with writing or Christmas gifts for dogs. Hard to believe, I know, but true. However, they all did have to do with some of my favorite things- in this case, some of my favorite bloggers.

Over at Something Wagging This Way Comes, Pamela reminds us that all dogs come with breed stereotypes, and that high expectations can still lead to not so great outcomes for dogs in The Curse of the Perfect Dog.

If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving the daily grind behind and taking off to explore the country with your dogs in an RV, then Take Paws is the blog for you, because that’s exactly what they do. This week, though, they’re settling in for the winter in Austin, and they’re reminded, there’s just something about coming “home”.

Average Joe finally gives us the back story on why he really became a runner in this story of his favorite Christmas moment.

 

And finally, the other new to me blog, recent Yakezie Challenger, Reach Financial Independence, of whom, I am very, very jealous. Why? Because she’s building a home in Guatemala, for under $10k. Now you’re jealous, too, aren’t you?