Yes...I've been absent.  So sorry.  And this month is NaNo.  And I just read an article by a woman LAMBASTING NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writer's Month).  She is someone who clearly doesn't understand it so in her opinion it's wrong, it's stupid, it's a waste of time.  The article is here and she really does strike me as a hateful person.  Well, spiteful.
And so I would like you to read this  wonderful comment.  I couldn't have said it better myself.
I have tried NaNo for 4 years previously and have yet to hit 50,000 words.  But every year I get better and every year I get closer.  More importantly, every year I have a good time seeing how far I can push myself and cheering on my friends that are participating with me.
This Laura Miller person?  Can kiss my patootie.