Still Nano-ing along.

I am floundering with Nanowrimo. Even though I wrote over 3,000 words today, the halfway mark is Monday more or less, and 25,000 words are needed to be on the mark.  I just passed 17,000. And I didn't really like working this hard so much that I'd want to write 3,000 words a day from now until Nov. 30.
One of the writers I follow has already passed 50,000 words. I think she's at 95,000. My guess is that she is trying to do 100,000, or a double Nano. I'm just not competitive enough.  I actually feel so guilty putting other things on the back burner so I can do this challenge. I'm not ready to throw in the pen yet though. I am learning a lot about novel writing. Like timelines for example. Trying to get things in the right sequence with so many characters running around. Or writing the ending for some scene before I've written the beginning or the middle.

The other challenge is losing characters as I go along. Forgetting to write about some of the groups and carry them forward in the plot.

I've also had to change genres from chick lit to mystery. That's because I've killed off someone and now we need to figure out who did it and why. And now I have a kidnapping. But I don't know yet who ordered the kidnapping or what that has to do with the rest of the storyline. I have a new found appreciation for fiction writers.
I also at some point want to donate some cash to Nanowrimo. It must cost a fortune to keep this all running.