I have a theory as to why you don't win nano every year. I suspect it is because you actually care about the quality of your writing. Your excerpt was clean and smooth - no half-finished ideas, no hanging sentences, no non-sequitors. WHAT IS WITH THAT?!? Although I suppose I *do* edit my excerpts ...

[I got all excited this morning, thinking that after I finished my essays tomorrow and handed them in on Friday, I'd still have until midnight Friday to finish nano. And then I remember that Friday was the first. Stupid November, being all short.]