Things to Do with 5 Free Copies

Now that it's December, I'm going to divulge some of my motivation for doing NaNo this year. Not all of it. I had much of the normal motivation for doing NaNo. But there was also something else.

In October, I re-read 2010's NaNo novel, THE MISTRESS FACADE. I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob. I mean, it's no great work of art, but it was one of those moments where you're like, "Now, now I have written exactly what I want to read."

It was cliche. It was cheesy. It was predictable. It was goofy. It contained terrible grammar and some serious continuity problems. {She reveals twice to the guy that she's not an orphan as he originally supposed.} It would never be published in a million years, for many various reasons, including the fact that it may just be too embarrassing.

And since I never plan on publishing it, nor do I plan on renovating it to make it publishable {I've taken it as far as it can go, and it is good, but not publishable}, I had a plan. I was going to win NaNo this year, get my free bound copy from CreateSpace, and print last year's NaNo novel. That's legal. {I missed the expiration last year because I was positive my story was utter crap and needed revision. Turns out, it's not utter crap, though it would need revision if I had high hopes for it. Which I don't.} I just want it printed so I can read it whenever I want, mistakes and all, because I downright enjoy it.

Except this year, CreateSpace is giving away five bound copies of your book. What on earth would I do with five bound copies of a book too embarrassing to share? {Or maybe that's just enough copies, since I never plan on pursuing publication with this story.} Why can't I print five different books? I have that many sitting on my shelf that will probably never see the light of day. {The Kaotics, Kassia, The Mistress Facade, Stratagem, and this year's NaNo: A Girl of the People.}

So now I'm at a loss. Do I print five copies of last year's NaNo novel, which has no future but most definitely has my heart? Do I print five copies of my first official book, Stratagem, which was rejected by agents but not by my friends? Or do I print five copies of this NaNo's A Girl of the People, which embarrasses me on a whole different level of authorly embarrassment?