The Big 5K.

[megwrites]

52,711 / 50,000 (105.4%)

WOOHOO!

Content wise, I'm actually only *half* way through the plot (to chapter 6). I might hold off on posting anything else until the novel is finished.

I got some helpful feedback from captain_science last night on chapter three. I realize now that chapter three could actually be two or three chapters, because it's so long. In my head, the events all fit into one category, but I could subdivide them for easier reading without grief.

I'm going to try very hard to finish the CONTENT of the novel before Dec 21st (like doing Nano all over again!) and definitely going to try to have something that's done by the end of the year (I might get a day or so over Christmas to work on it).

I really like nanowrifa, it's been a great experience. I think it's something I'd do next year.

Also, I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope everyone continues doing theirs even after Nanowrifa is done.

k_kijo, you've been a great help, great commenter, and your story definitely has me wondering what's going to happen, especially with the amnesia guy and the guy who lost his son. Don't make me live in indefinite suspense.

fikgirl, I'm interested in your characters, and it's obvious that your story and your universe means a lot to you. So please, please, please - keep plugging at it. I don't care if it takes you ten minutes or ten years, I wanna see your stuff in my local Barnes & Noble - because it belongs there.

To the rest of nanowrifa, you've been great. Keep going, because I think novels are a worthy thing. I think the act of creativity, expression, storytelling, mythmaking, worldcreating and plain ol' playing pretend are not only their own rewards, but infinitely worth whatever we put in them.

I saw on the news where researchers have said that playing pretend in children is not only not bad, but very good. It's supposed to create problem solving skills, creativity. You know, brain stuff. Well, any writer who's ever worked through a personal issue using their writing can tell you that you don't have to be a child for this to be true.

I've lived a life shaped by other's creativity. By books, stories, cartoons, TV shows, movies, poems, fanfiction, artwork. And while I've never told the majority of these authors how much their work meant to me, either because I couldn't or just didn't, I like to think that it doesn't matter. I like to think that all artists who put their work into the world have an innately generous spirit, the kind of spirit that wants only to give something beautiful to others, even if praise doesn't seem forthcoming.

Keep writing. Keep putting it out there. Have the courage to deal with the rejections, and the soul crushing silences when there's no feedback, and the bad reviews. Have the courage to be there for the people like me who might not say it, but do love it, and do need it, and would be quite lost without it.

- Meg