Last night, I finished "Finding Marea."
13,700 words, give or take a few, and the rough draft is done. I typed End of Story, and then I kind of sat and stared for a few minutes before it really hit me that I'd reached the end.
Then, of course, I spent the next couple hours fighting off end-of-story euphoria -- that manic, bubbly feeling I get when I realize that something isn't going to haunt me in unfinished form forever -- that it's actually done. That it's a Real Story now. It took me six months longer than I intended, but considering that I first tried to write this story back in 2001 (it went nowhere for several years), I guess it could be a lot worse.
The draft needs a ton of editing, but I have sent it to Vicky and Susan, who have graciously agreed to get it back to me sometime this week. After that, Cat, I can either print it and mail it to you, or just post it online and you can read it here. (I'll post "Finding Marea" online eventually anyway, but I can hold off until you get a hard copy, if you'd rather. I can even make an illustrated cover and tie it up with slightly scraggly ribbons or embroidery thread, though that will add at least a day to the delivery schedule.)
13,700 words, give or take a few, and the rough draft is done. I typed End of Story, and then I kind of sat and stared for a few minutes before it really hit me that I'd reached the end.
Then, of course, I spent the next couple hours fighting off end-of-story euphoria -- that manic, bubbly feeling I get when I realize that something isn't going to haunt me in unfinished form forever -- that it's actually done. That it's a Real Story now. It took me six months longer than I intended, but considering that I first tried to write this story back in 2001 (it went nowhere for several years), I guess it could be a lot worse.
The draft needs a ton of editing, but I have sent it to Vicky and Susan, who have graciously agreed to get it back to me sometime this week. After that, Cat, I can either print it and mail it to you, or just post it online and you can read it here. (I'll post "Finding Marea" online eventually anyway, but I can hold off until you get a hard copy, if you'd rather. I can even make an illustrated cover and tie it up with slightly scraggly ribbons or embroidery thread, though that will add at least a day to the delivery schedule.)