Thank God It's Over!

Well, against all odds, I finished NaNoWriMo! It's been a long month, and yet it seems like just yesterday I was starting! A lot has happened in my story. Characters did things that I did not expect or approve, for one thing. You would thing that being the author I would have complete control over what happens when, but that is not the case. I merely write what is relayed to me. My main character has developed her own distinct personality separate from my own, and man is she stubborn! For two days this month, we did not speak to each other at all. Needless to say, my word count took a downturn and I worried that I would not be able to finish. But we reconciled, and now I am sitting pretty on 50,000 words!

But even though I have made the word count, I am still far from finished. In fact, I feel like I have only just begun! Around 47,000 words, my story developed this new level of intrigue that I must follow. It's amazing, like I'm having my very own adventure. I never know what will happen until I actually sit down and write it. I've never been this close to one of my own characters (they insist that I did not create them, I merely acknowledged their existence) before, and it is an odd experience. When they laugh, I laugh. When they cry, I cry too. Just today, a character died and I choked up, and even cried. I received no sympathy whatsoever from my mother, who says "Well you killed her!" I take umbrage at that statement.

As--dare I say it?--enjoyable as this month was, I am glad that it is over. Now I can get back to my normal balance of reading, music practice, schoolwork, and writing. I shall not give up on this story, though. It will not let me. Yes, even the story has taken a life of its own. When I have finally reached the end, wherever that will be, I shall begin the dreaded process of editing. Editing, my nemesis. A necessary evil, I am sorry to say. After that, who knows? If it's good enough, I'll do my best to publish it. If not, well, I have no idea what I'll do.

Thank you, my friends and family, for lending me your encouragement and support. I couldn't have done it without you!