I have just finished my draft of the Grief Project. I don’t know how many words it is because it is in pieces in my NaNoWriMo writing blob. Writing it was super hard to do because I kept crying, much like the first time I wrote some of it. After that first chunk though, I stopped putting in markers of when and where I was crying. For the most part, I was okay when the cat characters were doing cat things; but any time they did something remotely pertaining to the plot (so not just wandering around enjoying their territory), I was pretty much crying. Even at the end (and the end was relatively happy). So with the amount of crying I did, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do anything with this (editing it will probably be just as tough). But that’s okay. I didn’t write it specifically to share with the world; it was written mostly for myself.
The ending of this draft actually took me somewhat by surprise, at least in terms of how I originally envisioned this story. Originally I thought my main cat character was going to find his way back to his human girl. That didn’t end up happening. Honestly though, as I started writing it, the story started to take shape into a different way which made a lot more sense (a different cat ends up going back instead, which just feels very, very right).
Now that this draft is over, I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to write next for the remaining 16,200 words. I can go back to worldbuilding, but I’m not sure that I want to at the moment. Of course, that’ll be a decision for tomorrow; writing the ending of the Grief Project really wore me out, so we’ll see what I feel like doing tomorrow.
On a very positive note, finishing the Grief Project put me at 33,791 words, which is just 4,542 words behind where I need to be! I am catching up (and am even closer than where I left off yesterday where I was 5693 words behind)!
Also, a side note: Merlin curled up to me when I finished the Grief Project off. He’s still sitting beside me, which I’m super thankful for! This was the most difficult piece of writing I’ve ever done because of all the emotion behind it, and having his loving presence by my side is very much appreciated! 🙂
An Acquaintance with Letters 