Yep. Just got done with the latest draft of The Victor’s Blade, Book 1 out of 3. One down, two to go.

I can’t believe I’m even saying that.

This is the fourth major draft of the book that hasn’t been lost to a computer dying and lack of backup. It clocks in at over 500 pages, but the exact count varies depending on which computer you’re using to view it.

HOLY COW WHY AM I OVERLOADING YOU WITH FACTOIDS

I FINISHED IT.

(Sorta. It’s still got a long way to go to clear up the boring parts and clear up a few more plot holes.)

It’s hard to describe how I’m feeling right now. I commented to a few people that I wonder if I’m just in shock. I honestly thought I’d feel a lot more excited than I do.

(Maybe I just feel too exhausted from this unbearably long week to be excited.) 😛

Months–heck, years–of work to hit this major milestone. It really is unbelievable. I feel kind of proud of getting this far, of actually sticking to it even on the days that were hard–and not beating myself up when I needed to take a few days off. Sticking to this project has been such a challenge for so long–which is why it’s taken so many years to get this far. So the fact that I finally did it… that’s pretty rewarding for me. I like to see that I’ve grown as a writer… and as a person.

I wish I could give you a snippet to whet your appetite, but honestly, at this point I’m still too scared to spoil something.

I wish I could tell you how good it is or how excited I am for you to read it, but again, I’m still in a bit of shock! I’ll let you know when I start reading through it on my own whether it’s any good. 😛

My mind keeps whirling ahead to all the work I still have left to do on this series–or even on this Book 1. I have to remind myself to not “Perfectionize” it; it’s never going to be perfect. I have to keep reminding myself to take a break now, to pat myself on the back and rest for a bit.

A few weeks ago, when I realized how close I was getting to the end, I told myself I’d probably take a week off from writing to give myself a fresh start. I think it’s going to be hard to keep that. I’ll either feel guilty I’m not working, or… I might even miss the writing sensation.

I might even miss the discipline. A little bit.

What have I become.

Anyway, really hope this helps inspire all of you out there who have been working hard at something–or even are just in the dreaming stage of something awesome.

Thanks so much for all your support, guys. I love you all! Group hug!

(…I couldn’t find a good group hug picture, so here, have a gender-ambiguous silhouette against a starry sky backdrop. That symbolizes me hugging you wherever you are in the world. Ooh! And it can even work if you’re on like, Mars or something!

Jeannette, you are a genius.)

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Photos (in order of appearance):

• By John-Mark Kuznietsov. Originally posted on Unsplash.com. 
• By geralt. Originally posted on Pixabay.com.