Afterword

In the final hours as this contest draws to a close, I find myself thinking a lot about it.

When I started writing for this contest, I wrote because I wanted to challenge myself to finish the novel I was planning to write.

And finish it I did. In fact, with how much editing I've done, I feel like I've finished it three times over.

There were lots of moments of anxiety. Points when I was concerned that I wouldn't make the word limit, because of just how LONG my story is, which I'm sure you've realized if you've made it this far.

This was quite a wakeup call to me about what people like. Many people who checked out my initial prologue noted that it was too long for them to finish, let alone get invested in. For a story building on 190,000 words, this is somewhat expected. At many points, I had to acknowledge that the type of story I wanted to write was not the type that was suited for this contest.

But I didn't let that stop me. I edited and edited while writing and posting chapters every day, trying to craft my story into something that would get people interested, even if it was long. And, win or lose, I believe that I succeeded.

If you are reading this afterward, then you are one of the few people who managed to make it to the end, and, whether you liked it or not, you have my gratitude. I have put a lot of effort into this work, and I'm glad that you had a chance to experience it.

There are a few people who certainly deserve special thanks. From people who diligently read all my chapters, to my editor, to even the people who drew for me, you all helped this story become what it is today, and for that I am thankful.

Honestly, I don't expect to win this contest. I might, but it isn't what I wrote for. I wrote because I wanted to write this story. And if I don't win, then I have every intention to keep writing, because there is still so much of the tale of Blake and Elly that I have planned. I hope you enjoyed my work, and will continue to enjoy my work in the future.

Thank you so much for reading, I know that getting through this story was quite a commitment.