Another little Restraint progress report

[darkemeralds]

For those keeping track, Restraint is almost done. I sent chapter 38 to my wonderful beta a few days ago.

My beta, who is at this moment somewhere over the Atlantic on her way home to Scotland from visiting me (and, okay, Yellowstone and a great deal of the American West in between) will probably not have enough brain cells active to look at it for a few days, but I've learned the hard way not to post without her input. So hang in there: it's coming!

Meanwhile, I'm about halfway done with chapter 39. It has mineral hot springs in it, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

The final chapter--probably 42--and the epilogue are already written, and I've got several scenes completed for the two bridging chapters, so we're almost there.

The seed of Restraint was planted in October 2008, so it will be a massive two year old tree of 200,000+ words when it's done.

I honestly don't know who I'll be without this story.

Comments

[pandarus]

*\o/*

OMFG, how exciting is this?! What an epic journey, and the end in sight now!

Very different kind of thing, but I know after I had my intensive bout of writing over the summer (which was pretty much like being grabbed by the throat and ridden hard by the damn muse for a month, nonstop, floodgates-alicious) when I finally finished it I felt weird and numb and oddly empty for a bit. And I got terribly shy and avoidant about responding to comments, because that seemed to be acknowledging that it was all over, when I was somehow not quite ready to do that.

It was a strange sensation of mingled accomplishment and satisfaction and loss.

But I am VERY EXCITED about the prospect of 'Restraint' nearing its conclusion!

&hearts

[darkemeralds]

I can only imagine how much more intense the feeling would be after such a floodgates-alicious (hee!) writing experience. Writing a romance, especially a long, intense one, is like a romance in itself--it's so intense and engaging and emotional.

When I finished my previous long piece (the Lex/Simon crossover that you were kind enough to say you enjoyed), it was--well, not like breaking up, but like losing a loved one, or sending a child into the world. I missed my boys terribly for weeks afterwards.

I've learned so much about writing from writing Restraint that I hope to be able to find a new inspiration a lot sooner than three more years down the road.

[fandomfan]

I know who you'll be when the story is done.

You'll be the proud author of a fabulously epic saga, which is without doubt one of the most rewarding things I've read in 10+ years of fandom.

You'll always have Restraint to your credit and there for all to see, thanks to the AO3 self-owned servers.

I remember that feeling of loss and sadness that came when I finished out my most creative writing period. No, it wasn't exactly pleasant, but there was something really wonderful about the feedback comments that came trickling in (and still do) here and there after the writing was all done and dusted.

I expect your comments will be a downpour rather than a trickle, but in my case, those after-the-fact voices of appreciation were some of the most welcomed of all.

[darkemeralds]

Thank you for this perspective. It's true--there are few things in fandom more rewarding than that long-after-the-fact comment on a piece of writing, letting you know that your work still has life and value. They come like glittering little gems sometimes when you need them the most.

And thank you for your kind words about Restraint. It thrills me no end that you think so highly of it.

And finally, I love your icon. It makes me feel all sentimental. :D

[tehomet]

Gosh, it really is going to be epic, in every sense of the word.

[darkemeralds]

Yep. From almost the very beginning, I knew it was going to be kind of a sweeping saga, covering a long stretch of time. I just didn't know how many words it was gonna take to get there. It's been quite a journey.