Keeping the camp fire going

So, I finished Camp NaNoWriMo this past July. This is the first time I've successfully navigated through and completed a Camp challenge. I simply don't have much time in the spring and summer, since they're my busiest work and school seasons, but this year, I pushed a lot aside and just gave myself time to get wrapped up in my writing. (Plus, I was able to write while doing sopme of my duties at work, shh, don't tell anyone.)

Besides being proud of having written over 50,000 words in a month's time, I can be proud of something else: I'm still going. Usually I fizzle out after I complete the NaNoWriMo requisite of 50,000 words and never really bring the story to a close. But this year, I'm determined.

I love my story. It's got a bunch of my favourite elements in it: science fiction, mystery, action, violence, romance, and even a little hint at cyberpunk. But mostly, I love my characters. I love my main character, a hard-hitting Robocop-esque agent named Alexander Yestin. He's smart, he's sexy, and he's a good guy; there isn't much not to love about him. There's a character I had originally intended to have as a villain that I love as well. I'm no stranger to loving villains, so that wasn't a problem, but as I wrote on, it became clear to me that she was destined for a different role in the story. And that's the beauty of writing. Sometimes, you aren't in control of everything. Sometimes, it becomes clear that the world you're creating becomes a world of its own, and sometimes things happen that you aren't expecting. But as the writer, it is your duty to follow through with these unexpected things. They make everything so much fun.

But the real reason I love this story is because of one character. He wasn't meant for anything big. I had originally intended for him to be a chapter's worth of comedic relief, never to be heard from again. But as I wrote him out, he became a fascinating character with depth and backstory. He's a real human being with real problems and real feelings. And of course, he's hilarious. I gave him more time in my novel, letting him develop relationships and friendships. That's the sort of beauty I love about writing: you're creating lives and helping them to flourish. It's magical.

That magic is helping me keep my fire lit this summer. I'm determined to see this story through to its end, and I'm almost there. The moment I have a finished manuscript in my hands will be the proudest moment in my rather pathetic life. I can't wait to get there. Here's hoping you can get there too!

Good luck, fair writers, travel on.