Finished My Longest Story Ever!

Last week I finally, finally finished my longest story yet. The actual time spent writing wouldn't add up to more than a few hours, but the work I'm calling "Vasitthi the Madwoman" took over three months of solid thought and research and clocks in at a solid 20 or so pages (and 6,500+ words). More than that, this story felt like a rather ambitious accomplishment because of the largeness of its ideas. I was trying several new things in this story, from portraying an adult romance to portraying an adult's grief for her lost child, to trying to write some of the best prose I've gotten down yet. There was a scene in this story that just had to be beautiful in order to work, and I worked very hard to get my writing level up to snuff for it.

I'm happy to say it seems like the story has turned out to be a success. I know mothers tend to be easy critics, but my mom, who tends to be tough but fair about my writing, said she cried. My advisor seemed to really like it as well and had only minor suggestions for edits. Hurrah! It always feels great when hard work pays off with what seems to be a quality piece.

To give you a taste of what the story is about: Annie Hillford, my main character, is a middle-aged convert to Zen Buddhism, a serious spiritualist in a family of lapsed Christians uninterested in the kind of mystic life she seeks. Her sister, Violet, has recently lost her young son to cancer. Annie and her brother have always been protective of Violet, but now this tragedy threatens to tear her carefully constructed world apart. In a desperate attempt at emotional freedom, Annie embarks on a meditation retreat that will cut her off from all communication with her family. But can it be that easy to shed the responsibilities of her grieving family?

I hope I've piqued your interest. Maybe someday this story will be appearing in print!

Comments

[xxxevilgrinxxx]

Congrats!
It always feels fantastic to look back and realize it's the highest word count you've ever done, isn't it?
E

[Gabriel Gadfly]

Sounds like an interesting story. I'd read it, if it ever gets printed. :)