Three years ago I decided I needed to write. I became an avid reader in my 30’s. I love the fantasy genre. I finished reading a series by a favorite author and felt empty inside. I’m sure some of you understand what that feels like. I searched for another book to fill the void. The one I wanted to read wasn’t out there. I had a long list of ideas, characters, and systems in place as a measure of what I wanted in a book. Then it dawned on me – I need to write this. Not because I have some grand illusion that I will one day “make it big”. But because what I wanted to read wasn’t written yet.
I write this on the precipice of finishing the third and final book in my series. There are so many loose ends and subplots to tie together. I know what happens. I have written the final scene. But I am terrified to put down, in black and white, the pages leading up to the ending. Why…?
I know some of the characters die. Some of them learn things and experience things that are painful. I hate to do that to these characters…these pieces of me.
I hold on to this project…this part of my life, unwilling to turn loose of this child I so love. Three years…three years I have laughed and cried with them. I have watched them come alive, fall in love, suffer and triumph. Will there ever be another story that grips me like this one? Will there come a day when I don’t think about them, about this story, this world? I hope not. I owe it to them to give them their ending. I owe it to myself to complete the series I always wanted to read. If someone, one day, reads this and enjoys it, then I count myself lucky. If no one does, then I am still blessed for the journey.
Beth Hammond 
November 19, 2014 at 3:56 pm
You cam always come back to the characters in a short story, or make like Tamora Pierce and have them wander into another series. I know a lot of writers who are afraid to finish because they don’t know what to do with it next since the revising, submitting, and publishing stages can be daunting and full of confusing mixed messages and advice tinged with personal agendas or outdated information. Good luck with The End.
LikeLike
November 19, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Thank you, your observations are accurate. I have already dipped my toe in the agent, publisher search. I have felt the sting of rejection letters, some good, some just outright no. It’s ok, I will drive forward. Thanks for the nudge of support:)
LikeLike
November 20, 2014 at 2:43 am
If it helps, Jack London got 600 rejections and he had to type everything up and mail it in some rinkydink post office in Alaska. Rejection letters just mean you’re trying. Good luck with the series, whatever its (and your) future may hold.
LikeLike