Open Novella Contest 2022: I am in the Homestretch! | The WriMo Blog, with E. H.

Hello, writer friends! Happy Pi Day! Today's post is mostly an update on my progress in THE LARK'S PEARL. I progressed into Round 2 of the Open Novella Contest. I woke up to a bunch of notifications and tags from other participants who were congratulating me for qualifying. Someone gave my book a shout-out, and it got me to 400 reads and 100 votes! It's been absolutely insane.

My book is currently sporting the "2k Words" ONC sticker. When I was editing the cover to add the sticker, I totally cried. I share this on my Instagram when I found out I was in Round 2, but even though I have received contest stickers before, this one felt more "official". It's not a sticker from a friend who asked me to participate in their contest. It's not a sticker I made to broadcast my book's rank.

It's not a sticker from a magazine or anything like that, but this is a sticker from an "official" contest that makes me feel like I've made it. It is such a surreal feeling for me. I have been writing for over ten years now and it just feels so validating. I don't know how far I will make it in this contest, but I know it is going to bring me more experience and I won't ever forget it.

Writing Progress: It is Thursday evening prior to March 14th, when this post is going public. And I am just over 2,000 words away from the 20,000 word mark. I got some feedback from a fellow-writer who helped me make a decision on where to take the story and how to bring it all to a proper ending. A "happily ever after" ending. As mentioned in my previous post, I had a bit of a lull in writing. It did not last long. I jumped right back into the saddle and my word are flowing steadily again.

I'm thinking about other things I can do to celebrate this accomplishment (the necklace might not be immediate). I would love to get the book printed and display it on my non-existent bookshelf. I think I mentioned that my current house is too small for these kinds of pleasures.

Anyway, thank you for joining me. Stay safe, stay awesome. See you in the funny papers!