Oof. That's a *book*.

[lizvogel]

A tip for aspiring writers: When you've finished your first novel, or even a sufficiently lengthy story, put it into proper manuscript format (1" margins, double-spaced, 12-pt font of your preference), and print it out. And then, any time you're feeling discouraged about your writing, pick it up and hold it.

And say to yourself, "Hey, I wrote this."

There's nothing like the heft of a small deciduous forest in your hands to remind you that yes, you have accomplished something pretty amazing, something that most people never do. My novel may be a tad on the short side by current standards, but it still feels pretty darned impressive.