There are moments in every big project when the finish line finally comes into view. After years of outlining, rewriting, second-guessing myself, tearing entire sections apart, and rebuilding them from scratch, I can finally say something that feels almost surreal:
I am only three chapters away from finishing Draft 2 of Project Ember.
Even typing those words feels strange.
For so long, this project felt endless.
The Long Road to This Point
Project Ember has been with me for years.
The version I’m writing today isn’t even the same story I originally started. Earlier drafts leaned heavily into a Cinderella-inspired revenge plot. Somewhere along the way, I realized the story was asking to become something deeper.
The characters wanted more.
The themes wanted more.
I wanted more.
So I made the difficult decision to rewrite large portions of the manuscript and transform it into the story it is today—a romantasy adventure centered around loneliness, responsibility, healing, and learning that strength doesn’t always mean carrying everything on your own.
That decision added months of work.
At times, it felt like I had moved farther away from the finish line instead of closer.
Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Act III Is Different
One thing I’ve noticed while writing Draft 2 is that Act III has been significantly harder than Acts I and II.
Not because I don’t know what happens. Not because I’m stuck. But because this is where all of the emotional weight lands.
The easy answers are gone. The characters have reached the point where they can no longer avoid their flaws. Every lesson they’ve been resisting throughout the story is demanding to be learned. Every wound they’ve been avoiding is demanding to be confronted.
As a writer, those chapters take more out of you.
You can’t just move characters from Point A to Point B. You have to sit with them in the uncomfortable moments. You have to let them struggle. You have to let them fail.
And then you have to figure out whether they’ve grown enough to make a different choice.
A Nearly 6,000-Word Day
Despite feeling mentally drained, I ended up having one of my most productive writing days in recent memory.
I wrapped up:
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
By the end of the day, I had written 5,967 words.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that.
When I sat down that morning, my goal was simply to make progress.
Instead, I found myself riding a wave of momentum that carried me farther than I thought possible.
Those are the days every writer lives for.
Not because they’re common.
But because they remind you what’s possible when everything clicks.
Preparing for Beta Readers
One thought that keeps crossing my mind lately is how close I am to sharing this story with beta readers.
That’s exciting.
It’s also terrifying.
I’ve spent so much time with these characters that they’ve become part of me.
Soon, they’ll leave the safety of my laptop and be placed into someone else’s hands.
Someone will tell me what worked.
Someone will tell me what didn’t.
Someone will point out weaknesses I can no longer see because I’ve been too close to the story for too long.
And honestly?
That’s exactly what I need.
Growth as a writer requires feedback.
Not just praise.
Not just encouragement.
Actual feedback that helps the story become stronger.
A Reminder for Anyone Chasing a Big Goal
One thing this journey has taught me is that progress rarely looks dramatic in the moment.
Most days are small. Most days are repetitive. Most days are simply showing up.
You write another chapter. You revise another scene. You make one more improvement. And then one day you look up and realize you’re standing somewhere you once dreamed of reaching.
That’s where I am right now.
Three chapters away.
Close enough to see the finish line.
And if you’re working toward a goal of your own, I hope this serves as a reminder:
Keep going.
The finish line might be closer than you think.
