Hi writer,
A week ago, we were lounging at NaNoWriMo’s midpoint, idly chucking Hot Pocketsat bears and deciding which path to take for the long journey home.
Now we’ve blinked and November’s almost over.
We’ll soon be back in our normal lives, with all those unwatched Netflix shows and unwashed dishes. Surrounded by family, friends, and autograph-seekers—all of them eager to learn how our month of writing went.
If you’re already dreading those conversations because you’re worried you didn’t accomplish enough, please don’t.
Whatever your word count, you’ll return home triumphant. In a busy month, you’ve managed to conjure entire worlds and bring a cast of unique characters to life. Even if you can’t see it from here, you’ve also learned valuable lessons that will serve you well in this story and the countless others ahead.
But mostly, you shouldn’t feel bad about not writing enough because there’s still so much writing time left. And this is going to be a huge week for you.
How do I know? Just look at our most beloved stories! You’re in the third act, when exhausted protagonists always pick themselves up off the mat and hurl themselves into battle one last time. It’s the moment when the cavalry rides in, trumpets blaring and Wookiees bellowing. It’s when our star-crossed lovers find their happily ever after.
More than anything, the third act is when ordinary people discover their extraordinary potential. That discovery changes destinies, and makes impossible things possible.
Your own magical third act begins today, writer.
Good luck, finish strong, and I’ll see you in December!
Chris