Almost four years ago, I started a short story — more of a novelette, really — called Anya in the Dry Lands. I love the story, but it was woefully broken for a very long time. I put it on the back burner, and worked on other things, but I never forgot about it. There are stories I just dash off in a few hours, and there are stories I care about. The latter are much harder, because I labor over them. Caring about a story, strangely enough, makes it more difficult to write.

But not impossible.

Today, on New Year’s eve, just a few short hours ago, I finished a much-updated draft of the story. All the broken bits are fixed. I’m going to let Loreen read it over for a final editing pass, if any edits are even needed, then get that sucker in the mail.

Good gravy, I love that feeling of accomplishment. What a great way to end the year.