Dec
24th
2021
[UPDATE] Yes, I know, two updates in one night · 2:36am Dec 24th, 2021
It's done!
I've submitted it to my pre-reader, but Chapter 9 is complete so far as the story I want to tell. Parts feel rushed, and this will require a hell of an author's note at the beginning, but I made my deadline of getting it finished in time for a pre-read so the publishing can happen no later than Christmas Day. ('course, now it's in the hands of my pre-reader, and since I no longer live with them I can't pester them ceaselessly from just down the hall...)
I'm actually really happy with it. I have a specific "feel" for the chapter I wanted to convey, and I honestly think I did a damn good job on that count.
hooray, you did it! :D
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There was only a couple of points of confusion that were addressed with the rearranging of a couple paragraphs, but it just worked out that I could publish same-night. 
As I was hitting "Post" on that blog entry, my pre-reader called me to tell me they had finished reading it and wanted to gush over it, apparently, it was a hit with them.