Combining!

I will be combining some of the earlier chapters, so that all the chapters will end up being around the same length. For example, Chapters 5 and 6 have been combined. The actual content won't change that much, only the chapter numbers and titles. I will still be adding to most of the chapters as opposed to combining them with other chapters, but there are some chapters that really just can't be added to any more.

And, by the way, Chapter 5 has been edited, and more chapters should be done by the end of the day!

Also, I'm sorry about the spacing. I don't know why some paragraphs are farther apart than others. Hopefully I will be able to fix this soon!

-Annabelle

Editing!

I've gone through chapters 1-4 and I've made some edits, and now I'm starting on chapter 5. Chapters 5-53 (holy cow!) will take a little longer, since I have to add to them as well, but I should still have everything in order for the August 31st deadline. I'll post more updates as I edit more chapters, so that you'll always know what's been edited and what hasn't.

Thanks again for all the support you've provided for Shifters!!! 60 votes and counting!!!

-Annabelle

The Story Behind The Story

When I was younger, I would only read classic novels, and therefore viewed authors as dead and gone, and writing as a sacred art that only few could become skilled at. However, as of the end of last summer, I have taken up reading more modern novels, and have thus become addicted to creating my own stories.

As this new side to me emerged, I watched as other interests of mine fell away. I had wanted to be a veterinarian all through my childhood, and had loved animals, but now I found that loved the written word more. I liked the change, but I also hated it. I liked what I had become, but I wasn't able to recognize myself.

However, this is only the background information.

I started to write Shifters at the end of last summer, but I actually started to write it in February of this year. How is this so?

At the end of last summer, I had started to write a ghost story. Yes, a ghost story. The main character was Lily Clark. But it never seemed to go anywhere. None of my ideas worked.

But on one day during the following February, an idea came to me so suddenly that I hardly had time to blink. That idea was Shifters.

I would like to be able to say that my original idea changed as I thought the plot through during various pre-writing stages, but in truth after that one day in February I had the whole story figured out. While new characters and ideas might have occurred to me along the way, I never experienced writers block. It seemed as if the ideas had simply been dropped into my head.

So what does the background information I gave before have anything to do with this?

As I grew and changed, I had begun to feel lost. Like I said, I didn't feel as if I even knew myself anymore. But Shifters changed that. In Shifters, I was able to bring my two selves together, my old-fashioned, animal loving side as well as my modern, word loving side.

And whenever the writing gets to be too much, I simply remember this, and I write on.

-Annabelle

Not Yet!!!

The last three chapters of Shifters have been posted. But trust me, this is no WAY the end to the writing process :)

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be going back and making massive edits. If you have any suggestions, please let me know, for there's nothing too big to change! And I really want all of your opinions.

Also, after I have done a significant amount of editing, I strongly encourage everyone to take a quick read through again. Some characters might be deleted, other changed, and some scenes might even be taken out all together! So if there was something you found silly or irrelevant before, it might be gone soon. Also, stuff might be added that wasn't there before, so keep an eye out for that too!

But to those of you who like the story exactly how it is, don't worry! I won't be taking out anything that I consider to be good or exciting. On the other hand, if by chance I happen to delete your favorite scene or character, don't hesitate to let me know! Nothing is set in stone yet. By commenting, everything can easily be changed back :)

Thank you all so much for your support!

-Annabelle

P.S.- "The Story Behind The Story" will be coming tomorrow, so hang tight!!!

Semi-Finalist!!!

I am happy to announce that Shifters is now in 10th place and is a semi-finalist in the Textnovel contest!!!

Thank you all so much for the support!!!

-Annabelle

P.S.- I will soon be posting "The Story Behind The Story" as a post, as well as additional chapters on Textnovel. Check back in a few days for these and possibly more goodies!!!

Climax

Chapters 48, 49 and 50 have been posted!!!

And, yes, I have finally arrived at the climax!!!

-Annabelle

Technical Difficulties

Hi everyone! There's been a few technical difficulties, but hopefully the new chapters will be up by tonight.

Sorry about that!

-Annabelle

Quick Check In

Just a heads up: New chapters will be posted tomorrow!!!

Read and enjoy :)

-Annabelle

P.S.- Less than a month to go! Vote or comment at www.textnovel.com!

New Chapters

Hey! Just wanted to let you know that Chapters 45, 46, and 47 have all been posted. The spacing is kind of funky, but I'm in the process of trying to fix it. Enjoy!

-Annabelle

P.S.- Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll! Your input was very helpful!!!