it will shine through, even if the details aren’t all in order. Desire is the fuel of creators, and when we have that, motivation will come in its wake.
I lost the desire to create Children of Hypnos. I could do it still; I could write the final book. But it wouldn’t be as good as it once was, my fans wouldn’t be happy with it, and I would truly feel that I had let them and myself down. I would rather they speculate ceaselessly on the end than have a poor ending they didn’t deserve. More importantly, a poor ending I didn’t deserve—the younger me who created this story originally, who had a love for it I’m only starting to recover.
I hope you don’t lose your desire to create Monstrous Sea. It sounds like a wonderful story.
Much hope,
Olivia Kane
P.S. Truth be told, I don’t mind answering this question. Children of Hypnos may not have an ending that its fans can read, but I did have one in mind while writing it. I think we always do, somewhere in our heads, even if we don’t seriously consider them. Like life, what gives a story its meaning is the fact that it ends. Our stories have lives of their own—and it’s up to us to make them mean something.
Monstrous Sea Private Message
10:58 a.m. (MurkerLurker has joined the message)
MirkerLurker: So…
MirkerLurker: Anyone home?
10:51 a.m. (Apocalypse_Cow has joined the message)
Apocalypse_Cow: the prodigal daughter returns. sorry we weren’t around yesterday—was everything okay? we started to get worried.
Apocalypse_Cow: I mean, who was emmy going to watch Dog Days with?
MirkerLurker: Ha
MirkerLurker: No, I’m okay. I was trying to stay away from the internet.
MirkerLurker: And I wanted to say sorry for disappearing for so long.
MirkerLurker: And also thank you for everything you guys did for me when the news broke.
Apocalypse_Cow: no need to apologize. i would’ve done the same thing. no one needs that much attention on themselves, especially if they’ve been anonymous for so long.
Apocalypse_Cow: and you’re welcome—i do deserve much praise for my honorable actions in the eliza mirk scandal operation. perhaps a promotion to god overlord of the forums, and a statue of myself made of solid gold.
10:58 a.m. (emmersmacks has joined the message)
emmersmacks: E!!!!!
emmersmacks: YOURE BACK!!!!!!!
MirkerLurker: Hey, Em.
emmersmacks: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN???
emmersmacks: ARE YOU OKAY???
MirkerLurker: Yeah, not bad. Mostly staying away from the internet.
emmersmacks: People have been loving the Monstrous Sea pages
emmersmacks: They say youre not coming back to finish them
Apocalypse_Cow: seriously though, em. keep your mouth shut.
Apocalypse_Cow: you don’t have to finish them if you don’t want to, e. you don’t have to do anything just because those brats on the forums tell you to.
MirkerLurker: They’re not brats, though, they’re fans. They’re the only reason all of this exists. I have to try to finish it for them, right?
Apocalypse_Cow: no.
emmersmacks: I mean I want to see the end
emmersmacks: But if its going to make you sad then I dont want you to do it
MirkerLurker: Whatever, I didn’t come here to talk about Monstrous Sea anyway. What have you two been doing? And Max, don’t say something stupid like eating Twizzlers. I haven’t sent you any Twizzlers lately and I know the only Twizzlers you eat are mine.
MirkerLurker: Em, did you finish school?
emmersmacks: Yes!!
emmersmacks: Got a 92 in that Calc class
emmersmacks: Suck it Professor Teller
Apocalypse_Cow: she actually said that to him too.
MirkerLurker: You didn’t.
MirkerLurker: Tell me you did.
emmersmacks: I might have
emmersmacks: What they dont tell you about college is how good it feels to stick it to dickhead teachers
Apocalypse_Cow: i’d give you an a+ just for that alone.
emmersmacks: Thank you
emmersmacks: Ooh ooh!!!
emmersmacks: But Max got back together with Heather!!!
MirkerLurker: Really?
Apocalypse_Cow: yeah, it’s weird. I don’t know if you guys knew this, but your loved ones appreciate it when you, like, spend time with them in person. it’s this new thing I’ve been trying out for the past month or two.
Apocalypse_Cow: works pretty well, actually.
Apocalypse_Cow: but she also plays world of warcraft with me three nights a week, so take from that what you will.
MirkerLurker: Ah, that makes me happy! I’m glad you’re back together.
Apocalypse_Cow: how about you and mr. wallace?
Apocalypse_Cow: how’d he feel when he found out who you are?
MirkerLurker: I don’t want to talk about Wallace, if that’s okay.
MirkerLurker: Mostly I got on here to say how much I love you both. You do so much for me. I don’t say that enough.
Apocalypse_Cow: no need to get sappy on us, e.
emmersmacks: You dont have to say it
MirkerLurker: Yeah, I do. I don’t talk to