How Rin helped me release a novel.
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:47 pm
Hey guys. I guess we all have our story about how KS changed our lives, so I suppose I should share mine.
I've wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little kid. I had an abusive childhood, and because of that I've grappled with self-esteem issues all my life. For the longest time, I've felt like writing was the only thing I could ever hope to be good at. I thought it was my key to get people to care about me, to be proud about something I've done. It's a daunting task, though, especially since I have communication problems. Sometimes I worry if it's wise to have a dream that revolves around words when most of the time it's so hard for me to use them. I had written a book and a few short stories, but it was always hard getting people to care about them. Even when I got my first novel published people didn't really care. Having something you poured so much work into is a ridiculously painful experience. I worked on a second novel, but as I wrote it I began to despair. A part of me thought I'd never be appreciated as a writer, and for a long time I wondered if it was worth trying to release the book at all.
Then I discovered Katawa Shoujo. Now, I loved all the routes, but Rin's was the one that really hit me. The way she worked so hard on her art in an effort to be understood, her communication issues, the whole idea of doing things you can't do just because you can...I felt like I was Rin. When she talked about how she felt like she needed to change, or that she just wanted another person to understand her, I knew exactly what she meant. When I got that good ending, and Rin finally learned how to accept herself, I turned into goddamn Niagara Falls. But at the same time, it inspired me. If Rin could overcome all the darkness that surrounded her, if a girl with no arms can paint, then what's stopping me from working on my writing?
KS has been inspirational on a more meta level too. Really, just the fact that it and its fanbase exists is something of a miracle. If a bunch of anons could gather together and not only create something as beautiful as this, but get the praise they deserve for it, maybe there's hope for me after all.
Since discovering KS, I've been revising my novel every day, making sure that it was the best book it could be, and now, I'm proud to say that I got it published. Maybe self-publishing isn't the most glamorous release, but I'm OK with that. The book is out, and I honestly don't think I could've done it without the right motivational push.
Thank you, Rin, and thank you, 4LS.
I've wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little kid. I had an abusive childhood, and because of that I've grappled with self-esteem issues all my life. For the longest time, I've felt like writing was the only thing I could ever hope to be good at. I thought it was my key to get people to care about me, to be proud about something I've done. It's a daunting task, though, especially since I have communication problems. Sometimes I worry if it's wise to have a dream that revolves around words when most of the time it's so hard for me to use them. I had written a book and a few short stories, but it was always hard getting people to care about them. Even when I got my first novel published people didn't really care. Having something you poured so much work into is a ridiculously painful experience. I worked on a second novel, but as I wrote it I began to despair. A part of me thought I'd never be appreciated as a writer, and for a long time I wondered if it was worth trying to release the book at all.
Then I discovered Katawa Shoujo. Now, I loved all the routes, but Rin's was the one that really hit me. The way she worked so hard on her art in an effort to be understood, her communication issues, the whole idea of doing things you can't do just because you can...I felt like I was Rin. When she talked about how she felt like she needed to change, or that she just wanted another person to understand her, I knew exactly what she meant. When I got that good ending, and Rin finally learned how to accept herself, I turned into goddamn Niagara Falls. But at the same time, it inspired me. If Rin could overcome all the darkness that surrounded her, if a girl with no arms can paint, then what's stopping me from working on my writing?
KS has been inspirational on a more meta level too. Really, just the fact that it and its fanbase exists is something of a miracle. If a bunch of anons could gather together and not only create something as beautiful as this, but get the praise they deserve for it, maybe there's hope for me after all.
Since discovering KS, I've been revising my novel every day, making sure that it was the best book it could be, and now, I'm proud to say that I got it published. Maybe self-publishing isn't the most glamorous release, but I'm OK with that. The book is out, and I honestly don't think I could've done it without the right motivational push.
Thank you, Rin, and thank you, 4LS.
I'm really happy for you!