stories never end

Good morning, all writers and word-lovers! We are slowly digging out from the cold that blasted our area.

Oh, right. I’m supposed to say something encouraging. (Although I think the puppy picture at the bottom of this page is pretty encouraging.)
 
    “Stories never end. They just get bigger. You just have to turn the page.”
                                ----Kimberly McNeil
                                From her book Meg Mitchell and the Secret of the Journal
 
I saw this on the back of one of my sister’s fantasy books once. I love that. Stories never end!

Your story doesn’t end when you’re rejected for the fourth time. Your story doesn’t end when you hit a lethal dose of writer’s block. Your story doesn’t end with a discouraging review.

On the other hand, your story doesn’t end when the encouraging reviews pour in. It doesn’t end when you land your first article. And it doesn’t end when your name is finally on the front cover.
 
Your story doesn’t end when it’s published in a book. Years later, it may worm its way to a garage sale where it goes on to change another family and another generation. It may change a person’s life around so that they become someone that changes someone else’s life. And it may be quoted by insane writers in their crazy newsletter (as Kimberly McNeil will one day find out. Sorry, Miss McNeil).
 
They just get bigger.
 
You just have to turn the page.