Lots of milestones here: 200 pages, 100000 words, 17 chapters...and 18 months of writing. I've concluded a completely new six-chapter arc in my story, setting the stage for things to get much bigger and much better very soon!
My story is now halfway done, which is nothing short of phenomenal to me. I've written so much, yet there's still so much more that will happen! As time has passed, my idea of what makes a good story and what I want to accomplish by writing have both changed (perhaps drastically), but rest assured, I'll see this through to the end! I've come too far to let this go now. With luck, the whole thing will be done by the end of the year.
Obviously none of you are under any obligation to read this (I imagine it'll take several hours, even for a fast reader), and I'm past the point where I'm actively looking for criticism. However, if you're at all interested, definitely take a look. If for some reason you have feedback, I'm all ears. But for me, this is simply a milestone on a path that's quickly reaching its conclusion, and I'm posting for you, not me.
A summary, you say? Well, here goes...
The story follows Markus Schwartz, a teenager from Switzerland, as he's enlisted in a special army to protect Europe against attacks from an unknown enemy. He's forced to relocate to an unfamiliar environment, left alone to come to terms with the people he meets and the danger he faces. Looming over him is the Human Defense Force, a decidedly secretive organization that has taken complete control over the war effort.
As Markus fights in battle after battle, he is forced to re-evaluate his worth as an individual and as a human being, as well try to understand his motivations for fighting. His relationships with others form the basis of these revelations, and they shape his understanding of morality and humanity as he decides what's truly important in life.
Anyway, here's the link if you're interested:
http://myweb.msoe.edu/brayshaj/files/story/story.pdf
