Mizuki sat at the small desk in the corner of her apartment, staring at the blank page before her. The cursor blinked at her, urging her to begin. But where to start? The silence around her seemed to mirror the stillness in her mind. For the first time in a long while, she felt a weight on her shoulders—her book. She had finally found Lizbeth and Little Peanut, and they had settled in, but now it was time for her to focus on what she had come here to do: write.
Mizuki had always been a writer, but this book was different. It was personal, tied to a dream she had—one that had been haunting her for weeks. A story born from the Moon Goddess herself, the dream of a race blessed by the goddess, and yet cursed for their arrogance. It was a story that held deep meaning, not just for her but for the world she had left behind and the one she was creating now.
But as much as she wanted to bring the story to life, she found herself at a loss. The structure of it was so foreign to her, different from the lighthearted novels she had written in the past. This one was steeped in mythology, a story of redemption, pride, and curses—something deep and intricate. She had the vision, the story in her heart, but putting it down on paper was another matter entirely.
As she stared at the screen, Lizbeth entered the room with Little Peanut in her arms, the sound of her daughter's soft laughter filling the air. Lizbeth had taken to being a mother with grace, and it had been a joy to watch her grow into this new life. Despite the struggles, there was a peacefulness now that hadn't been there before. Mizuki smiled softly, watching Lizbeth settle Little Peanut onto the play mat in the corner.
"Hey," Lizbeth said, her voice warm but with a hint of concern as she saw Mizuki's furrowed brow. "What's going on? You've been staring at that screen for a while now."
Mizuki sighed, resting her head in her hands. "I don't know where to start. This book… it's not like the ones I've written before. It feels bigger, more important. But I just can't seem to find the right words, the right way to begin."
Lizbeth tilted her head, the warmth in her eyes never fading. "I don't know much about writing, but I read a bit about developmental editing. Maybe I can help? I don't know much, but I can ask questions and maybe get you thinking differently."
Mizuki looked up at her with a faint smile. "You would help me?"
"Of course," Lizbeth said, her tone soft but firm. "I may not be a writer, but I can listen. And maybe my questions will help you see things from a new perspective."
Mizuki nodded, grateful for the support. "Well, it's a story I've been dreaming about for weeks. It's about the Children of the Moon, a race born from both man and wolf, gifted with powers beyond measure. But they grew arrogant, and in their pride, they turned away from the sacred bond they had with their creator—the Moon Goddess. She cursed them, stripping them of their gifts, making them shadows of their former selves. But now, there's a chance for redemption. The curse can be broken if one of them finds their fated mate."
Lizbeth listened attentively, her eyes wide with curiosity. "That sounds… amazing. But how do you tell that story? How do you start?"
Mizuki sighed. "That's just it. I don't know. The story has so many layers, so many themes. It's about pride, redemption, fate, and the bond between soulmates. But how do you take something so grand and bring it down to the personal level? How do you make it real?"
Lizbeth thought for a moment, tapping her chin as she considered the question. "Well, maybe you start with the dream itself? How did the Moon Goddess speak to you in the dream? What did she want to say?"
Mizuki's eyes softened as she remembered the vivid dream, the vision of the Moon Goddess appearing before her, the power in her words, the weight of the prophecy. "She told me that long ago, the Children of the Moon lived in harmony with the earth, their hearts in tune with the lunar tides. Their fur shimmered like moonlight, and their howls sang a song of wild freedom. But as the centuries passed, they grew prideful. They forgot their sacred bond with the earth, the moon, and the goddess herself. They rejected their fated mates in favor of unions built on pride. They angered the Moon Goddess, and in her wrath, she cursed them. She took away their gifts and left them as mere shadows of their former glory."
Lizbeth nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "That's a strong foundation. It feels like a warning, almost. But what about the redemption part? How does that work?"
Mizuki paused, her hands clasped together as she thought. "The goddess wants to grant them redemption. But only if one of them finds their fated mate. If that happens, the curse will be lifted, and the Children of the Moon will be restored to their former glory. But it's not easy. The path to redemption is long and filled with obstacles. The fated mate must be found, but it's not just about love. It's about the strength to confront their past, to right the wrongs they've committed."
Lizbeth's face lit up as she started to understand. "So, the main character—the one who finds their fated mate—has to go on a journey of self-discovery? To find their mate, but also to forgive themselves?"
Mizuki nodded. "Exactly. It's about confronting their past mistakes, accepting the curse, and finding redemption not just for themselves, but for their entire race."
Lizbeth smiled. "That sounds incredible, Mizuki. I think it's a story that needs to be told. But how do you organize all of that? Where do you even begin?"
Mizuki leaned back in her chair, her mind spinning with possibilities. "I think I need to break it down. Maybe start with the curse—why it happened and how it affected the Children of the Moon. Then I can introduce the protagonist, someone who's struggling with their own demons, someone who hasn't yet realized that their redemption lies in finding their fated mate."
Lizbeth nodded in agreement. "And you can weave in the history, the prophecy, and the goddess's involvement. Maybe each chapter could be like a piece of the puzzle, slowly revealing the truth to the protagonist—and to the reader."
Mizuki smiled, her heart lightening. "That's it, Lizbeth. That's the direction I needed. Thank you."
Lizbeth grinned. "I didn't do much, but I'm glad I could help."
Mizuki turned to the blank page again, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She had the beginning, the foundation, the direction. It was still daunting, but now she knew where to start. With each word, she could breathe life into the story that had been haunting her dreams. The story of the Children of the Moon, their redemption, and the powerful bond of fated mates. It was a journey she was ready to take.
And as she typed the first sentence, she couldn't help but feel that, maybe, just maybe, this was the story she had been meant to tell all along.