So maybe I shouldn't have taken November-Yesterday working on a science fiction short story. And maybe I shouldn't have relied on being able to submit it online the day of the deadline.
But I wrote out a story that came to be 4687 words-- and there was a word limit of 2500 words. So, painstakingly, I worked with two teachers to trim out "unnecessary " parts. So, most of my character development, minor details, the character's family's dynamic.... all cut. Hell, the entire beginning was cut because it didn't really have anything to do with the plot.
The result? A story that had even more of a plot-driven character than initially. And although I put a ton of work into it and am proud of it, I don't think the story has the same quality as it originally did.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
There was a storm yesterday, and my internet went out at 11, not coming back till 1:30. So I'd missed my teacher's final instructions to me. And since it was 11:55 when I tried submitting, it never sent till the internet was fixed on my laptop- at 7:40 am this morning.
I mean, it's not even about the fact I have no chance of winning anymore- with the story gone under the cut like that, I don't think it would've won. But to have put forth all this effort and sleepless nights... just for the internet to stop working...