Throughout It All

Goodbye And Thank You! :)

AAAAAAAAAAAAA THIS IS IT

So pretty much this is where I freak out for 1000 words and make commentary on my story in a pretty disorderly fashion haha.

If you've made it this far, great! If not, I totally understand. Here we are either way!

Enjoy! :)

So I've had this story idea in my head for ... I don't know exactly how long. I know that by the end of March/beginning of April I was wanting to write it. I forget when I first saw someone point out that the newsies would probably be drafted into World War 1, but it was awhile ago, and it stuck with me. And I knew I had to write that story. But I also knew that in 1913--the year before WW1 started--that Kid Blink passed away, and that he kind of had a crazy life. And so both parts of this story started forming.

To be honest, when starting this story, I had And as I may have mentioned I have nooo cluueee whaaat I'm doing in my head on a loop haha. If I've made it look like I've had a plan this whole time, that's great haha.

Are you guys mad at me for having both Spot and Race die? Probably. But I hope you liked the ending where they are all in a happy Utopia-like afterlife together!

Here's a chronological list of my favorite chapters to write: Prologue ~ Here's To Us; Racetrack and the Circus; Knife To See You Again ... I Guess; We're Here For You; Street Gang; Another Puzzle Piece Clicks; After All These Years; The Final Battle; It's Always Been You; Midlogue ~ Lovely Day; Hold On To What You Can; Traveling; Just Another Day In Prison ... Not Really; Shelter; Getting Closer; Going Home; Reunion; Memorial; Epilogue ~ Here We Are. As you can see, I had a lot of fun writing nearly everything haha.

When I started writing this story, I pictured Part 1 and Part 2 having 25 parts each, making this story 55 parts long when you add in the author's notes and pro-, mid-, and epi- logue's. But both of them were 20 chapters long, so instead of 55 parts this story has 45 parts. I'm okay with that. I like how this story turned out.

If I could change something, it would probably be that it took me nearly two months to write this. And that's just because I had to take several very long breaks from writing in between summer camps and just not staying in the same place each night. But now we're here, now it's done.

Now it's done.

Oh my gosh.

I still don't know how I feel about that.

I just realized I had a lot of original characters in this story. Except ... the original characters that first appeared in Part 1 were all real people. So ... I don't know if they're really original characters?? I don't know haha. But yeah, Al Capone, James Baletti, Big Jack O'Brien, Chick Tucker, Kid Griffo, Dave Simmons, and Sardinia Frank were all real people. Dave Simmons was a real newsie too.

I do know that Ermal, Bruno, and Noemi all are my original characters. I love them all so much even though they didn't exist even two weeks ago. 

What did you think of all the characters I added?

Also ... I am very tempted to write a fic where it's just them living in Bruno and Noemi's house ... I don't know, I just really loved that dynamic.

Could you all tell that I love the found family dynamic? Right now it is kind of my favorite thing. It's just ... as a neurodivergent queer person, chosen family is just so personal to me.

And yes, I did love writing the found family dynamic haha. I honestly could have made that the story.

What did you all think of the time it was set? Because ... I kinda had it take place over the course of ten years; which were based 15+ years after the newsies' strike of 1899...

I highly doubt that I'll be writing them at this age again. I did it once, and once was enough. Adulting is hard haha. And I'm not even the one doing the adulting haha. I like them when they're newsies; maybe just a tiny bit older, maybe just a tiny bit younger. 1899 ages are the best ages though. 

Especially since they're all young and healthy and alive.

What would a sequel to this look like? A sequel where the main characters are reincarnated?

No. I did that once, and you all probably don't wanna read another one haha.

It's hard to believe that this is my ninth Newsies story on Wattpad. A year ago I was writing my third. How the heck does time work like this?

And honestly, I don't know when my next story will be. As you probably know, I like writing my stories when I have free time so I can just write and write and write, which is nearly impossible during the school year unless there's a week-two week long break, or there's next summer. I don't know; all I know is that this is not the last you've heard from me, but I have no clue when you'll hear from me again.

Is it just me, or has this summer flown by? I'm starting school soon, and I really, really don't want to think about that. It just feels like last year I had more summer than this year.

Just like any story I write, this story means a lot to me. You can't just spend two months writing a story and not feel something. Not when you put so much into it because you have a story to tell. And I loved writing all of it. 

And I honestly have no clue what this story means to any of you, because so far, no one has commented on it. There are some votes, yes, but I have no words from any of you. I would love to know what you think.

If you haven't really taken the time to do this yet, take a look at the cover. See how much you recognize from the events of the story. I put a lot of effort into the cover, just like all my covers. What details from both Part 1 and Part 2 can you see?

So this is nearing 1000 words. That sums up how most of my chapters for this story went haha. I got a couple 2000+ word chapters in here. A couple I know even got up to 3000 words. Now I'm in between 1100 and 1200 words. Closer to 1200.

And ... I am running out of things to say haha. I think I've said it all.

I'm listening to Dreaming Of You by Selena right now. It kind of encompasses everything I'm feeling.

This is it. We did it. Thank you so much for reading these last words.

Love you all <3

(Edit: hello, it is I, one year older, but not exactly one year wiser haha. I mean, I guess that's up for interpretation. Anyways, I honestly am not as disappointed as I thought I would be that this story has not gotten too much attention. This felt more ... intimate, and felt more for me, and I'm glad that wattpad gave me the space to make this story exist. One thing I can say for sure, though, is that I have met a wonderful group of people who have become a family to me. True, we've been separated, but I think of them often and would do anything for them. So rereading this when I made these characters a family hit me really hard. I ... am running out of words haha. Still. If you are reading this, I appreciate you for still reading this story a whole year after it's been released. Love you all. <3)

Please, no homophobia, profanities, hate etc in the comment section at all times.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who is grateful for all those who have read this far, are reading these words now, and hopes you have a wonderful day/night <3)