Wow, Oakville! Did you step outside today and witness the magic in the sky?  We just experienced a total solar eclipse, and let me tell you, it was absolutely awe-inspiring!
As the moon slowly crept across the sun, the world dimmed in an otherworldly way. Birdsong quieted, replaced by a hush that seemed to hold its breath.  Streetlights flickered on, confused by the sudden twilight settling in the middle of the afternoon.
Then, for a glorious few minutes, the sun vanished completely.  A ring of fire, the corona, encircled the black hole in the sky, a sight both breathtaking and a little eerie.  Gasps and cheers erupted from rooftops and parks as everyone shared this incredible celestial moment.
Here in Oakville, the total eclipse lasted for about ten minutes.  But even the partial phases, as the moon began to cover and then uncover the sun, were mesmerizing.  The whole experience was a powerful reminder of the vastness of space and the wonder of our universe.
  As writers, we’ve all asked ourselves that nagging question: “Is my book long enough? Too short? How long should  it be?” It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, obsessing over whether our work fits neatly into arbitrary word count guidelines. But here’s the truth: Word count should never dictate the quality of your story. The heart of storytelling lies in the narrative itself, not in how many pages it spans.   The Pressure of Word Count   From NaNoWriMo goals to publishing industry standards, writers face constant reminders about “acceptable” word counts. A novel must be 80,000-100,000 words. A novella shouldn’t exceed 40,000. Short stories have their own limits. These guidelines are helpful, but they can also be stifling. We begin to pad scenes unnecessarily or trim meaningful moments just to conform to these benchmarks.   I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled with my manuscript, forcing it to stretch or condense to meet expectations. And you know what happened? The authenticity of the...

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