A Challenge for the Creative Awards: How I Wrote a Romance Novel and Ended Up Writing About 'Life'

I have finished writing a novel to submit to the romance category of the Creative Awards.
The word count is approximately 20,000 characters.

This was the first time I had ever written such a long novel.
It all started as a romance novel I was writing as a note article.

It was a story about a man and a woman who never ended up together.
A somewhat bittersweet and slightly painful story. That is what it was at first.

However, as I continued to write, it expanded and began to move in a direction different from where I had initially intended.

Makoto became a father, got promoted, and took on a position of responsibility.
Mio raised her daughter, struggled with her rebellious phase and career path, and eventually saw her off.
There were also goodbyes to parents, and before I knew it, while I intended to write a romance, I was writing about life.

It is a strange thing.
If I were younger, the center of the story might have been whether or not the love was fulfilled.

But because I am now at the turning point of my 50s, I wanted to write about the time that follows.

Life after falling in love with someone.
Life after breaking up.
Life on the path not chosen.
What was lost and what was gained.
That is what I wanted to write about.

And while writing, a phrase came to mind.
“Witness to my life”
Makoto and Mio do not end up together.
They do not become a couple.
They do not even meet.
Even so, their existence for each other does not fade.

They remember each other at milestones in life.
When a child is born.
When they get a promotion.
When their daughter leaves the nest.
When they see off their parents.

Even if the other person is not there, there is someone who knows your life.
They are not a lover, not family, and a little different from a friend.
But it is a relationship that certainly exists.

Now that I have finished writing, I wonder if this story was really a romance novel.
Of course, it is a romance novel.
But I also feel it is more than that.

Who do people live their lives with?
And who do they have to witness their life?
It became a story I wrote while thinking about such things.
The story in my head has taken shape.

Every time I try to write a novel, my ideals and the words do not match.
The phrasing is wrong. Something is off.
Once I start thinking about it, there is no end, and I just go around in circles.

Even so, the reason I was able to keep writing is that I myself desperately wanted to know what happened next in their lives.

How will Makoto live?
What will Mio choose?
Thinking about such things, I have walked with the two of them for several months.

I have entered the Creative Awards.
Should I break it into short parts and make it a series, or should I have people read it all at once?
I want them to read it while imagining the scenes like a movie...
After thinking about various things, I decided to combine it into one piece and submit it.

Just like when I sent out a picture book, I am always nervous when I send out a work.
I tell myself to 'take it a bit easier!', but that is just my personality...

I read it over and over again, and it was a nerve-wracking submission, but now I feel relieved.
I don't know the results.

But there is one thing I know for sure.
By finishing this story, I was able to send Mio and Makoto off.
In the end,
“You were the witness to my life”
I was able to arrive at that one sentence.

That alone makes me feel that these past few months had great meaning.
Looking back, it was a painful, yet very happy time.

Anyway, I did a great job ☺️

And to everyone on note who sent me words of encouragement when I felt like giving up.
I truly, truly have nothing but gratitude.

I surely wouldn't have made it this far on my own.
The world of note is warm🌈
I am feeling that once again🙂‍↕️

Creative Awards Romance Novel Category Entry
"You Were the Witness to My Life"