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Taking a week to breathe …

May 30, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

I’ve been taking a bit of a break this week to celebrate typing the words “The End” on the last page of the manuscript of my next novel. Wooohoooo! Yippeeeee!  … ahem … sorry for the momentary loss of control …

For those writers in the crowd, you know what I mean. There’s a bittersweet feeling when we begin to cut our ties with the characters and settings that have possessed and taken over  been a big part of our lives since the first word of the story was written. If you aren’t a writer, there have no doubt been similar projects that occupied your time and mind until you finally dragged your sorry a**across crossed that finish line.

This week I have a lot of catching up to do. First of all I have to show my ever-supportive husband I remember how to have a long, focused conversation with him. We even went to a movie this afternoon and I made it all the way through without being distracted 50% of the time. I need to have a few GNOs and answer a backlog of voicemail messages. I have a lot of blogs to read and support to return to my superfantabulous peers in the online writing community. There’s a long list of social stuff to plan and enjoy. I may even start cooking again! Most of all, it’s time to celebrate … for at least a week or two … before the editing and revisions begin.

Ahhhhh – the joys of being a writer! I’ll get back to my normal blogging next week. Thanks for understanding!

How do you recognize the completion of a project? Do you take time off before diving into the next challenge? What’s your favourite way to celebrate? Do you quietly put your head down and sleep for a few days or do you kick up your heels?

And now for your viewing pleasure, check these out:

Amber West’s hilarious post that reminds us we can all be awesome and that there is never a day when someone somewhere doesn’t understand us. Even it’s our couch!

Jenny Hansen shares important health reminders for every woman.

Jane Friedman and the pros and cons of an author platform

Tele Aadsen provides a fascinating look into the joys and challenges of living the fishing/writing life in Alaska.

Sexy, smart Marcia Richards writes from the heart and shares 12 rules of writing from famous authors.

 

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Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist, Amber West, follow your dreams, ForeWord 2010 Book Of The Year Finalist, Hooked, Jane Friedman, Jenny Hansen, Marcia Richards, Patricia Sands, Tele Aadsen, The Bridge Club, WIP, writing

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. susielindau says

    May 30, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Congratulations!

    Reply
  2. patriciasands says

    May 30, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    Hey Susie, you are right on top of things. Thanks for the congrats … you know what I’m talking about !

    Reply
  3. Tameri Etherton says

    May 30, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    Congratulations, Patricia! I’m so proud of you for getting to the end. Celebrate, take some time to enjoy the fruits of your labors (or to just remember what fruit tastes like!). I’m sure your family missed you and are looking forward to having you around for awhile. It’s so great to know I’m not the only one who totally blows off cooking, cleaning, and people when I get into a novel.

    I am so looking forward to this book, so don’t take too long before you start revisions! 😉 I know, I’m kind of contradicting myself, but I love your writing too much to wait any more!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2012 at 7:36 am

      Thanks, Tameri! It’s a good feeling to return to the real world without that sense of urgency we live with when we are caught up in our writing. How is your editing process coming along? We’re patiently waiting … and very excited for you!

      Reply
  4. Marcia says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:26 am

    Congrats, Patricia!Good for you, taking a little time to get back into life before getting into revisions! Can’t wait to read it!
    I’m right behind you–expect to write THE END on the evening of May 31st!

    Reply
    • Marcia says

      May 31, 2012 at 12:26 am

      Forgot to say…thanks for the shout out, sista!

      Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2012 at 7:37 am

      That’s today! Wow! I’m sending you some *last page karma* and waiting for your news!

      Reply
  5. Jenny Hansen says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:37 am

    OMG, Patricia!! That’s huge and wonderful news. Congratulations!! I hope you have a great week with lots of sleep and plenty of chocolate. 🙂

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      May 31, 2012 at 7:39 am

      Thanks, Jenny … and, yes, I’ll have a celebratory chunk of chocolate or two or three!

      Reply
  6. Nancy J Nicholson says

    May 31, 2012 at 6:53 am

    Patricia, congratulations on The End! What a super feeling. And yes, a mandatory down day and then catch up is exactly what you need. We put that into practice every time we make a major move of our boat. Take the time and no guilt.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 8:34 am

      Thanks, Nancy. I can imagine how you feel after every major move with your boat. What an undertaking! I’m babysitting our two youngest grandchildren this weekend and not feeling any pressure to get back to writing. They are sitting at the table with me colouring while I catch up on some blogs for an hour. Sweet!

      Reply
  7. Ivana says

    May 31, 2012 at 8:17 am

    Congratulations!

    When I finish a project, my mind is full of way too many other stuff to do, so much that i often forget to rest and need to remind myself to take it slow unless I want to just drop at some point.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 8:37 am

      I know what you mean. This week has give me an opportunity to get back to the real world. I don’t do “rest” so that’s not a problem but it’s been good to reconnect with friends for more than a quick conversation.

      Reply
  8. Kelly Hashway says

    May 31, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Congrats! It does feel great to finish drafting a WIP. I’m sick because I love to revise, and the thought of having the draft finished and getting ready to revise is fun for me.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 8:39 am

      Kelly, I absolutely agree with you! I find the revising part fun too. The hard work of creating the story is finished and with the help of an editor’s eyes we get to make it even better.

      Reply
  9. Tabitha says

    May 31, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Yay for finishing!! That’s a great feeling, isn’t it? And I think it’s fabulous that you celebrate it.

    I also celebrate, usually by going out for lunch with my writing buddy, and then I take a week or so to read, visit blogs and other writing forums, watch some mindless TV, etc. 🙂 I always feel like I’m emerging from a cave when I finish a draft, and it’s so good to see the light. 🙂

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 9:52 am

      Ah yes, that light is a tad bright at first, isn’t it? Thanks for the “Yay” … love the feeling!

      Reply
  10. Natalie Hartford says

    May 31, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Wahooooo congratulations! That’s fantastic and it sounds like you are celebrating beautifully!
    When I complete a big project, I usually sleep for a day or two and then go crazy with visiting, socializing and catching up with everyone…LOL!! ENJOY!!!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 8:43 am

      Thanks, Natalie! I actually had a dinner party on Thursday – cooked, cleaned (yuk), the whole ball of wax, for eight for dinner. Copious quantities of wine were consumed and we all celebrated my return to being a *semi*-normal person again. Now on to revisions!

      Reply
  11. Kiersi says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    Ha! Glad to see another writer gets consumed completely by writing her finale. Same thing happens to me. I usually celebrate by shipping off the first draft to my beta readers… and then I get piss drunk.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 9:50 am

      Um … there were copious quantities of wine consumed this week …

      Reply
  12. beverlydiehl says

    June 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    I think the high of finishing is one of the reasons we write more than one book. I do happy dances, maybe watch a movie, catch up on my social life. Congratulations on typing those words!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      June 2, 2012 at 8:44 am

      Thanks, Beverly. Your comments are right on the mark. It’s those highs that keep us doing what we do!

      Reply
  13. pattisj says

    January 1, 2013 at 1:21 am

    Congratulations, and thanks for the blog visit. 🙂

    Reply

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