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?
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Congratulations!
Hey Susie, you are right on top of things. Thanks for the congrats … you know what I’m talking about !
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!
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!
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!
Forgot to say…thanks for the shout out, sista!
That’s today! Wow! I’m sending you some *last page karma* and waiting for your news!
OMG, Patricia!! That’s huge and wonderful news. Congratulations!! I hope you have a great week with lots of sleep and plenty of chocolate. 🙂
Thanks, Jenny … and, yes, I’ll have a celebratory chunk of chocolate or two or three!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 🙂
Ah yes, that light is a tad bright at first, isn’t it? Thanks for the “Yay” … love the feeling!
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!!!
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!
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.
Um … there were copious quantities of wine consumed this week …
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!
Thanks, Beverly. Your comments are right on the mark. It’s those highs that keep us doing what we do!
Congratulations, and thanks for the blog visit. 🙂