When I went to the writers conference last week I told everyone my manuscript was finished. I fibbed. It was mostly done - the last chapter was a list of things that had to happen like "Fin meets Gilt with Paul and Jenna on way to Village looking for Story" and "Anne has to have that conversation with Rose in the ruins of the bakery."
It was all sketched out, I knew where I had to go, but for some reason, I had stalled at writing the end. Well, nothing lights a fire under your butt like an agent telling you they want to see your full ms. I knew I had to power through those last two chapters (yes, one chapter turned into two) so that I could go back to the beginning and revise it right.
So Saturday morning my husband took my kids out to feed the ducks and I sat in my writing shed with a rather stupid bee for company (I mean, the door was wide open, but still he beat his furry little head against the window again and again. I sympathize, little bee. I know the feeling.) I wrote 5000 words, well 5002.
I typed "The End" just as Tim texted me to let me know that the sprogs were back and not to come into the house since they were destroying it and I'd only lose my concentration. Using my sweater as gently as I could, I grabbed that demented bee and let him go outside.
No matter what happens, nothing can change the fact that I finished this book. And since the world didn't end, I can think about what comes next.
How do you celebrate when you finish a project? Is it anti-climactic? Do you let yourself be proud, or is it right on to the next thing?
Huzzah! Congratulations! That must be a great feeling.
ReplyDeleteI love finishing a project. I usually have a backlog of other stuff that I put off doing in order to finish writing, so I get caught up with housework or yard work and leave the writing alone for a week or so. Then, yep, get back to writing the next story.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing and getting a request!
F yeah! I'm so excited for you! I see all these new character names and I can't wait to meet them. And OMG, what in the world happened to the bakery? Is it the same bakery we mean Jane in Bookend? Super stoked!!
ReplyDelete@laura, you are so sweet to be excited. I'm embarrassed to tell you that I cut the scene with jane and anne in the bakery ruins! but I will do as you did in your cool blog post today, I'll polish up the scene and post it as a character study.
ReplyDelete