A repeat of my writers' group assignment, with additions. :-)
On Wednesday night, after I wrote and discarded three epilogues, I finally typed “The End” on the book manuscript that is due to the publisher on February 1.
On Wednesday night, after I wrote and discarded three epilogues, I finally typed “The End” on the book manuscript that is due to the publisher on February 1.
It’s the second-best
day in a writer’s life. This writer, anyway. It means I get to wade back into
the story and do the first round of fixes on it. I get to go through and make
sure the heroine’s eyes that were gray in Chapter One are still gray in Chapter
Seventeen. I get to stare at an entire scene in disbelief and look around to
make sure no one else has seen it because it is…oh, man, words escape me, but
it is so bad I can’t imagine it came
from these acrylic fingertips. I get to send it off to beta readers with pleas
to be constructive but kind. I get to go through it again to act on or ignore
the suggestions of the readers. I get to obsess over whether I should act on or
ignore suggestions. I get to wake in the middle of the night and obsess over
the previous obsession. I have heard other writers say they follow their own
instincts. I’m fairly certain if I found mine and followed them, I would soon
be hopelessly lost. Far better to obsess.
And then I get to take
a week off. Sometimes I take more than that, but I have a proposal due April 1
and need to write a novella this year, too, so I’m just taking a week. My
writing has slowed exponentially with each birthday, so I worry about being able to get things done in time--I love having that to worry about. My husband has suggested
it would behoove me to have my driving slow a bit with those birthdays, too,
but there are times I just ignore him and go on. Quickly.
I love the week off. I
get a lot of sewing done. I occasionally plan to clean a room and might get one
drawer done. I clear the top of the desk—well, part of it. I work on taxes—no,
I don’t; didn’t I just say this was a week off?
I have lunch with
friends, dinner out with Duane. I work on promotion, obsess over the title
(working title is It Was Written in the Stars--what do you
think?) and cover of the upcoming book and know in my heart of hearts that
the editor will hate it and, more importantly, so will the readers. Actually,
what I know is that no one will read it, ever, so they won’t know if they hate
it or not. But I’ll know. I’ll know.
I should quit writing
right now. I'm a terrible writer anyway. I should just give it up and use my computer strictly for playing Solitaire and screaming at
Facebook—which is even more stressful on a large, flat screen than it is on an
iPhone.
Sometimes during my
time off I write generic blog posts that I can use if my mind goes blank when I
need to have a post ready in the next fifteen minutes.
Occasionally during this
time, if the company is right and I’m not driving, I will drink. I will wonder
why I ever stopped smoking. I might even watch television. But probably not.
At some point midweek,
I’ll sit at my computer. I’ll delete files. Pictures of people I don’t know.
Downloads I don’t know why I have. Sometimes I delete the wrong things. I’ll
play more games. I'll think about newsletters and wonder why I’m the only writer
in the free world who doesn’t have one. About bookmarks and promo pens and what
I could do this year that was new. This is my time off. My time to relax. I
can’t write…not now.
The hell I can’t. I
make sure the tea is hot, settle into the chair until it stops squeaking, and
open a new file. I type CHAPTER ONE.
It’s the first-best day
of a writer’s life.
Have a great week.
Have a great week.
Liz
Congratulations on "The End." This book will be as brilliant and touching and lovely as the rest, so stop stressing and soak in the sense of accomplishment. Hugs, baby!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have calmed down...some.
DeleteWait... were you writing about *your* writing experience or *mine*? 'Cuz that sounds exactly like what I go through (aside from the sewing and having dinner with Dyane) ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, thank goodness I'm not alone. Lol. I imagine a lot of us go through it, don't you?
DeleteThank you for giving all novice writers a glimpse into the authors world. I continue my quest to type The End very soon. Then I will take the the next step and attempt to fix my mistakes. I know they are there the computer colorfully shows them to me. I ignore them on my first attempt letting the words flow. I love your proposed title
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patrice. Getting to The End is a great accomplishment in and of itself. Congratulations!
DeleteI love this and am anxiously awaiting The End for my third book. Too much life stuff is slowing me down right now. And Handsome is what is most important.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with this book. I know I'm not alone in saying 2016 was a rough year, and that roughness wasn't particularly good for my writing. Good for you and Handsome. :-)
DeleteI should type another 'The End' this week - to be quickly followed by 'Chapter One'. Congrats, Liz, can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteRight back atcha, Kristi!
DeleteHi Liz, Congrats! Typing "The End" on a manuscript is one of those special moments in a writer's life. Savor this time...
ReplyDeleteIt is special, isn't it? And, when you think about it, something that doesn't happen that often, so you're right--savoring is good! Thanks, Joanne!
DeleteI love writing The End because it means I can go back and start revising. For me, the first draft is like a new coloring book. I don't have to invent the outlines again, and I can fill in whatever colors strike my fancy.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much it, Helen. I love it, too. I even love editorial revisions, although they scare me to death sometimes!
DeleteCan't wait to read this one! The last time I finished a book, it was Bix. And the one before that. Bix. And the one before that. Right. Bix.
ReplyDeleteI need to finish another book. LOL. Congrats on yours!
Lol. Thanks, Margie. You'll finish--I know you will!
DeleteI feel like I haven't gotten to a "The End" for a long time. I can't wait to get there! Have fun on your week off.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jana. I've snuck into Chapter 1 in the new one while the beta readers are catching errors. It's fun!
Delete