Top Ten Things I Did After I Finished My First Novel
Instead of waxing poetic about finishing my novel (as I neither wax nor am I poetic), I figured I would map out my journey post-finishing as an exhibit for you, dear wenches. Feel free to reference back when you finish, nod or disagree if you’ve already finished one, or just laugh at my ridiculousness. All reactions are acceptable.
1. Squee - I actually managed some really loud squeeing. In fact, my squees scared my poor one year old so much that his little face folded in on itself as if my fit of insanity was the manifestation of one of his greatest fears (I wonder if he worries about my mental state often – hmmm…). Then he started wailing. This promptly made me feel horrible so I scooped him up and we danced around the room. He laughed and I felt better.
2. Dance around the room – see above.
3. Send an email to friends, call friends, stop random people on the street to spread your good news, etc. - Frankly, it was near impossible to not let my relief out. I rambled; I babbled; I otherwise made a complete fool of myself. My writerly friends of course smiled and nudged each other (through cyber-space), equally proud of me and happy for me, undoubtedly rolling their eyes at my silliness, but all aware of what a big accomplishment it is. My real life friends, though happy for me, don’t get the depth and breadth of such a goal achieved but they were happy I was happy and that’s all I needed.
4. Go out to dinner – My hubby and I went out to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner as a joint anniversary/book finishing celebration. I had something for dinner, Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake for dessert (you didn’t really care what I had for dinner, did you? I figured just the dessert detail would be enough), and one strawberry Ketel One Martini (I’m a cheap date *sigh*). He toasted me twice, we held hands, and he told me repeatedly how proud he was of my accomplishment and how lucky he was to be married to me. *Sappy girl sigh.* I can leave my characters’ romance behind as long as my hubby is my forever hero.
5. Read – On my way home from dinner Saturday, we stopped at Borders and I picked up Twilight. I finished it Sunday night and stopped to get New Moon and Eclipse. I finished Eclipse last night. I’ve missed reading. I completely hibernated for a couple of days. It was wonderful. I think the key here though was not to read any historicals. I do have revisions coming up.
6. Avoid revising – This sounds like such an easy one, doesn’t it? I mean, I just spent forever with my characters. They’ve kept me awake for months, more so in the last two-ish weeks of writing, and I should want to leave them alone. I shouldn’t want to mess with them until I force myself. But the urge to revise is really strong. I even started messing around on Friday, though it was a huge mistake. I realized though, that I was getting twisted up. I think I’m so exhausted with it that I need to take a break for a couple weeks and then try to read it with some fresh eyes. So, a week and a half from now I’m going to start to read it through.
7. Write a query letter – Ugh. I repeat… UGH. I started this process a couple months ago and it’s no easy task. Condensing your huge work, even after it’s finished, into a few short lines meant to entice. Ugh. Still working on this. In bits and pieces. Have lots of time.
8. Write my synopsis letter – Quadruple UGH. While the query letter is hard, this is just frustrating. Every sentence needs to be concise. I figure I’m not sweating it yet. I mess with it now and again and assume that once my revisions are done, this will clarify as well
9. Try not to drown in the sea of denial that keeps my query and synopsis apprehension at bay - *blinking.* What denial?
10. Start my next story – In this case, I had to ask what Nora would do. And that’s right, people, she doesn’t take a long vacation. So, I’ve started brainstorming. This part is fun, only requires note-taking, and just happens as I putter about in my life.
If you’ve finished a book, what did you do? If you haven’t, what would you do? Any advice for a newbie finisher? Anyone ever had the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory? I’m telling you, yum.
Aside: A giant, wet, slobbery fangirl hug to all my cyber romance writer friends who have stood by offering support when I felt nervous, threatening harm when I needed prodding, and generally being awesome in every way. Thanks to all of you, I’m forever grateful for your help.
Oh, and I absolutely can't wait for Breaking Dawn or this movie. I am obsessed. At least this week.
Books by the Crew
38 comments:
Marn, CONGRATS ON FINISHING WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO
I'm eagerly awaiting AD too... I preordered it and everything!
one of my fav things to do after finishing a story or a round of edits is reading a good chunk of books.
Do not revise... best advice you will ever get right there! I did on my first WIP... big mistake. BIG mistake... you are still married to the wip you can't see shit that needs changing.
Marn, the synopsis gets easier... so does the query. It's just trudging through the first one that is so damn discouraging.
Congratulations on finishing your first novel Marnee!
Now I guess I'll really have to read Twilight after all what I've heard about it....
Never tasted the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake....or any other kind...no Cheesecake Factory here....If you want a cheesecake, you have to slave away in the kitchen first.... I have a recipe though...maybe I should give it a shot.
Yay Marnee! Yay yay yay!
The first time I finished, I cried, but no one really knew I was writing. I've finished a few things since, and I am very low key. And I try not to query until some time has gone by and I can revise. I go right back to work, too. I've usually cheated on my ms and have started something else when I got blocked or desperate, LOL.
HUZZAH!!!!! WHOOT! WHOOT! WHOOT!
Marnee - I am SOOOOOOOOOO proud of you. First of all, you've done something I cannot do. *ducks flying rum bottle* Let me correct that. Something I haven't done YET. AND it's historical (which is TOUGH!) and it is MAGICAL (in more ways than one!) and you're just the sweetest dang person I know!
I can't wait to read the entire thing. But most of all, I can't wait until we are celebrating your call story. LOL! I'm with you on the squeeing, dancing around the room, and I'm always willing to eat cheesecake (my sympathies, Stef!) in your honor. Though I'll stick with the chocolate mousse cheesecake. :)
Kudos to the hubby for his support! Give that man a big old pirate smooch from the rest of us.
OMG OMG OMG OMG! How in the hell did I miss this achievement!!??!! OMG!!
*squeeing around the room* OMG !! Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!!
HUZZAH!! BREAK OUT THE RUM, HOTTIES, DON'T YOU SEE THERE'S A PARTY HAPPENING (*sotto whisper* It's so HARD to find good help these days *oogling a strapping dark-haired rogue*)
Yeah, I'm with Terri, I'm loving the hubby support right now. Good Hubby Support is even harder to find than regular hired help (*aside* GET A MOVE ON, HOTTIES! WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS, A CRUISE SHIP? SHEESH.)
What did I do when I finished my book? When I finished GOGU, it was rather anti-climatic because it felt RUSHED and not very good...I just wasn't very happy with that ending. I felt there needed to be another chapter of them being happy and playful and NOT IN A HOSPITAL. But technically I was finished...so... *shrugs*
When I finished Redemption (Lucifer's story, originally), I was rather giddy. *LOL* I kinda remember hurrying through the last few chapters...I had fun with those; and then when I got to the end-end, where they realize he's back on earth and she is too, I had fun with making up this really fun wedding. (Since, you know, all good romance novels end with a betrothal or wedding, right?)
And Marn, I'm a total Twilight addict. We must get together.
CONGRATS, MARNEE!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
There is absolutely nothing like your first! LOL
I'm going to second what Maggie said...wait. Wait until you've got it in perfect tip-top shape before you even think about querying.
I tend to take a bit of a break and then jump back into writing.
When I finished I gushed for a long time to Mary and Stephanie, I told my family, and I felt elation like nothing else. And I did that happy dance you mentioned and blogged about it. But I didn't do anything huge to commemorate the event.
Congrat, Marnee! I'm so proud of you!!!
Oh Congratulations, Marnee!
You finish your novel!
What a great accomplishment… what a great feeling it must be... what a great dessert…. Uhh… where was I? Oh yah, CONGRADULATIONS!
Thanks everyone!! *blushing madly*
Tiff - I think feeling married to it still is definitely an appropriate description. I think if I'd dove in too far, I would have just felt like I was drowning in it. I think I'll probably read it through without adjusting just to get the flavor initially and then work into the details slowly. It almost feels as big as writing it the first time.
Stef - making cheesecake?! I haven't attempted but it just seems so touchy. I like cooking when it's harder to mess it up. Souffles?! Forget about it. And I can't say enough about Twilight. I thought it was sweet. I've been debating reading her adult novel too, The Host.
Maggie - I actually didn't cheat on my MS at all. Though now I almost wish I had. Getting into the brainstorming process again feels so strange!!
Ter - you're making me blush worse. You're too sweet with your praise too. I'm sure you're going to finish as soon as you decide to attack it with your usual tenacity. It's only a matter of when, hon. Then I'll be squeeing with you. :)
Sin - Thanks hon!! I appreciate that. And we do need to chat about Twilight. Hope you're hanging in with your crazy life. :)
CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS! SO EXCITING!
Thus far I'm living vicariously through the rest of you who are completing your novels. I'd guess that I'd do at least 9/10 of the things on your list (maybe not quite in the same way, but you get my drift!).
No chococolate coconut cream for me but I need to add it to my list! I'm a fan of the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. :)
Hellion - I absolutely agree about the hotties. We need a take charge sort of hottie to keep track of the rest of the hotties. They are pretty though, aren't they? *pausing to ogle a lingering hottie with a wink*
And of course there needs to be a betrothal or wedding. Or in my case, a new baby. It fit though, I swear. It isn't just a gratuitous baby.
Ely - Thank you!! I absolutely will wait until I've revised my face off to query. Probably early fall, I figured I'd spend late August/early September revising.
Any suggestions on how long to wait those of you who've finished and done this before?
Thanks Kelly! I did gush and happy dance! :) And you should go to dinner, even now! Any excuse for cheesecake (or adequate chocolate dessert) is a good excuse.
Julie - The cheesecake was divine. I may have to get it again soon, just because. *heavenly sigh* And thank you!
Steph - it's only a matter of time 'til you join us too! I'm sure of it. :) And the raspbery decadence you mention, I'm on board. :)
WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!! OMG, Marnee that is such awesome news!
At the top of my list would be alcohol and chocolate looks like you got that covered! Break out the bubbly and have a glass on me! On the run... will check back later! Hugs and big congrats again!
Give it six months. That's what Anna Campbell told me, and by God, I wish I had listened to her the first time around.
You're not even going be ready to revise until three months from now, because only then will you have distance from the manuscript and will be able to see the problems. And sometimes it takes longer than that.
But my advice, don't query until 2009. Yeah, it seems so long away but trust me, you want your manuscript polished, with virtually no errors, before you send it off to any agents. Enter your manuscript in contests, perhaps even the Golden Heart but do not send it to anyone until 2009.
But that's just my opinion, take it or leave it.
Thanks Irish!! alcohol and chocolate, CHECK!! LOL!!
Ely - I was afraid you would say that. I figured I'd put off revisions as long as I can. The stupid book keeps calling for me. Annoying. We'll see. I think if I get going on the next one, maybe I'll get distracted enough. :)
Marnee: I'm not against babies. I love holding and cooing at babies...I just don't like SECRET babies, because, they're not exactly SECRETIVE creatures are they? What with the crying and giggling and burping and pooing...I mean, you can hear and smell them a mile away. Or having a reunite story and about halfway through, you discover the 10 year old kid is actually THEIR baby and she never told him because they had a misunderstanding. Ugh.
Your baby is a perfect way to celebrate an ending.
Marn, Ely is so telling the full truth. Move on to the next story while this one sits. Best thing you can do for yourself. I put UD away when I finished it and still haven't touched it because I know I can't give it justice if my head is still all about those characters.
And I will put Jinan away for at least one to two months before I touch it again. Clear your head of the story so you can have a fresh look. In the meantime learn more as a writer, by writing or plotting other stuff.
Tiff - rats, you too!? LOL!! I know that's what I should do. I will wait as long as it takes to clear this all out of my head. I'm starting to get going on the next one, so hopefully it'll get going and I can just stop when I run out of steam and revise. *fingers crossed*
And thank you Hellion! It's actually funny, so that's what I wanted, something light at the end.
Honestly, Marn...I'm speaking from personal experience about waiting to query. I rushed into it when I first finished, and I learned the hard way. Everyone loves their newly written manuscript when it's all done and finished, but the this is what it boils down to: the publishing business is HARD to break into. HARD. Are you really going to ruin your chances by sending out a manuscript that has just been finished?
Think how long and how hard you worked on your manuscript so far.
There is no sense of rushing. Agents and publishers will still be around months from now; get your baby in the best shape possible.
But since I don't listen well to people and when I set my mind to do something, you can talk to me until you're blue in the face but I'm still going to do what I want to do...so honestly, it's really your decision.
But I strongly advise you on not jumping the gun in this situation.
Just enjoy the glow that you finished your manuscript. Move on to the next. And then revise or edit the first.
Trust me on this.
Ely - Thank you for the advice.
Actually, I completely understand what you guys are saying. I wouldn't query or send out my MS the way it looks right now. It needs lots of work, I am not unaware of how rough it is.
It's just hard to be patient sometimes.
Gratuitous baby. LOL! That's funny. Yeah, secret babies are what bother me. When the heroine chooses not to tell the hero, I don't care the reasons, unless it was because the hero would kill her or the baby - and then he wouldn't be a hero so clearly this would not be the case - it actually ticks me off.
I'll back up the wait a while group. In fact, the more I read lately, the more I think contests can be a really good thing. But only once you've really revised it into shape. Maybe not publish tomorrow shape, as the feedback from the contests can help get you there, but respectible shape.
And I know you wenches are not criticizing my Hotties. *reaches for a bottle of Vodka* How can you possible find anything wrong with my boys?
LOL! No secret babies for me. This is their first baby in the epilogue. It gets on my nerves when people don't know about babies too.
I actually should get back some feedback from the contest I entered last month soon. Hopefully that'll help. I am sure there are other contests I can enter coming up soon too. I'll have to check it out.
And the hotties are, well, hot, Ter. No worries.
You need info on contests, let me know. I get info on them constantly.
It's not that your hotties aren't hot...they clearly are...they're just not exactly...biddable.
They are if you touch the right spot. ;)
You know Marnee, I didn't mean to sound condescending or patronizing in my last post. So, I'm really sorry if I came across like that. I just know what I went through and how much I wish I had listened to Anna and others...but I learned a lot at the same time. I just wouldn't wish that same experience on the world to anyone, even my worst enemy.
Well, okay, I lied. Maybe I would wish it on my worst enemy which right now is this one hundred pounds that I don't need hanging off my frame. Seriously, why couldn't I be rail-thin and have that metabolism that is fast? Why must I gain twenty pounds just looking at food? LOL
But you know, you have to go with your gut and what is right for you. Personally, I'd make sure your 50 pages are polished and your synopsis and enter it in Golden Heart. That's one contest where finalling is more important than winning.
Jesus, there I go again with my know-it-all attitude. See, Marnee, this is why my friends exist on one hand alone. *g*
Good grief, Ely! You weren't condescending at all! I absolutely didn't think that at all.
I'm sorry if my tone seemed less than exuberant. It wasn't that I was upset; it was resignation. I was actually hoping to hear someone tell me it was ok to jump back in so I could qualify opening that file up and getting started. Alas, you all are much wiser than that and didn't play into my eagerness. I'm glad to have friends like you all. :)
I knew you were just hoping to help me out and speaking from experience. I'm definitely not foolish enough to turn away from the advice of others.
I think it's just so hard to step away for long. I'm already dying to polish it up, I just know it's not going to go as well if I try to do it now.
You're so silly. :) Not know it all at all. Just direct to the point. Straightforward, it's a good trait.
Marnee, see you're 1,000 times smarter than I am. Even with the advice of others, I didn't listen.
I'm stubborn to a fault. My parents have often said that I would cut off my nose to spite my face, or whatever that saying is. LOL.
Just so you know, if you need another read on your finished mss, I'd be more than happy to read it for you.
I absolutely appreciate that. :)
Congrats Marnee on finishing!! Ain't it grand! You are doing a great job and continue to do so. I'll join the 'wait before you touch it or send it out camp'. Trust me on this one. I'm still reworking mine because when I finished it last year it was way too raw. Lesson learned.
Congratulations, once again! Now go have another dessert!
Marnee, Let me add my Congrats! This is a huge milestone which many writers never reach. I love your dh's response. Most guys don't know how lucky they are to have an imaginative woman. *winks* I'm sorry to say I agree with everyone about waiting. Start your next book so those characters are in your head and heart. You need some distance. The contest advice is sound. I love contests, especially if you can final and get read by an editor you want to sell to. BTW, I don't eat coconut anything, but our crit group, CORE, goes to Cheesecake Factory every month. Talk about decadent. :) I'm a fan of the Chocolate Raspberry, the Godiva, and the Tuxedo. Yum.
Oh, and I loved Twilight and am eager for the movie. I loved the actor who's playing Edward (Robert Pattison?) as Cedric Diggory. I'm reading New Moon now.
Conspicuously absent from this list: sent the next chapter to my crit group.
We're dying here!
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