So, as many of you already know, I finished my book twelve days ago (YAY), but I have yet to fully enjoy or believe that I have achieved such a thing. When I wrote the words “THE END,” I remember thinking “Is it really over?” There weren’t loud cheers, I didn’t dance around the living room and there weren’t even tears…I was exhausted. That night, I went to bed feeling complete, I was happy and I slept pretty well, only because my characters now had their own lives to live. However, the next morning was a complete different story. I woke up with a crick in my neck and my back and neck were so sore, that I could barely move. “My book is horrible! Everything has to be changed,” I told my husband as he got ready for work, and I sat there panicking! He simply hugged me and said, that I’m probably right, but you’ve done it, and have achieved your goal. I hugged him back with a slight chuckle, knowing he was right, and shortly after that, he left. That whole day, I wanted and tried my best to be really proud of myself, to maybe have that really big cry, out of completely joy, and to feel complete. It didn’t happen that day, or the day after. My neck was still sore on Friday and my husband surprised me with my sister who had come in town, and the next night, a surprise party was thrown for my 30th! Several people at the party knew I had finished the book and kept asking me about it, but what could I tell them? I really couldn’t say anything about how excited I was, because I hadn’t experienced any type of emotion.
And still, to this day, I still don’t know what it’s like to have that glorifying moment. My neck and back are still aching, and I’m literally exhausted! It is my first day to get back to any kind of writing since I finished my book, and I’m thankful for allowing myself to take that time off, but I feel like I’m waiting for Mr. Writer’s Block to leave. (Is that a sign to start editing Book #1 and start Book #2?)
Here is an article that I found about the emotional sides after finishing a book.
In the end, I am very happy that I have completed something so wonderful. I mean, how many people can say, “I have written a book!”
I can empathize…
I finished writing my book back in September ’10.
It went to the editor and a special Review board. I also had many people supplying feedback.
I finished final revisions a few weeks ago and finally admitted I had a final manuscript the other day.
I publish in May.
The most satisfying feelings were when I’d finished writing my first clean-draft and sent to the editor and the other day when I knew I had a final manuscript.
Elation?
No, just a deep satisfaction.
I still face the daily frazzling of my brain with all the pre-publication promotion that will never end but merely morph into post-publication promotion…
Maybe when the book nets me a few tens of thousands of dollars I’ll be ecstatic 🙂
Thanks! I’m so glad that someone can empathize! The journey of writing is a never ending one, but I love it! 🙂
Hi Chauncey,
Even when you’re finished you’re never really finished. There’s the editing the submission, feedback from the editor/agent to make changes. Thank goodness we can celebrate the milestone of completing the manuscript, otherwise we might never write another book. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Elke! I am just now beginning to see what you me about being never finished — draft after draft…after draft! 🙂