I'm Finished!
August 23, 2010
I FINISHED MY NOVEL!
It's like finishing a snail race; a slow drawn out process but I finally made it to the end! I even left a slimy trail to prove it. I didn't quiet make it to the 85K mark (79,700) but I have so much to rewrite, edit and clean up I'm not worried about my word count. And the funny thing, my story has changed SO much from when I first started writing it. Has that happened to you?
Confession time: The last chapter is super short with about three or four notes made in the middle. So I'll have to write it out later but I need to go back and do some clean up so I can more clearly see how the last chapter will pan out. Also, I will probably write an Epilogue later but I want to sharpen up my story before I write it. Having a cleaner story will make my Epilogue more meaningful.
Now, how do I edit my first draft?
First I need to send my critique parter the next chapter to review. We took the summer off critiquing each other's work so we have to get back into the swing of things.
Second, I think I'll tackle an overall outline. Yeah, I'm a pantser so outlining before I start is impossible. Outlines cramp my writing style. I end up working toward an outline and my story lags. Yes that means twice the work on revising but hey, you gotta do what works for you.
Also later this week, I will have another SCBWI post up about Literary Authors.
15 comments
Congrats!! Must be such a great feeling :)
ReplyDeleteWay to go!!!! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteWooohooo!! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI never doubted you, sweeness!! ***MUAH!!!*** Congratulations :D
ReplyDeleteWoot! Congrats! Great snail pix, btw!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a huge accomplishment! Good luck with the rewrites.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so freaking awesome! Thanks for the love and congrats. I'm supposed to be editing chapter nine to get it to Diana, sorry Di, but ideas for a new chapter two infected me and I had to get all those thoughts out. It feels good to be finished.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I finished my first draft a few weeks ago and it's a great feeling.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! It's always a great feeling to finish a story.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Dana.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the editing.
It must feel amazing to type that last sentence!
Congratulations!!! Way to go!!!
ReplyDeleteMy process is kind of similar. I write a first draft, then I go back through and rewrite the entire book all over again from scratch, without looking at the original. And at that point, it is definitely a different book than it started out as! SO much fun though! Enjoy your rewrites and revisions!
Congratulations!!! That's super exciting! Take some time to enjoy and celebrate!
ReplyDeleteYay. Congrats. My wips leave slimy trails as well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I work a similar way; write the first draft without an outline, and then do the outline afterwards. Lets things evolve more freely. Hope you have fun with the revision process.
ReplyDeleteLove hearing from my friends.♥