Well, I typed the final page of my work-in-progress tonight: Alma the Elder.
It came in at 91,000 words--about 350 pages. I tried to make it shorter, but it kept going, and going.
So now my task is to go through the edits that my critique group has given me on the first 100 or so pages, then take a couple of days off from anything Alma-ish. Then I'll do a full read on the computer and fill in holes that I left. After that, I'll print it off and read it on hard copy--then onto the readers. I'll do edits with the reader feedback (I think I need a bullet list here). I'm hoping to submit this book before Thanksgiving.
The celebration doesn't come yet . . . for me that comes when I submit the thing--then it's really a load off. And of course when it's accepted by the publisher (crossing fingers).
But I am excited (although if you are a writer, you know that the work is JUST beginning) to have the first draft done.
8 comments:
Whenever I do a research paper for class it seems that all I ever do is edit and send it back, end it and send it back. I can't imagine what you go through.
Meg
Congrats! One big hurdle out of the way.
VERY exciting, Heather! It's HUGE, actually, to finish the first draft. Yeah, you still have a ton of work ahead, but this is a great place to be. Celebrate! Then celebrate some more when you turn the thing in.
I'm happy dancing for ya! :)
YAY Heather!!! Congratulations!
That is no little thing! Congratulations!
I am totally sick with envy but really, truly happy for you that you've done what I think is the hardest part. Good, good job on getting that first draft finished! I am so amazed. I remember when you said you started it. And the time since the last jealous post I made to you has seen me add maybe 2,000 words to my WIP.
Ugh. So, so jealous that you have the fortitude to hammer it out. I've got to resurrect mine! (The fortitude, that is. And a bigger hammer).
Hugs and congrats, and I do mean it!
Thanks everyone.
Meg--yeah the editing process never really ends until the book is at press :)
Nancy--you are funny. I just decided this year that I wanted to enjoy the holidays a little more than last year when I turned in my book on December 23rd.
Congratulations! I'll still do the happy dance for you now--and again when you submit it. Oh, and once more when it's accepted.
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