Some authors celebrate when they’ve finished a project. They go out to dinner, buy themselves something, take time off just to relax. Others spend time catching up on things around the house that had to be ignored while spending every waking moment in front of the computer. Or spending more time with friends and family, who may also have felt left out more than an author would like.
I have no specific ritual when I finish a project, but I’ve done all of the above at one time or another. And while part of me is glad to have completed another story, another part really hates endings. I have to say good-bye to characters I’ve grown comfortable with.
The story really is over, though. I no longer have them filling my head with new scenes. I may mull over something that’s already written and think of a new angle, some new element that needs to be included, if it’s not too late to work in. But once a book is submitted, particularly after revisions are done, I rarely have those characters dancing around in my head any more. In fact, there have been times a reader might mention a character name or some aspect of one of my previously published books and for a moment I have trouble recalling what they’re referring to.
After I’ve finished something my mind is usually on my next project. It’s just what I do; I have current stories in my head almost all of the time.
After a project is finished I also immerse myself in reading, which I’ll talk more about on Monday.
My thought today is about celebrating the end of a book. Not that where I’m at today really is “THE END.” After my editors have a chance to read through my revisions, I’ll still have another round of edits, which will probably be less time consuming for me. My editors and I also have to discuss a new title and options for cover art. Lots of fun ahead!
But for now I’m going to enjoy the satisfaction of having closed another book – by jumping into someone else’s. Ah, the joy of reading. That’s where I’ll be for the next few days, living in worlds other authors have created.
I’m curious, how long did this process take, start to finish? When did you first start working on this story?
Hi, Sarah,
I like to allow nine months to write a book — kind of like having a baby, you know? Only the delivery is a lot more pleasant. 🙂
If I didn’t have a lot of interruptions (which is impossible to predict) I could probably get a book done in 6 or 7 months, depending on how much of my research is already done.
I think this one took about 8 months all together, because much of my research was either done or at my fingertips.