Welcome to this week’s Marketing for Romance Writers 52-week Blog Challenge entitled, How I Celebrate Completing My Manuscript. “Complete” could have several different interpretations to an author. But since the term manuscript is used, and not book, I’m considering this topic as referencing the first draft. Although that doesn’t mean the manuscript is complete. There are still a whole lot of steps to take before that manuscript is done.
The Birth of a Story
Before I started writing I had no idea how much was involved in creating a story from start to finish. I thought the author just…
Sat down and wrote the story, did a little editing, got a cover and off it went into the world. (Okay I’m summarizing this a little since this isn’t the focus of this post.)
Of course, each author has a different process of getting their stories on the page, but my writing process goes something like this:
- Get an idea for a story
- Mull over it for an indefinite amount of time and write notes in odd places
- Gather all the sticky notes, tablet paper and notes from on my phone
- Write the story over an undetermined amount of time (quicker if it’s #NaNoWri month)
- Let the manuscript fester on the computer while it nags me and accuses me of deserting the characters
- Return to the manuscript to edit it—often pleasantly surprised and horrified at the same time
- Send the manuscript to my editor (or first pitch the story to her)
If the Manuscript is Accepted Then…
- Do about three more rounds of edits
- Work on the blurb, the tagline, the cover information etc. etc.
- And so much more…
Sometimes it seems like an eternity to transform an idea, and then a manuscript, into a story. The entire time I’m writing and editing, my characters are nagging at me. They won’t rest until I write “the end.”
Once the #story is “done” and I’ve finally freed the characters from the confines of my mind, they become quiet. Share on XQuiet Reflection
Therefore, completing the initial draft of my manuscript is more of a personal accomplishment. It fills me with an inner peace, and a little sadness, as I release the characters to the page.
Until that time it often feels as if I’m carrying many stories around with me, which can sometimes be a little maddening. Hence the calm after the storm as silence cocoons my thoughts.
Follow the Hop
I’m sure if you check out what the other authors have to say, you might discover some fabulous ways to celebrate the completion of a manuscript.
Now if I was discussing the release of a “book baby” it would be a much bigger party that just might include some wine or tequila.
I, too, took the term “manuscript” to mean “before the editor gets her hands on it.”
Quiet reflection is good. I’m still learning my process when it comes to after the end with letting it rest, but I’m learning it’s a good thing to take at least a day or two to let it be before starting edits, prior to getting it to an editor.