Hi, guys!
If you follow me on social media, you know that, as of a couple days ago, I finished writing Allmother Rising! This one took just under 4 and a half months (126 days, but short ass February fucked up the months.) It’s freaking amazing to have another book under my belt.
But the thing with finishing a first draft is that…there’s the initial lull of “what now?” that follows (quite similar to a book hangover when reading) and then there’s all the editing and the formatting and the cover design and then the metadata and the copyright and all that other stuff that needs done next.
But.
It’s important to take a second to appreciate the gravity of what’s just been accomplished, whether it’s your first book or your thirtieth book.
Yes, there is a lot of work to be done, still.
But people, events, worlds (if you write fantasy or science fiction) have just been created out of literal thin air. Synapses fired in your brain, and you moved your fingers over a keyboard, and magically, ideas and entire fictional lives exist.
And that is a magnificent thing deserving of celebration.
Normally, whenever I finish a book, my husband and I go out to eat to celebrate. I’m not sure if you’ve taken a look at the world lately, but that isn’t an option.
So, a massive, juicy grilled steak, grilled corn on the cob, and asparagus with a cold can of soda and Community playing on tv was the celebration this time around.
But that’s me.
I’m a major fan of red meat, specifically steak, so that’s a pretty special thing for me.
You can have cake or treat yourself to a new book. Buy yourself something special or take an extra long bubble bath (with salts and candles and bath bombs galore).
The point is, take a second to appreciate what you’ve accomplished. Look at what you’ve done and give yourself credit for it.
Celebrate where you’re at and how far you’ve come, regardless of how far you still have to go.
Because you’re doing things. And, to paraphrase John Mulaney, it’s so much easier to not do things.
For all of you out there kicking ass during Camp NaNoWriMo, celebrate the fact that you’re doing something with your time that most people only ever talk about. Everyone says they want to write a book, many say they could write a book if they ever had the time (which frustrates me to no end, and I did a whole blog about having time, link below if you’re interested).
But you’re actually doing it.
You’re not just talk. You’re not a hack or a poser.
You’re writing a goddamn book.
Soak it in. Really appreciate that. Because it’s huge.
Celebrate this, you magnificent do-er of things.
Keep reading. Keep writing.
Later.
(Ignore the progress updates in the linked blog below, because both those books are already published. Lol.)