Only those that dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly - Robert F. Kennedy
A few days ago I finished the first draft of my novel. It's time to set it aside for awhile and let it cool, while I collect comments and suggestions from my amazing critique group.
As you all know, finishing a novel is a monumental task. The moment should be savored and appreciated. How did I celebrate this accomplishment? I cleaned my neglected house. Yes, that's how I roll.
How ugly will my revisions be? I don't know yet. I never looked back while I was writing, so draft #2 will be interesting. But as James Michener said, "I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter."
How do you celebrate once you've finished a manuscript? Do you open a bottle of bubbly? Do you dine at a fancy restaurant? Do you imagine the millions you'll earn from the movie rights? Please share so I can live vicariously through my exciting blogger buddies.
Did you read Tahereh's guest post about The Nine Stages of Dating a Novel? From lust to infidelity to love, it's all in there!
photo credit: google images
CONGRATS on "The End"! I'm sorry to say you won't be able to live vicariously through me...I do much of the same thing you do, actually. I take that afternoon/evening to smile all I want, skipping around the house like my three year old. Maybe have a fat piece of cake or go out to dinner. Sprinkle in some laundry here or there. Then the next morning I wake up and dive into edits.
ReplyDeleteNow comes the fun part! Making that manuscript shine! Can't wait to see YOUR cover. ;)
Mani/pedi.
ReplyDeleteI never tell anyone anymore when I finish a first draft. I always get asked "Ooo can I read it?" Then I cringe and am brought back to the realty that editing sucks.
Just enjoy it as long as possible, then get down to the nitty gritty.
Congrats on finishing the first draft!
woohoo, congrats on finishing the monumental task, Juls :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats first of all! I usually sit back and relax for a couple of days, rather than diving into editing or anything. I also find it very comforting when I send it off and it's finally in the hands of beta testers. Ah, the pre-querying process is so much more fun than the hunt for the elusive agent! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWow, deep breath, aaaahhhh! Congrats, you need to celebrate! Me, I haven't written a novel, yet, I do have 5 in my head though. I would
ReplyDeletego to a movie or go get dinner or buy myself an
arty type gift over at Etsy.com a OOAK special symbolic token, representing your novel~ I would wear his charm, token on a chain. Go
do something special for YOU!!!
First, I'm now your NaNo buddy.
ReplyDeleteSecond, congrats! You finished your book! Yaaaah!
Third, what do I do? I buy myself a book to read as a gift or splurge on a starbuck's coffee.
See you later, NaNo buddy!
CD
Congrats Julie! I can't wait to read it one day. For how often I read a book, it'll be in 20 years when the kids are out of the house. haha
ReplyDeleteAs far as you cleaning your house to celebrate, are you nuts????!!! But, whatever floats your boat!
Congrats on finishing! I read, which I had badly neglected while in the trenches writing.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing the first draft! That's such a great accomplishment. :)
ReplyDeleteYay, Julie, that's fantastic. Congratulations. I don't really have a celebration routine. Just sit back and enjoy the freedom of not being shackled to my manuscript for a few days. :) Yes, I clean my house, too. I'm a tidal wave writer, so the house does look pretty bad after I've finished with a draft. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy celebrating!
Amy
Yay on finishing the first draft. People who think writing the novel is the hard part have never gone through revisions. My way to celebrate? I turn off the computer and read.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft! When I'm finished with a project, I usually spend some time cleaning up my Word files, getting everything in order with my research, notes, that sort of thing. It all seems to get away from me when I'm in the thick of writing, so there's always something to organize.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS on completing your novel. Like exams it can seem like a huge relief, exciting and possibly an anti climax so I agree it's important to mark it in some way with a celebration. A well deserved treat.Well done! :O)
ReplyDeleteYEAH YEAH!!!! I ususally don't do anything because I'm not really done
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! The End is such a wonderful feeling. I throw my hands in the air, hoot and holler, and take a day to just do nothing. :)
ReplyDeleteHuge congrats! That's awesome :)
ReplyDeleteI tend to celebrate by spending an entire weekend with my family!
Congratulations! Sounds like you're all warmed up to do NaNoWriMo now. :)
ReplyDeleteAt least go have a pumpkin latte or something. I know, a fancy gourmet cupcake. That's it!
I did what KarenG suggested and came over to meet you!!!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I add my congratulations to everyone else's!
When my editor told me she thought my last draft would probably be my last before publication, I first felt a wonderful sense of satisfaction, even though I knew that this is only one phase of the whole process of publication and marketing. Ah well. I think it is all great fun- and yes, I also cleaned my house, AND called a few of my closest friends to tell them the news, AND I thought of all the books I want to read!!
Ann
Congratulations, Julie! Celebrate? No, but I gather a collection of colored pens, post-its and paper clips and get ready to do my revision.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing! The best words to type are "The End". I usually take the rest of the day off. Then it's back to work (usually on a different project, I like to let my MSs sit a little before editing)
ReplyDeleteWow! Thats great news Julie. "The End" are two of my most favourite words. Take a couple of days off: enjoy with family and friends and indulge yourself. After that it will be draft 2.
ReplyDeleteYay, congrats on being done! When I finish a project, I usually catch up on all the things I've been putting off (cleaning is certainly one of them).
ReplyDeleteJust feel relieved and try to shut out the thought of all those months of editing ahead!
ReplyDeleteI run in the woods alone...desperate to feel a recharge....always come home raring to go again.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on "THE END"!! It's a great feeling--I really like revision, so I'm envious. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you aren't a good writer - I can't even imagine the brilliance of your re-writes. DId that come out right? It was a compliment. :P Your "rough draft" is so far amazing. And we should definitely celebrate. Notice the "we" there? Yeah, I can live vicariously.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I usually take the time to read books on my tbr pile and most likely should clean my house. Enjoy the cooling off period!
ReplyDeleteI don't celebrate as much as breathe a sigh of relief and wonder why I found it so hard :) (a little like giving birth?) But then I remember it all too well this week because I'm working on a WIP with hours to go and wondering if I'll ever finish.
ReplyDeleteYay for finishing - congrats! But cleaning the house? BOOOO!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I used to celebrate. But now... I just set it aside, take a deep breath, and try to forget about it for a few weeks until I come back for revisions!
I celebrate by telling everyone I know. COngrats to you!!!! Can't wait to hear when you start to query it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. I, unfortunately, have no advice because I can't seem to finish my first draft. Good luck with the revisions.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting to THE END. I used to celebrate when I finished a book. A little alcohol, a little cheesecake, a lot of chocolate and perhaps buying myself some books. After six years, though, there have been too many THE ENDs without a 'got an agent'. I wish I felt the same thrill but now I just forge into the next stage without any fanfare. Enjoy yourself and have a brownie sundae on me. =o)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your first draft! I celebrate by letting myself and my creativity relax. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteWow. Imagine: I have never celebrated! (Other than by breathing a really big sigh of relief.) But that is a great idea! Funny, I always thought I'd celebrate the day I got published. Then I decided to launch my novel on a blog, and an author friend hosted a celebration. Launching it as a blog was a sort of celebration, I suppose. But that I didn't think of it that way... Until now. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - congratulations on a major accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I celebrate by catching up on the things I've been neglecting - the house, reading, baking, school forms, etc. It may not sound exciting, but it feels pretty good when I've been behind on that stuff for a while.
congrats julie!! you deserve to crack open a bottle of bubbly!
ReplyDeletei think i'd opt for dinner at a favorite restaurant.......but got to finish that m/s first!! ;-)
Congratulations! Such a wonderful feeling. I didn't do anything exciting. Just smile for 3 days straight. :D
ReplyDeleteHey Julie. I honestly thought I'd followed your blog some time back. I was wrong! I'm now following...
ReplyDeleteI just joined the NaNoWriMo...I'm hoping to finish my very first novel. Probably, I'll cry. Then, I'll share it with someone. And all the while, I'll probably just hold on to the feeling for a while, like my own private sun, shining through to the innermost darkness....Congratulations on the completion!