Writing “THE END”
I was reading an article earlier about how different authors felt when they finished writing a book. I started thinking about my own reaction when I finish writing a book.
There are two kinds of finished IMHO. There’s finished with the draft that goes off to the editor and then there’s *finished* as in it’s going to press. I don’t generally get all angst-y over my drafts that go to my editor anymore. Probably because we work in sync and I will give him the first half while I’m finishing up my final pass on the second half. I think this has to do with the fact that my mind is constantly churning out stories and ideas and thoughts that go into my work. So by the time a book hits that *finished* state – I’ve already moved on to the next book.
Not in an assembly line kind of way, but rather an excited I can’t wait to really immerse myself in a new project! kind of way. You see, as a writer you have to remember that by the time I’ve finished a book, I’ve read it over at least twenty times (if not more). I’ve been living and breathing that same manuscript for months. In some cases, the mind can go numb. So when that manuscript that you’ve been laboring over for months is finally at a point where the editor says, “Okay, let’s send it to press.” there’s this overwhelming sense of relief.
Do I worry about the manuscript going out into the world and how people will react to the book? Yes. Always. But if I sat and dwelt on it I’d never write another word. I’m one of those authors who, once a book is done, it’s done. I try not to read my own books after they’re published (not a hard thing to avoid). Why? Because then my internal editor kicks in and I guarantee you I will find ways I could have made the story better and things I could have said better. I will find the unfortunate typos (usually extra words in my case) my editor missed. This only causes edit-forever-syndrome and depresses me and quite frankly – I don’t have time to be depressed because depression = no writing.
The End.
PS> Thanks for reading! Have a great Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and if you aren’t raptured – I’ll see you Sunday or Monday.
🙂