I finished the new book today.

More accurately, I finished the first draft of the new book today.  Typically, there's another two to three months' worth of editing to do before it's ready for submission, but it still feels like a big occasion.  And I'm pretty pleased with it.  Wish it luck.

It's a special occasion, isn't it?  Even if you make major changes later during editing.  You can pick up that wodge of pages and know you're holding something which didn't even exist a few months ago.  That's a special feeling.

Not everyone can do it, although many think they can

You're a month ahead of me. I seem to be struggling to reach the finish post, but reach it we do. Great news, Jo.

H3K

Thanks, guys.  It's nice having people to celebrate with who understand that it's a milestone.

Hang on in there, Hilly - you're on the downhill slope, the finishing line will come up quicker than you think now.

Then we can do it all over again!

Congrats, Jo. A significant and elusive milestone. Like Hilly, I am struggling with my latest MS. So many distractions lately. Anyway, good luck with final edits and a successful launch.

Michael Marnier aka Artemis Quark (AQ)

I do indeed wish it plenty of luck ;D Well done, Jo.  8)

Thanks, guys.

It's not a done deal yet.  There's always the chance that it won't sell; and even if it does, my books don't so much launch as get left on the shoreline to wait for the rising tide.  Still, it's satisfying to have got this far.

Keep at it, Michael.  It'll come good all at once.  Even distractions can be positive - sometimes, what we need most is not to think about the book for a while.

Quote from: Jo Bannister on May 25, 2018, 09:44:02 AM
Keep at it, Michael.  It'll come good all at once.  Even distractions can be positive - sometimes, what we need most is not to think about the book for a while.

Yes.  That's why I gave myself a break whilst all the other stuff was going on.  But I told myself no more than six months.  in April I fooled round with poetry over at The Tangled Branch for the one month challenge.  That's a different kind of writing, seems to use a different part of my brain from writing prose.  But it kept the words reasonably fluent.

I think the important thing with any break is to set yourself a date when you will start again.  That way you're free to enjoy, or thoroughly deal with, your distractions.

It may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

Gyppo

Of course it's a milestone, Jo. Whipping one's writing into shape is a whole lot easier when there's actually some writing to whip.

Welcome done, Jo.

First Drafts are always an accomplishment!

Thanks, guys.  Time I got started on the dreaded First Edit!