I just finished the first draft of my first novel. Why did no one tell me how wonderful that feels? I am floored. I know I have my work cut out for me, with editing and polishing, but I really feel like I am on the downhill side of creating this work. Such a great feeling.
I really feel like I am on the downhill side of creating this work.
Let me know how you feel right before you start the second draft, that's when my feelings are the exact opposite of those you described, on any length of work whatsoever. That's when I'm screaming NOOOO I thought I was done with you!!
But yeah, that feeling of getting something out and every word you read back sings its own special tune, that is pretty cool.
Yesterday, elated. Today, editing kills me. It seems to take more concentration than actual writing, and my housemate has a bad habit of narrating her every thought to me, as if an obligation of nearness is constant verbal discourse. She knows I am trying to edit, but can't seem to stop. It has even caused me to bitch about it to strangers on forums.
Okay, enough. Commas. Their usage evades me. Feel free to make fun of my commas. It isn't bad grammar, it's jazz. Also finding my share of "invisible errors" such as when you write "the" when you meant to write "they," that sort of thing. Also, I am finding that my verb tenses may be trapped in a temporal vortex, time traveling violently in a single paragraph.
On the upside, I am enjoying reading my novel, I've been much too busy writing it sit down and read it. Thanks, everyone for the encouragement.
@Waterhouse: I don't wait at all. This project really wants to be finished and out there for others to read. Since I am going the full indie route, all delays are entirely my fault. I guess I am letting this novel push me around.
I found over twenty different rules for the usage of commas, today. Grammar is a harsh mistress.
I have learned to edit and revise on the fly so that by the time I have a first draft, it has already experienced serious revisions. I complete a chapter and then spend time revising it while writing the next chapter. Is this difficult? You will have to ask the 2 psychiatrists who keep me medicated through the process. Just kidding. It is only one psychiatrist. Just kidding again. It is just that for months at a time, my wife won't talk to me. Still kidding. She is a published writer too so there is no conflict.
My best skill is to take my writing seriously but never take myself seriously. That way, I have remained relatively sane through the process of getting published. I remain restless because what I got published was nonfiction while all this time, I have wanted to assay a novel. That is the process I am here to begin, perhaps with transitions between the writing worlds first and then short stories and then ...
I like what I see here and I hope that your skills and perceptions will help me cross that bridge and I hope that what little knowledge I possess may serve of some value to some of you as well.
I have to write the entire rough draft (not chronologically) or the thing never gets finished. I note down changes that occur to me, but deal with those during the first edit.
Got some great advice on writing/editing, as they both require very different thought processes. Sit in one particular seat when you're writing, sit in another when you're editing. If you have to edit when you're writing, then change seats. It's an effective way to keep yourself in the right head space.
Congratulations! Editing can be maddening. The important thing is to never ever think what you wrote sucks. I've gone back to edit after finishing an act, found my writing unbearable, and started all over again. Editting is scary business.
I imagine when I finish this manuscript I've been abusing, I'll give it a few weeks and outline my next story. Then I'd edit while I read the draft over, make the changes, read it over again and send it off to a few friends to get their opinions, all the while starting the next book.