There is such an amazing feeling finishing a book. It’s mostly elation. The uncontained joy of realizing that yes, there truly was a beginning, a middle and an end to the story. (Somewhere in the middle of every book, I start to believe that there isn’t, just ask JK or KO.) But there’s also an element of sadness. These people that have lived in my mind for the past six or so months—who have kept me from sleep, refused to go the directions I’ve ordered, who’ve quite simply maintained minds of their own—these people are gone. They’ve had their happy ending. They’re actually quiet.
And so I usually cry, anticipating the loss. And do the happy dance because with much ado we’ve finally made it to the finish line all in one piece. It’s time for me to say good-bye (at least until revisions) and let them all go. Sometimes, that’s not such a bad thing, as there are already new people knocking at the door and wanting inside. Demanding that their stories be told. But sometimes I have had a particularly close relationship with the characters of a book, and I don’t really want to let them go.
Of course with a series, like A-Tac, the beauty is that I don’t actually have to. I can visit them again as I travel the familiar roads in telling a new story. They can make appearances, offer wisdom, or in some
DD and JK many moons ago
cases, mess things up a bit. And they’re still with me, at least in a small way. In my life at least, I’ve never had quite the relationship with a project that I do in writing a book. It’s as if these people, at least in the moment, are my friends.
All of which makes me sound a bit crazy, I know. But then I’ve been making up stories since I was a little girl and my father and I sat in the mall and made things up about the people passing by. It was a wonderful game, and I’ve somehow managed to turn it into a career. Not bad for an old girl with a tendency to exaggerate.
So join me for my happy, happy dance. I’m DONE! (My mother is saying, right now, that I am not a turkey and that the word I meant to use is finished –not done.)
How about you? Do you have projects that seem to take on a life of their own? Things that you think you’ll never finish, but that when you do overwhelms you with relief, excitement and pride? That term paper, that new kitchen, the scrapbook, the birthday cake, the party, the garden…so many opportunities—so little time.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG, that picture! In a mall bookstore, no less. An extinct creature!!!! What fun!!!
But they left great memories!!! (some of them involving cheese).
With me it is the closets.. I just seem to start them and then I get side tracked. BUt this coming week I have a plan.. I need a pair of strong arms and someone who can climb up on a step stool. I can’t because of my balance and can’t use one of my arms very good. So I have invited my oldest nephew over for school break and for his help, I have some fun things planned for us to do.. I just found out that one of his cousins is coming to town too next week to see her sister, so the three can also hang out… SO look out closets your are about to be turned upside down and inside out…
There is something very satisfying in a clean closet!
Cornish Pasties. Rather nice too. Full of meat and gravy and potato-ee goodness. Mmm mmm mmmm
Yum. Ship a couple to me!
Do you make a mean shepherd pie, also?
You’re making me hungry again. YUM YUM YUM. When I was in Cornwall we loved to eat them for lunch. Just perfect for a cold blustery spring day.
Actually I can cook almost anything. But the pasties came 50 to a box. (I was at work!) I have made them before. I make cottage pie (beef) and sheperds pie (mutton/lamb) but hubby will not eat the sheperds. I also love love love minted lamb chops. Its very tender lamb in this red minty sauce that you barely coook because it is so tender, it melts in your mouth.
Congratulations, Dee! Now enjoy some well earned time off and then get busy again.
You got it!!!
WOOWOO!!! You will be sad until you start something new and it will suck you in and you’ll think, “Oh, I like this story!”
There’s definite truth in that!
Huge congrats on finishing, Dee! YAYAYAYAYAY!
Whenever anyone asks me, “What’s the best thing you’ve ever written?” I always answer, “The end.” And it’s so true. And as soon as I type those words I burst into tears. The relief at finishing is so immense it’s really overwhelming to me. My crying jag usually lasts about thirty minutes, THEN I do the happy dance
I am so glad to hear that I’m not the only soppy one in the bunch!
I’m with you Ti, I have the first few chapters of a book. The entire thing is plotted out in my mind and I know the characters and where they are going, I just can’t sit down and write it. I keep making excuses about how school is getting in the way, but it’s not true. I’m hoping inspiration will hit again and I’ll get back to it.
I bake. I bake wonderful cakes that are the hit of birthday parties in my family. I don’t just bake a regular layer cake though, I bake a chocolate raspberry cake enrobed in chocolate with chocolate shavings on top that takes 8 hours to make. I bake a Princess cake. I do complicated stuff just for the fun of it to present to my family at celebrations. I become invested in these cakes. In the craftsmanship, and the taste, and wait with bated breath to see how they’re received before I take a single bite. I feel elated when they’re done and excited to send them out into the world. I know, on a small scale, the feeling that you are talking about. Congratulations on finishing your book and may you have that feeling over and over again for a long time to come.
Oh I think it’s fabulous that you make cakes. I’ve never been any good at all at decorating a cake. And it’s so cool to see the beautiful ones they make these days. I think anything that is a creative outlet provides the same thrill of completion. It’s putting a little bit of yourself out there for others. And that’s a gutsy thing. Whether the end result is a book, a cake, a painting…whatever.
Dee, that’s really poetic and touching. Where you cry anticipating the loss, I kick them out of the nest and away from me. I think, get on with it. Go out in the world and do your thing and leave me alone. I can’t hold your hand forever and besides, I have other people I want to mold into my image. Muwahahahahah
I kind of like that attitude… would probably save me a world of worry if I could just go there from the get go!
Yes, that’s Julia London. Going after her characters with a shotgun.
Well you have to admit her system does seem to be working rather well!!
Doing a happy dance for you, Dee. Congrats!
As for projects that take on a life of their own, yes. Simply, yes.
LOL
I have been stuck on a book for awhile now. I have it all in my head. I even have a whole series set up, but I just cannot seem to sit and just do it. Hopefully one day I will find that inspiration but until then, my story will just live in my mind.
Last Friday I had to cook again for my ‘Home.’ I tried very hard to not hit the panic mode before lunch time when the fish was still cooking I had to fry the chips (fries) and the pasties were not quite done. What a relief it was when the last person got the food they wanted and I could start the long slow business of cleaning the kitchen. You always get a few who hate everything you make and you will never make happy, but for the most part most of them enjoyed all of it. I was so happy to see my husband waiting for me in the parking lot. I could have cried.
ps Congrats on the completion! Celebrate!
Now you’ve made me hungry for pasties!
Yes!