multicultural
does not describe me fully
it is where to start



Sunday, August 7, 2011

The End! Of the First Draft, Anyway


Finally, the first draft of my novel is done. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end, characters who love and argue and grow, and conflicts with at least a promise of resolution. Most importantly, it has given me the structure with which to evaluate this project in a holistic way. Who knows? The final version might be 33% smaller. That last chapter I decided wasn’t necessary might be essential after all. And the beginning? Well, the beginning, that cemetery of new novels, it may prove not to be the right place to start. Or, smile, it might all be just fine.

That’s all stuff for me to look at later. I want to savor for now the sense of accomplishment I have. What an exhilarating feeling! I finished my new novel. For the first time in almost a year, I don’t have the threat of not finishing lurking in the shadows. I can take a break from my self-imposed homework assignment without fearing that I will never be able to write, "The End." Yes, I am giving myself a vacation for a while before I start striking out sentences and replacing verbs and eliminating passive voice and this’s and that’s and, well, you get the picture.

For now, I’ll just lift my glass and say, “Attagirl!”

10 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Judith .. congratulations .. so good that you've finished the first draft.

Enjoy the break .. til you're ready to re-look .. Attagirl - sounds about right .. cheers Hilary

Brent Robison said...

I'm always impressed by you folks who finish, since I'm stuck in the middle of two novels.... Congrats and best wishes for draft 2!

Judith Mercado said...

Hilary, thank you. It does feel good.

Brent, believe me, I was not so sure until the last page that I was going to pull it off. I too have a couple novels that were never finished.

Malcolm R. Campbell said...

Writing "the end" is a great feeling and a great accomplishment. Savor it as long as you can.

Malcolm

Judith Mercado said...

Malcolm, I am definitely savoring it.

Mayowa, thanks!

Shauna said...

Brava!

Nevine Sultan said...

I raise my glass to you as well, Judy. What an accomplishment! Sometimes we do engage in such self-doubt, don't we? But still, I'm sure you knew you had it in you to finish the job.

Here's to your "The End"... and also... to new beginnings!

Nevine

Judith Mercado said...

Thank you, Nevine. I'm still in the bubbly stage and have not tackled draft #2. Your good wishes mean a lot.

Judy

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Well done! A huge achievement and something to be celebrated. Now I'm fired up to get started on my next novel...I'll use you as inspiration! :)

Judy, South Africa

A Cuban In London said...

Well done! I feel jealous. I don't think I will ever finish mine.

I wish you the best of luck.

Greetings from London.