I remember reading in Kenneth Atchity‘s fine book, A Writer’s Time, that if you’re wondering if you’re coming to the end of a writing project, you aren’t. That approaching the end is so all-consuming, there can be no doubt.
Somehow, I always forget this, and then bam, there I am, in the wind-tunnel, waking at 3:00 in the night, and heading for the computer. Typing fifteen hours at a stretch. And then, after days and days of this, somewhat stunned, I look at a paragraph and think: this is the end.
I stagger away from the computer, take a few deep breaths. I come back: is it? Yes.
I go have a nap. I rise, and look at the clutter that has arisen around me, the nest of my obsession. I have a bath, blog, breathe. I feel just a little bit lost, but I’ll recover, no doubt: 125,490 words in 16 weeks, nearly 8000 words a week.
Well. That’s a bit too intense, I think, looking back. I’m not sure I would set this pace again. But it’s done, for now, and I’m pleased.
Be brave, Holly!!!
I can see how brain-drained I am by the mistakes I made in my comments above: correcting "nor novel" to "youe novel"!
Stephanie, I rewrite a LOT but not the first draft. Every page of this draft will need a great deal of work.
Your book was a pleasure to read!
I haven't looked at A Writer's Time for a while. I just pulled it down off my "fav books on writing" shelf — I like seeing the highlighted sections I made decades ago. I don't see the "end time" part — that may have been in another book — but Atchity's book is well worth a look, in any case.
Oh what a HUGE amount of writing! I don't know what I do because I rewrite so much. I'm on a new one and have 40,000 words in about ten weeks, but most of that needs a lot of revising and rewriting. How did you ever find time to blurb my novel while writing so much?? Amazing!
I am looking up A Writer's Time.
Stephanie
What a great feeling this must be!
I'm approaching the wind tunnel right now too. Feel myself strangely scared to step in, to let go of these people I've been living with for years. Your post was really reassuring.
See you on the other side!
All best, Holly T.
"How is YOUE novel coming along," I meant, of course.
Hi Mary,
Thanks! Of course it's quite a MESS.
I'm going to let it "age" for several months, perhaps read it through in January and begin the next draft then.
Until then, I've still quite a bit of research to do, character work etc. etc.
Plus: life!
How is nor novel coming along?
Wow, I can't believe you've done this in such record time. It is a truly amazing feat. Will you take some time out now, or dive back in, or ….?