Not too long ago I blogged about taking time to celebrate milestones—even the smaller ones—to stay motivated, to recognize hard work, and to recharge. Well I’m taking my own advice and partying like it’s the freaking weekend today because FINALLY, after working on this work-in-eternal-progress for more than a year,
I have a completed first draft that makes me happy.
A year ago I was querying, planning a wedding, and trying to find something to take my mind off of real life. This idea came along and I was all…
Then I shut down the query process because I had gotten tons of incredible, consistent feedback that I knew could be applied to make this project stronger. So I *gasp* outlined. It was hard.
And technically I finished a draft. But it was just… not… right.
So I went back to the proverbial drawing board (Scrivener!) and did a bunch of writing exercises that helped expand the possibilities for my characters.
The plot was about ten times better, but hot damn did all that make for a lot more work to be done.
Right after I got started on the new and improved outline (basically a re-write), a couple months of Everything In Life Happening came up. Weddings, graduations, vacations, work trips… you name it, it happened, and I was pretty useless when it came to writing.
Then after the lifesplosion ended, I was sort of just lazy. Unmotivated. Really pretty out of it, to be honest.
Then! I was lucky enough to spend five days surrounded by some of the most amazing writers I know, and hands-down the best, silliest, most genuine motivators ever.
IT WAS ON.
Then last week my laptop was stolen. Long story.
BUT I PERSEVERED and last night at around 11:00 p.m. (way past my bedtime let me tell you) I typed the sentence that I knew was the absolute most wonderful perfect last sentence 1 and I realized…
I AM DONE 2. DONE!
So now, WE CELEBRATE!
Hammer might not have been the most willing participant in that particular moment of celebration. But don’t worry, he’s got a can of tuna with his name on it for later.
What about you?? What have you achieved lately? What are you working toward? Anyone else jumping head-first into revisions??
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay! Congrats on getting the draft done!!!
My non-NaNo WIP has been in progress forever, and it’s a lot of the stuff you’ve talked about here – all the Life Things and just being unmotivated and lazy. I hope the lack of motivation passes now that most of my Life Things are done with and after I get a little more sleep, haha.
I LOVE that pic of your kitty. His face is like “OMG. What is happening right now?!”
Oh I TOTALLY feel you on the slow but sure progress. You can do it!!
And oh man. He was SO not happy about that pic. I seriously bust up every time I look at it. (No Hammers were harmed in the taking of that photo)
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! This is a big deal…definitely cause for celebration! :-D
:D :D Thank you so much Jessica!!
It is BIG!!!! :D Enjoy and yay again!
HUGS! Thank you SO much Elodie!
This is absolutely a big deal!! That’s really exciting – congrats! :D
I’m working toward finally finishing this last revision on my WIP I can start querying! So much has been going on this summer that it’s been hard to find the time to bang it out…but it’s slowly coming together.
Ooooh that is so exciting about your progress! I can’t wait for you to start querying..! Fall is gonna get exciting :)
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
ILY. x 1 zillion
Woo-hoo!!!
Thanks Jennifer!!
YAY! Well done! =D
Thanks Robin!!
YAAAAY! Awesome job Sarah! You rock some mighty socks.
<3 <3 <3 <3 Thank youuuuuu Amy!
Huzzah! That is wonderful, and I hope you enjoy living it up! :)
Also, that gif with the girl dancing had me in stitches. And the angry sign? *dies*
Absolutely one of my favorite .gifs of all time. Love it. And THANK YOU so much Jess!!
YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
1. That Mugatu gif is by far the best thing to happen to me.
2. The second best thing to happen to me is that picture of Hammer.
3. You’re pretty. And awesome.
<3 <3 <3
Sorry the grandparent filter tried to muzzle you :) You know this blog welcomes your inappropriateness at all times.
Holy amazing use of GIFs. Also: your laptop was stolen?! What the heck! Did you get it back? (I’m assuming yes, otherwise wouldn’t you have lost the ms? Unless of course you were smart and had back-ups on an external drive or something.) Either way CONGRATS!!! It’s so huge to finish that first draft. (I always feel sort of invincible.) Enjoy it and relish it, girl. You deserve it :D
WAHOOOOO!
*Throws confetti*
This is serious cause for major celebration! YAYYY! And honestly, I love that picture of you and Hammer! He looks so adorably confused. :)
I absolutely know how you feel. Having spent 2-3 years on my novel, stopping, rewriting the same paragraph 1000 times without thinking I should maybe look at others, stopping, being demotivated and generally abandoning it, I wrote the last sentence on my birthday in May. I had five books printed, had them read by trusted people and am now using the (generally very positive) feedback to make it perfect.
As for Scrivener. I would never have finished this beast without it.
WOO HOO! I am just now catching up on my blahhhhgs and this just made me smile all big. I can only imagine how YOU feel (besides a sequence of very hilarious GIFs).