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Thursday, June 3, 2010

I did it!!!

I finally finished the first draft of my manuscript. Holla! Once I wrote The End, I ran around like a mad woman, and broke out into unattractive, bouncy dancing without warning. (my family thought I’d lost it)

But, really I was so excited and proud of myself! How did you feel once you finished that first draft? What crazy things did you do?

Then, as my good friend Margie says, I experienced the plummet after the high. Did anyone else feel this way? Though so excited, I also realized the hoards of work that still faces me before I can call my book “done.” I deflated a little.

Then I got to share the great news with people, which by the way, went great. Everyone was so excited and proud of me (thank you to everyone for your encouragement) But no one really shared my enthusiasm (except my group. I love you guys) Even my close family, who was very happy for me, didn’t share my crazy excitement. So I deflated a little bit more. I guess I wanted someone to jump and and down and scream with.

I got over it though. I'm mustering up the courage to face my revisions, and I accepted the fact that the support I'm getting from friends and family is enough.

So the purpose of this post (other than sharing my awesome news with everyone so you can pat me on the back and tell me how great I am, of course) is to mention the love for writing friends.

My writers group, (formally known as Maple Mountain Writers Guild) officially Writers Cubed, are my lifeline in my writing world. They know what it’s like to write. What it’s like to think of stories and feel connected to characters. They know. They get it. I would be lost without them.

So, as important and amazing as your non-writerly loved ones are, they won’t get it. That’s why it’s important to have writer friends in your life. Whether they’re a group that you really meet with, or people on the internet, you need that support in your writing life. It made ALL the difference for me.

Writers Cubed. You rock! You’re my cubies! Not my besties, but much more.

XOXOXO


11 comments:

Reana said...

You Rock girl :) its Ok your not alone I to am facing down the same beasts...at least yours is written and you can get to the serious stuff now. :)

Slamdunk said...

Congrats on your accomplishment.

I have never experienced your feeling of elation, but with writing assignments I have always felt better revising what is done as opposed to trying to finish.

I say dance away...

Laura S. said...

Yay, you did it! I'm opening a virtual bottle of champagne for you! Celebrate a little longer!

I know what you mean about people not feeling as excited as you are. When I completed my first novel for NaNoWriMo last November, only my husband was as excited for me as I was because he saw first-hand what I went through to get there. My non-writer friends and family were happy for me, but they didn't really understood why I was so over the moon. Ahh, well, such is the life of a writer!

Congrats and enjoy this accomplishment! It's BIG!

Write Chick said...

Be Proud! I promise, the revising is so much better than the finishing. Your book will never feel perfect (Alas...the lesson I am learning now) until it is published. But I'll celebrate with you any day of the week. I get it. But then I'm a cubie Too. :-)

Jo Schaffer said...

Love you, lady.
Left you an award on my blog. Go pick it up and pass it on! xo

Anonymous said...

Oh Tahsha you've heard me go off on this enough, so I'll spare you. Let me just say that whatever overwhelming feelings you've had post completion of the book, at the end of the day you can sit back and know you've finished a great story with characters more real to me than so many other books from big publishers. The real test is: are you going to give in to the doubt, or are you going to hang on to the knowledge that you are flat-out awesome? We're all here for you chica. You're just going to have to get used to the idea that you're a kick-A author . Watch out world, here she comes!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Congratulations. This is no small feat, and yes, there is the plummet after the high. I was depressed, but then I went into revision mode and all was well. Now I'm in the querying mode with which comes rejection, but that's just the way it is. Thanks for joining my blog.

Unknown said...

Sorry I'm slow to comment, but it doesn't mean that you aren't AWESOME! Let the agents start clamoring to represent you and the gorgeousness of Kalem's bod.

Sassy Salsa girl said...

Lol! Tasha I was thrilled for you when I heard your news, but I thought it would have looked really weird if I started jumping up and down and screaming for joy. I think it's totally awesome that you've finished and I really hope you'll let me read it :D

The Urban Cowboy said...

First timer, lurker, from the JoStorm...Congratulations on your MS! I'll be sure to raise a cold one on your behalf later. :)

Kristina P. said...

I can write a one-liner like nobody's business, but I could never be a real writer. You guys work hard!! Congrats!