Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Quick Update

Sorry to barge in on all your lovely Wednesday goings on but I just had to share.

No, I'm not done, but I did just finish rewriting the ending, actually the final act. You see, I wrote the ending about a month ago and it was good. But then, I had a vision the other night about how it could be so much more. I let it stew for a couple days and then when I got home from my morning walk this morning, it all came out in a big fantastic bubbling rush.

So my ending is in place and if I do say so myself, it's bloody brilliant. Just what I wanted it to be.

I still have probably more than five but less than 10 scenes to write in act four. (I'm writing a five act) Hopefully tomorrow I'll be closer but I won't be finished for Friday, unless I get some fabulous alone time. Yeah, that's not going to happen.

I also had a clue as to why I'm seemingly unable to finish writing this story. Because as stupid as this sounds, I don't want to say good-bye to them. I've fallen in love with all my characters and their lives and if I finish writing it, well, then I have to say good-bye and I don't want to. Is that weird?

Everyone who knows me in real life says I'm too sentimental and I've never denied it but - here's a question -- When you're done with your book, do you feel SAD when you finally write THE END? - or are you just relieved?

26 comments:

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

Congrats on nailing the ending. I'm sure that feels great. Endings are important.

Personally, when I finish a draft, I feel something between relief at finally getting it all out there, and frustration at my already present mental list of things that need fixing. My internal editor is annoying.

Unknown said...

Woohoo!!! I love it when it works out and feels so right!!! Be sure to celebrate the completion, you deserve it!!!

I have had mixed emotions when writing drafts. The very first one I ever wrote I cried, I couldn't believe I had actually written a book. The second time I was relieved, glad to know that my hands could take a break and rest up after writing non-stop for 7 days straight.

I will say that the one I cried over is still sitting untouched because it's so raw, but the one with less emotion has now attached itself to my heart and each piece I tear away is something worth being happy about!

Les Edgerton said...

CONGRATULATIONS, ANNE! That's huge. Sit back and enjoy a brew-you've earned it.

Now... let us know when it comes out so we can buy it.

Blue skies,
Les

Linda G. said...

It's a great feeling to know you've nailed the ending, isn't it? :)

And I missed my characters so much that now I'm writing a sequel. ;)

Jessica L. Brooks (coffeelvnmom) said...

First, good for you! So glad you've come up with something you like even better! =) And both... I think a combination of relief and a little sadness is what I feel when something is finished, which, in my opinion, is completely normal. (Plus what Linda G. said. I tend to keep the characters in my head and jot things down for sequels too.)

Melody said...

Well, I'll be nothing but happy when I finish my current WiP, because it's high time it was finished. However, I have a serious difficulty in finishing books in general, and I think sentiment has something to do with it. :)

Anonymous said...

1) Don't ever apologize for barging in on my day. It's a highlight, not a nuisance. 2) Yea for vision! And 3) the main reason I had a hard time ending my first novel was because I'd gotten so attached to the characters. I spent more time with them than I did with my own family. It was like saying goodbye to my best friends... which is why I may or may not write a sequel.

Good luck!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oh, that's great. :)

I'm usually half and half--but mostly sad when I get done a writing a manuscript.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

I know that I will feel relieved when it is all over and I can get into revisions (have already started actually) but for right now, I'm just really sad. If you saw the ending you'd know why.

I also think writing this book has been cathartic for me in some ways, it's about the place I grew up and miss so much. Finishing it means I can't drive the streets of Bristol anymore, or visit with my family (who some of my characters are based on), I won't be able to believe that in whichever direction I go, I'll be able to see some part of the ocean (or bay if you want to get technical).

I think I'm sad because I'm still so darl-garned homesick. And even though I went home in July, it wasn't enough time. I keep telling myself when this gets published in 2012, I'm taking the summer off to do a book tour with signings in and around Rhode Island. I don't think Monster Baby will mind.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I get depressed, because then its time to edit, write the query, and the synopsis, and go through the query process, and take in the rejections.

Ann Best said...

Congratulations! I get those kinds of epiphanies sometimes. Aren't they wonderful!? I am so excited for you, but also sad that you're so homesick, but happy this has been cathartic for you. Do look forward with great excitement and anticipation to the book tour and the signings, even if Monster Baby minds!!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Wonderful accomplishment. Enjoy!

Summer Ross said...

I'm glad you had inspiration and stewing to make it what you wanted! As for me, I let go well enough because i can always go back to revisit. :)

Natascha said...

Congrats! One step closer. I'm ususally relieved when I get the first draft done, but I have to say that the relief goes away when I realize editing is next...

Terry Towery said...

If I can ever figure out how to exactly END mine, I'll let you know how it feels. ;)

Bish Denham said...

Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Saying goodbye to a character is difficult, even for those of us who aren't sentimental.

Elliot Grace said...

...great news, Anne!

Finishing up a manuscript can be tough to swallow, having sacrificed enough time in the lives of your characters to feel as if you're a part of the story as well.

For me, finishing up was refreshing. I found myself ready to move on to a new cast of characters. A brand new adventure, new problems to solve, goals to reach. In time you'll feel the same. That urge to begin anew will flare up and away you'll go:)

Ted Cross said...

I can never get myself to feel like the book is truly done. I did finish a first draft, but I keep thinking that it would be better if I added this or that...

Liza said...

Yea for you. Isn't great when something comes to you that you know, know, know is good?

Stacy McKitrick said...

When I finally finished my second book - which was a sequel to the first (see, I couldn't say goodbye to my characters, either), I was happy it ended, but sad I had to say goodbye. Of course, I won't be saying goodbye forever. They will pop up in another book (as side characters), but I will miss being in their heads.

Christine said...

Congratulations on finishing! I know exactly how you feel about your characters. It is hard to let them go!

Good luck with all the querying!

dolorah said...

Not stupid at all to be in love with your characters. You've spent a lot of time and energy with them, and if you're not in love with them then you can't expect the reader to be.

Congrats on the ending. Good luck with alone time (haha)

.........dhole

The Words Crafter said...

I haven't finished mine yet, but I am sad to get to the end of a favorite book. I feel I need to go back and check on the people in them, at random places, to see how they're doing.

When I was little, I used to think the people in stories just hung around in the places I left off reading. And if they were in pain or imprisoned or something bad like that, I would never stop. I didn't want them to suffer until I had a chance to pick them back up again!

Nope. I don't think you're weird at all. If you don't care about your characters, why should we? If you love them, we will, too.

VR Barkowski said...

Oh, Congraz Anne! That's marvelous. And the answer is sad, sad, sad, even though I'm writing a trilogy. Lord only knows what will happen when I finish the third book. Probably sink into depression.

Wendy S Marcus said...

I KNow what you mean. After spending hours and hours (days, weeks, months, years) with your characters they feel like family. (Better than family because you can tune them out if need be!!) In any event, in addition to the elation of The End, I also feel a little sad to say good bye.