There. That's my book. That's what about six years of planning, and six months of serious writing looks like. Two hundred and sixty pages (and one in the middle that for some reason is completely blank). Seventy thousands and fifty seven words. Isn't it pretty?
And at some point today (after dinner and cleaning and ER), I'm going to sit down and start reading it. I'm not going to redraft (well, I'll try not to), I'm just going to read it. All of it. As though I was actually reading a book. I figure if I do that, I'll know straight away which bits works and which bits don't.
I'm excited now. I didn't think that I'd ever get to this point. It's strange. I spent years after Uni working on this - it was originally going to be a collection of short stories. Luckily, last year in Sicily I realised that it would be better as a novel. I was in Erice, the wonderful mountain town I got to by cable car, and that day was the first time in ages I'd actually written something just for no reason. Maybe next time I have writing block I'll pop back to that sunny pretty place.
I'm so pleased that on October 31st, I decided that instead of doing NaMoWriMo and getting nowhere, I'd just use it as a reason to get off my ass and start writing again. I'm even more happy that I did the Urban Writers Retreat last month and somehow managed to write 13,000 words in one day to get it finished. I booked the retreat in January, so I think it helped me to always have a goal to work towards. Even though I didn't really believe that I'd ever do it. Not sure my folks appreciated me ignoring them all of Easter weekend while I tapped away at my keyboard, but I'm so pleased I did.
This is the biggest thing that I've ever done. And it's taken me a while to realise that I'm nowhere near finished yet. I'm a bit freaked out by this next part, because I really really want it to be good. It will be. Just once I've worked up the courage to start editing.
In the meantime, leave me messages telling me how pretty and gigantic my first draft looks. And be pleased I've finally told you you title.
The Root of the Root
Posted by
Siany
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Labels: book , novel , the root of the root , writing
12 comments:
Congratulations! It's a great feeling, isn't it. Happy editing!
Thanks, Keris! How many books do you have under your belt now? It does feel pretty great. Even if I'm now ignoring it because it's a bit scary.
It looks really pretty: black and white has always been a classic.
Congratulations. Really. It takes a lot to write that much.
Woo the you! I for one am very impressed seeing as I have 3 books at various stages of non-finishedness. Perhaps because I make up words like non-finishedness...
Enjoy reading it!
Wow - well done - thats some effort. Hope when you read it lots of it works.
Congratulations! And I bet you'll get quite a few nice surprises when you read it, and then that cool "hey I wrote that!" feeling when you realise it :)
Thanks everyone! Wow, lots of lovely messages.
I might even put off my ER marathon tonight to start reading... maybe.
Wow. How exciting. Good for you! I look forward to reading it.
Arrrghhhh! I find this so exciting! A name, an actual name! Congrats once again on the amazingness of finishing your first novel (of many, I hope).
Thanks, Jess.
My incentive to finish more novels: Drinking wine with you until we can't remember what we're laughing about. Gotta be worth it, I reckon.
I am SO impressed. And it looks great. I'm surprised you aren't just gazing in wonder at it all day, actually.
I kind of am. It does look very pretty.
Heaps of thanks, Charlie! I wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't gone to the Urban Writers Retreat!
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