Publication Day!
When are you “done” writing? When the first draft is finished? When the manuscript is complete? When you land an agent or publisher or find the right independent publishing path for you? When you hold a hard copy of your book? When you see it on bookstore shelves? When the reviews pour in? When you actually sell a copy or a thousand? When you decide about a sequel or series for your book? When you think about starting another story? When is writing done?
Yes to all of the above. The best (and worst) thing about writing is how personal it is. There is no magic path to follow, no formula, no one right way to do this. So if you write your first draft and you’re happy? You’re done. If you write a complete series and that’s the end? You’re done.
Understanding your end point, whatever it is can help you better appreciate the journey—because if feels like there’s always more to do. This whole writing business can so easily get away from you!
So for me, today, August 30, 2022, is me be done. Not with writing forever! But with Evangeline’s Heaven, my first published novel. Yes, I’m planning a trilogy and I have dozens of other ideas in my head. Yes, I have other novels ready to query, but for now, for one day, I’m going to celebrate my accomplishment. I’m going to stop and say, wow, look what I’ve done.
Happy Book Birthday, Evangeline’s Heaven.