Firstly I want to send out a huge congratulation to those who did manage to finish the Challenge. You are awesome! Secondly, I just want to let you know that the blog will return to normal. I will start my follow backs again as well as checking out the blog posts of people who comment on my post.
I also want to shout out my many thanks to everyone who awarded me this month. I feel very honored and will pass the awards on soon.
And finally, I want to remind you that GPF returns as of next week. For those of you who are new to the blog, anyone who clicked follow to my blog can book a Friday to write a writing/literary world related post. No other rules really. Better hop fast though, those Fridays can disappear fast. E-mail me at mishagericke(AT)gmail(DOT)com if you want to book a Friday. Oh yeah, since this is a cause of misunderstanding, let me just say that promotional posts/interviews can take place on any available day. So if all the Fridays in your blog tour are booked, contact me and we can arrange something else.
All righty then, let’s get to the real post.
Now, as you might have read/just noticed, I finished my rewrite on Monday. It was a feeling of accomplishment that I can’t describe. In fact, I don’t think I can even compare it to anything.
But… I could have finished the book on Thursday already. So why didn’t I? Why didn’t I just push to the end and get it done in a really impressive time?
Two words:
Separation.
Anxiety.
Think I’m kidding? I’ve spent three years going towards four on this story – just to get it written. In that time, I met characters. I nurtured them. i made and broke them. Fact is (and this is going to sound weird) this story had as much influence on my life as I did on its character’s lives.
Yes really. Even when I’m doing something else, part of my thoughts will always concern my story. The percentage that that part takes up of my entire thought process is what determines how much else I can do. Writing became the frame to my day. I made time to write. I read Bible before I start writing. After I wrote for 45 mins to 1 hr, I get dressed. After 1000 words, I write my blog.
That’s just my mornings.
So I think you can understand that the thought of suddenly not having something prioritized like that can feel a little off.
Not to mention how much I miss following my characters around. They’re still there, but now that the story is done, they’re quiet. Another thing to get used to.
So how do I deal? Well, firstly, no amount of fear was going to keep me from getting my book done. 3.8 years is more than enough. Also, the fact that this was book one in a series of four, so my characters will get a chance to go on more adventures.
But now… yes, the rewrite is done. But I’m about to face a new challenge: Edits.
Have you finished a book? Did you suffer from separation anxiety? How did you deal with it?
The Five Year Project 