It’s been quite a busy and hectic year for me, which was why it was especially sweet to finish up my first draft of JACOB WONDERBAR #2 yesterday. Whew!!! Other than spending more time polishing and then sending it to my editor for revisions and then possibly a round of revisions after that and then the copyediting and proofs all of which will total dozens of additional hours I AM TOTALLY DONE.
So now I have a very pressing question: how do you celebrate after finishing a draft? And if you haven’t had the pleasure of finishing up a completely draft, how do you envision popping open the proverbial champagne once you’re done?
My celebrations tend to involve sushi and my guilty pleasure: the computer game Civilization. How about you?
Deborah Serravalle says
For me, a finished draft means hitting the printer and then giving it to readers for critique. And that feels great!!
dcamardo says
Civ is awesome! Are you playing Civ 5? I play hotseat with my brother on Civ 4.
As for the question, I don't really celebrate when I've finished the first draft. It could be that I have two young children, and sleep sounds better than actually doing something.
Geoff says
I tend to celebrate by worrying endlessly about all the things that are probably wrong with my latest draft and immediately dive into another round of revisions!
I've "finished" my WIP about 3 times now… I really need to learn how to halt the self edits, lol.
Oh well, its my first novel. Hopefully all this rewriting and learning and honing my craft will make subsequent novels much easier. This current one is my first child and therefor the guinea pig. Poor novel.
nona says
by getting it copyrighted.
Kathe says
I celebrate by locking the USB drive that contains the draft somewhere safe then I sit on my hands. For at least a week. Otherwise I'm bound to start revising too soon and that's always been a recipe for trouble for me.
Matthew Rush says
Congrats Nathan!
For celebration you should try some Uni (it's in season), with house hot Sake, and a cold glass of Orion on the side. Enjoy!
Reesha says
I totally understand the Civilization thing. I grew up with three brothers and a dad who adored that game. The five of us would stay up until 4 in the morning sometimes, even on a school night, playing multi-player, or even just watching my dad play.
At one point we had a running competition to see who could discover Railroad the fastest.
Unfortunately I don't have a copy of Civ for Mac, so I usually celebrate by running a few dungeons in World of Warcraft with my husband and his online guild.
Pimlicokid says
Play Beethoven's Missa Solemnis loudly – it's as joyous as it is solemn.
Anonymous says
Congrats Nathan! A second book's draft finished before the first book's debut! Impressive. I can't wait to buy the book this year to read to my son.
Scott says
I am anticipating finishing my first full-length novel draft tonight. I am sure it will feel good, but isn't it a little soon to celebrate? I plan to save my flipping out until I get that five-digit deal from a publisher…
Transitoria says
I write FIN at the end of the final page and do a victory dance in my basement office where I do most of my writing. I'm a better writer than dancer so it's best if I keep that part to myself.
Laura Campbell says
Let's see…I finished the draft of my first article to be published in a parenting magazine and all the revisions ate at me. I immediately went through and fixed everything gnawing at me. For the novel-in-progress, well, an enormous sigh of relief for finally completing it would suffice for a few moments. Then, I would get showered and dressed up for a nice, slightly expensive dinner. Enjoying something I don't normally indulge in would be a great way to pat myself on the back. ~Laura
Lisa Lane says
My celebration generally involves a margarita and either a video game or something completely mindless on television–after all that hard work (and thought) I need to vege out for a night or two.
Anonymous says
I celebrate by going back to the beginning and starting the first major revision…I know, probably a mistake. But, are you a workaholic if it doesn't feel like work?
NickB (ID thing still messed up. Must fix one day.
Elaine AM Smith says
I celebrate by closing the manuscript for at least two weeks and reading something someone else wrote.
Liesl says
I shout "I wrote a book!" Then I go read ten books other people wrote.
Mary-Lou says
Personally, I like to write my dedication after I've written the draft.
Now, eat some sushi! Extra yum.
Ty Johnston says
By taking one day off from writing. Then I jump into editing, or writing a shorter project while allowing for the original project to "cool."
K Wodke says
I celebrate by taking a day or two off and then start on the next project. I love writing. Especially the material I do with my co-writer.
Ben says
I got a £25 Amazon voucher and I'm not going to spend it until I've finished my first draft which should be in the next few days then I can spend, spend, spend!
Natalie Nuttall says
Are you ever really done? I mean, sure, I've finished, but then I go back to make edits, so am I finished when the edits are finished? Is there a time when the edits are ever finished?
I would celebrate with working on the query instead of the book itself. I'll celebrate when I get an offer. 🙂
Anonymous says
Wow, eating sushi and playing Civilisation sound like great ways to celebrate! I've just finished the first draft of a novel and I really don't know what to do…I've been so used to getting in the habit of writing and finishing it for 3 months that it feels a bit weird not to be working on it. Suppose I'll have to put some work into figuring out how to celebrate now =)