I finished my novel*!! 🎉🎉🎉
On Tuesday night, I finished writing the main story. Then I pasted in my pre-written epilogue and called it a night. Yesterday (Wednesday), I read through the epilogue, adding and tightening things and making sure it made sense with my revisions. Then I officially typed “THE END” and sat back.
Last week, I kept going back and forth between thinking I could devote myself to crunchtime and finish by today or possibly have to officially finish by March 1st. Well, after miraculously writing 3,000 words on Monday, I didn’t have to worry about not being able to complete my novel draft this month.
Inspiration struck me more in this final stretch thanks to the big changes I implemented in my draft. I had a sort of epiphany as I was piecing things together and I think I’ve found a more satisfying conclusion to my story. I feel more confident about things this go-around, and I don’t think I’ll have to do another drastic rewrite. Hopefully, I won’t have to make any further big changes. 🤞
Now I find myself in this weird, “Uhhhh. What now??” stage. I’ve asked my husband Luis to be my alpha reader and let me know his thoughts. I’m giving myself two or so weeks to not read it, and then I’ll dive in and clean it up for eventual beta readers. Remember when I said writing is a process?
I may be unable to avoid revising my other novel while I wait. The good thing is each book has its own bubble, so I can by all means work on a different novel while I’m supposed to be taking a break from this one.
It will be a bit weird to work on a novel set during Fall/Winter right as Spring is springing forth, but… Such is life.
*For now. I will have to go through several rounds of edits before it’s officially ready to be queried. I definitely feel better about it now!
Sara Mazariegos 