Emotional Milestones of Writing a Novel

[Fishbowl Helmet]

Yeah, this is true.

Right now I'm an old man lost at the mall.

 

[Juliana]

Ha! Love it.

And then the utter dread as you stare at the completed novel and think, "I'm going to have to edit now, aren't I?"

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I don't think I actually have emotional milestones, while I am writing. As long as I am absorbed in the writing there is a slow-burning excitement. When I have finally finished a book, I feel a big let-down. What do I do next? This thing has dominated my life for so much time, who am I now?

 

[Venusian Broon]

I don't think I actually have emotional milestones, while I am writing. As long as I am absorbed in the writing there is a slow-burning excitement. When I have finally finished a book, I feel a big let-down. What do I do next? This thing has dominated my life for so much time, who am I now?

That's exactly what I'm feeling right now - as I wait for my reader to come back with comments so that I can start the 3rd draft in earnest - I'm in a serious what-the-hell-should-I-do-funk. I want to be toiling away on words on a long-term project first thing every morning for my fix, but it ain't there, the hiatus continues...

 

[Ray McCarthy]

It's an emotional roller coaster. Not milestones! I think I am nearly ready to re-write rather than merely edit.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

When I have finally finished a book, I feel a big let-down. What do I do next? This thing has dominated my life for so much time, who am I now?

Me too. Now.

 

[Laeraneth]

I don't think I actually have emotional milestones, while I am writing. As long as I am absorbed in the writing there is a slow-burning excitement. When I have finally finished a book, I feel a big let-down. What do I do next? This thing has dominated my life for so much time, who am I now?

This is very much how it's felt for me while writing. I had a couple of large, and very unproductive (and annoying!) gaps in the middle that lasted a good couple of months, that felt a lot like the big let-down... mostly because of disappointment in myself for not doing it, rather than being disappointed in it.
But now I have it finished (at least to a good enough draft stage) I've not felt any disappointment at all. I'm still mulling over things that could probably do with being improved, while printing out a few copies to give to people to read, and starting on a totally different project that's been at the back of my mind for a while.
I think, if I didn't have other ideas to turn to at this point though, I would be feeling pretty flat right now.

I think the best thing to do is keep doing something, and ideally make it as different as possible to what has just been finished. Sort of like a palate cleanser, and hopefully a way of developing a better writing skillset at the same time.

 

[Fishbowl Helmet]

Just don't stop. Write every day. If you're let down after finishing a novel, write a short story or two while you're waiting for edits or beta responses. Or as other ideas distract you whilst you're writing one book, outline another and start on that once the first is done.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

I agree with Ray and Teresa to a point. I don't have many milestones during the writing, just excistement and a feeling of wonder. It isan emotional rollercoaster. But the emotional milestones kick in when I finish. Then comes the handing it over to other people, beta reading, editing etc. That is a ride, and not usually a pleasant one. That's when I reach the stage of burnout. And its after that, when it's finally gone through all those months of pain, that I publish and never want to look at the book again.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Pwaa]

My milestones have been very consistent. They've always involved "not sure how to progress now so I'll read back through my story so far" quickly followed by "oh my god this is all horrible, I'm starting again." At this point I start work on something not related to it in any way.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

And its after that, when it's finally gone through all those months of pain, that I publish and never want to look at the book again.

I also get this. It's a weird kind of antipathy to your own work. I never sussed that one out...