Feb
Starting Anew
Hello everybody! First let me apologize in being late in posting, my memory is so terrible, even with the calendar to remind me. Sorry! hehehe.
And now onto my post.
Well as I’m sure most of you know, I finished my first book a few days ago. Woo-Hoo! Now that I’m finished with the editing…to a point. I mean, I’m not published, so I can get away with skipping ahead to the next book, right?) So I find myself starting all over again.
This has a mixture of feelings attached to it. I have become very attached to my H/H Tess and Aiden. But now, I hazve so many ideas for my new book, and the new H/H Damian and Delia are invading my spare time, and my thoughts, which is a good sign.
It’s the end of one story, and onto the next…like every other author in history. 
But really, it’s not goodbye forever to these characters from the first book. Part of the good thing of doing a series, I suppose. I didn’t want it to end when I was writing it, but I am so glad I did finish. I mean, I spent six months writing this book, getting to know my characters inside out, cheering for them, struggling with them, creating every scene and chapter with care. It takes its toll on you, because they feel REAL to you, ya know? Like long lost friends you never knew before, but “people” you’ll care for for the rest of your life. At least that’s how it feels for me. You were there in the beginning when these characters were just figments of your imagination, and you were there when you fleshed them out and wrote their story.
So now my question is, have you been in this situation: saying goodbye to some characters, and hello to new ones? How did you feel? Or what do you think you will feel when you get there? I wait to hear your opinions.
Michelle
Michelle, first of all CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your first manuscript! Well done! As my mom said, even if you never get published (which we still hope will happen) at least you can say that you wrote a book. A lot of people say that they want to write, but only a few actually do and manage to finish.
So kudos to you!
About saying goodbye and hello… I was happy when I finished my first MS because I had just proved to myself (and everyone around me) that I could do it. (Ie. write an entire book) By the time I started my next MS I was quite happy to do so to be honest, because at that point I’d read and re-read and re-re-read my first MS so many times for revisions that I was quite sick of it *lol*
Like you, my new characters are secondary ones from the first MS, so I already knew them from before and that probably made the whole thing easier.
I wish you good luck on your new MS. Starting with the planning and ideas is one of my favourite parts at the moment. (Also because I love the beginning of a story. I can’t stand stories with dragging beginnings. And I have a ‘thing’ for first sentences or paragraphs…)
Please keep us updated on your progress
February 28th, 2006 at 6:15 amAlso, are you done with revisions on your first MS or are you going to work on that at the same time or in a little while? Do you already have a query letter/synopsis? (I still don’t have a proper synopsis for my first MS)
Congratulations, Michelle!
As for your question, I think I’m doing that thing where subconciously we don’t finish because we don’t want to let go.
But as I get closer and closer to finishing, I am looking forward to the next book, too.
So I’m with emmie. Are you querying yet? Contests? What’s up with the finished ms? As someone very close to being where you’re at, what’s next?
February 28th, 2006 at 9:25 amCongrats Michelle!
Are you editing your first book or starting your second? Or are you doing both?
February 28th, 2006 at 9:33 amOk ladies, I’m answering your questions.
I pretty much have edited and revised the first 130 pages solid! But then I also skipped ahead to the ending, and re-did it cause it seemed to end too abruptly, not enough feeling.
I hate to admit it but the editing is so incredibly BORING for me! I guess after staying with this story and these characters for so long, I am ready for a change of scene, shall we say? hehehe.
So I’m doing it in spurts. I’ll write on my second book, then go back and edit some pages on my first book, etc, etc.
As for query letters, synopsis. NOT YET!!! Since I am writing the second book in a series, and from what I hear most book contracts are for TWO books anyhow, it makes sense to me to wait until the second MS is finished, and then I’ll try for agent, editor, book contract.
Also, I am scared to death to submit anything! lol. Well not really, but the “No’s” will make it difficult. But believe me, when I get the “YES!!!” I can go around the house hooping and hollering!
That’s my plan, and I’m sticking to it!
Thanks for the support ladies!
February 28th, 2006 at 10:58 amYes, they’re for two books. But I think first of all that it takes freaking forever to hear back–even for a rejection! And also I think they will usually buy based on a partial or something like that if they want your book. On the other hand, plenty of people write linked books and then sell the second or third but not the first. So who knows? You have to do what’s in your heart. And I can definitely commiserate with the idea that you’re sick to death of your ms!
February 28th, 2006 at 3:19 pmWoo-hoo, Michelle, congratulations!
I’m not sure how I’ll feel when I finish my current work (this coming from someone that has yet to finish a MS), but I think I’ll take an uninterrupted nap. Yes, because sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about my “baby” er, story. :D. Although I haven’t written anything since the weekend, these “people” won’t leave me alone. LOL
Emmie is right the most important thing right now is that you’ve finished a book and what’s more you’re already writing a second. You’ve done one of the most difficult parts which is actually finishing a book. That my dear friend is cause for celebration.
Hugs,
March 1st, 2006 at 9:02 amIsabel