ANY 'I FINISHED MY NOVEL' RITUALS OUT THERE?

tengraceapples · Dec 27, 2009

Hey!

Okay so I just finished my 2nd novel!!!
I have had the last line of book 2 in my head for like a year.
I can believe it's actually on paper!

My first book is set to go to Pubs in Jan.
I hope it finds one...

Here is the question guys,
I'm not as excited as i thought I would be by finishing book 2.
Maybe I haven't wrapped my head around it. It only been a few hours.

So, when you were done with your book, what did you do? And rituals? And moments of happy/sad at the same time?

Thanks guys

Parametric · Dec 27, 2009

I made and then ate the ritual tiramisu of victory.

tengraceapples · Dec 27, 2009

Wow!

That sounds great. I suck at making desert but maybe I'll order out: )

Kitty Pryde · Dec 27, 2009

Booze and snoopy dancing!

And it never hurts to draw a line under where it says "The End" and start writing something new

RobinT · Dec 27, 2009

I've only finished one so far, but it was kind of overwhelming. I thought I'd feel immensely relieved, but I was just tense and worried about the next step (the agent search). I think it's just hard to sink in -- it's such a major part of your life, and suddenly it's done, and on to the next phase.

Celebration rituals are a good idea though. Maybe for the next one I'll get someone else to make me a victorious dessert!

scarletpeaches · Dec 27, 2009

When I finished my first book I burst into tears. It was a huge emotional moment for me because I really believed this was the first thing I'd written that stood a chance of publication. (I have trunk novels but I count as my 'first' the one I have on sub at the moment).

I don't really have a ritual because finishing a novel is never in doubt for me. I know I can do it so I see no need to mark the occasion when it happens. But perhaps I should develop a tradition beyond 'watch a Colin Farrell DVD and eat loads of crisps'.

ejwriter · Dec 27, 2009

when i finished my first "first draft," my boyfriend brought me bubbly.
when i finish this next first draft, i will celebrate by editing the first one. ;p

scarletpeaches · Dec 27, 2009

Oops. I didn't realise this was in the YA forum when I posted before.

I'll move along now...

vroth · Dec 27, 2009

When I finished draft one, I ate tostitos and drank gatorade.

And when I finished draft two, I went into the kitchen for a snack, and...got some tostitos and gatorade.

It wasn't on purpose, but I think it's become my post-draft ritual.

Renee Collins · Dec 27, 2009

I finished my first novel at three in the morning, so all I did was kiss the screen and drag myself to bed.

For my other two, I guess I've made it a ritual to call my twin sister and give her fair warning.

tengraceapples · Dec 28, 2009

that sounds great (now i just have to get a boyfriend. LOL)

afif95 · Dec 28, 2009

I don't know what to suggest because as you see in my signature, none of them are finished yet. However, congratulations! Oh wait, I'm picking something up here. How about inviting a few friends and family over and have a little toast?

Eldritch · Dec 28, 2009

Sounds dorky, but I took the husband and kids to Red Lobster for lunch.

Stunted · Dec 28, 2009

Eldritch said:
Sounds dorky, but I took the husband and kids to Red Lobster for lunch.

Aww...

Whenever I accomplish something significant, I celebrate with a roll of tollhouse cookie dough.

free_cashews_on_me · Dec 28, 2009

my dad, who is a great cook, fixes me clam pasta, my favorite food, when I finish a novel. I've finished three.

profen4 · Dec 28, 2009

~~I smeared myself in paste and ran naked through the neighbourhood screaming and shouting.~~ I ate a cookie

Blackest_Nite · Dec 28, 2009

If I finished writing a book I would...

1. faint
2. scream my head off with my friends
3. fall unconscious from all the lightheadedness of screaming so loudly

tengraceapples · Dec 28, 2009

Blackest_Nite said:
If I finished writing a book I would...

1. faint
2. scream my head off with my friends
3. fall unconscious from all the lightheadedness of screaming so loudly

I'm sure you will finish. Then you can faint dead away: )

charlotte49ers · Dec 28, 2009

Congrats to you!!

I don't know what I'll do when I finish this. Maybe run around like a crazy person screaming, "AMEN!!!"

No, I'll probably get my husband to take me on a date.

Epiphany · Dec 28, 2009

May finish mine tonight. I think I'll have a beer. Classy, huh?

Claudia Gray · Dec 28, 2009

When I finished the first draft of AFTERLIFE a couple weeks ago, I celebrated with a glass of cheap supermarket champagne and an HGTV marathon. That's me -- wild 'n' crazy.

AryaT92 · Dec 28, 2009

Finished first book, celebrated by writing the second book, now I'm celebrating by waiting for the publisher to respond to my agent.. This celebration isn't all that fun but if they react positively I'll definitely edit this post and tell you how I celebrate then!

bettielee · Dec 28, 2009

I run around with my arms in the air shouting "aaaaahhhhhhggggghhhh!!!!!" until lightheaded, then jump on AW and tell everyone... sometimes I rinse and repeat.

And a hearty congratulations to you.

tengraceapples · Dec 28, 2009

Thanks Bettielee.

Nice fairy: )

KimJo · Dec 29, 2009

When I finish a book, I just kind of stare in stunned silence at the computer monitor for a moment. Then I announce, "I finished!" Sometimes my fiance and kids congratulate me; sometimes they just smile tolerantly at me and go on about their business.

ANY 'I FINISHED MY NOVEL' RITUALS OUT THERE?

tengraceapples

Parametric

tengraceapples

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

RobinT

starting to get used to this

scarletpeaches

ejwriter

lurk & learn

scarletpeaches

vroth

...yep.

Renee Collins

Plotting . . .

tengraceapples

afif95

Eldritch

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

free_cashews_on_me

Insanium in the cranium

profen4

Blackest_Nite

Rubbish Poet

tengraceapples

charlotte49ers

let it snow

Epiphany

Don't kill the bar, Dude.

Claudia Gray

AryaT92

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

tengraceapples

KimJo

Outside the box, with the werewolves