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?
mshatch says
I often celebrate the same way, with a game. It used to be Empire Earth until my brother gave me Civilization IV. I won't say how many hours I've lost…
Tchann says
I've only really had one draft finished worth celebrating so far…and I went a bit overboard and got a BJD of one of the main characters (an Iplehouse Tania, for those in the know). ;>.> I need to not make this a habit, if at all possible!
dwkazzie says
wings. and beer.
kayspringsteen says
C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E! And when that is gone, more chocolate. Of course, I also use chocolate to deal with blocks, and edits, and….
Amy says
My usual celebration involves letting myself have an unitnerupted day of reading before I start in on the next project.
abc says
A wimpy and quiet "woooo hoo".
J. R. McLemore says
I'm faced with a very long edit process because I finished three (1st draft) manuscripts this past year. When I finish a first draft, however, I usually like to sit back and watch sitcoms for a little while, something I usually don't do when I'm writing. Also, I might play some Wii games to let my mind relax and unwind.
Beth Sorensen says
Champagne is a must. A friend of my grandmothers told me once to always keep a bottle in the frig because life is for celebrating. I open a bottle everytime a finish a rough draft! (And a final draft too!)
Stephanie says
Honestly, I celebrate by sending it immediately to my best friend, then going over it again!
Sharon Kirk Clifton says
In a few days, I will have finished my second middle-grade novel ms. I'll likely go to Panera, get coffee and something tasty, and begin revising. I won't celebrate per se until I secure an agent or have it accepted for publication. Ask me then, because that's when I'll celebrate good times.
Write on!
jaymg says
With you on the sushi, but then I feel that sushi can be used to celebrate pretty much anything – and should be… Such as, hmm, I made a particularly wonderful cup of tea today – celebrate with sushi!
When I finished the first draft of my current novel I burst into tears, then drank a lot of whiskey and ate a lot of icecream.
Nick says
I don't celebrate. Okay, draft done. Now to get started on the next draft, or the next story, or whatever.
Joseph L. Selby says
I'm on such a high from writing the last few chapters, that I just want to keep going. It's hard to put it down. Sometimes I'll go right back into revision. Other times I'll start in on the pile of books I've been waiting to read.
All times, there will be much cheering and boasting on Twitter and my blog. 🙂
Creepy Query Girl says
when I finished my first draft of my very first book a couple years back, I was on cloud nine for awhile. That feeling of accomplishment was well worth celebrating. Now? Years later I try to make the time to do a little happy dance, reward myself with catching up on some reading while the first draft marinates, and day dream about landing an agent on the first round of queries. But the euphoria really doesn't last anymore now that I know how much work is going to have to go into getting the draft query ready.
ஜღBaRbYღஜ says
I do not celebrate. I'm usually very sad to let my characters go. I don't like endings either. I guess that's life, isn't it?
Matt Forbeck says
I crawl out of my cave, blink at the sunlight, and wrap my wife and kids in my arms.
Kerry Freeman says
I finished the first draft of my first novel earlier this month, and my husband took me to my favorite pizza place and ordered whatever I wanted 🙂
jpcabit says
Usually I leave off the celebrating, except for a somewhat satisfying feeling of "aaaaaah…" I should probably start celebrating though. If only for an excuse to have fun. 🙂
marissameyer says
If it's a "still needs work" draft, I usually take a week or so and do nothing but read and watch movies. If it's the "finally going to agent or editor" draft, then I'll have a bottle of wine or bubbly on my wine rack designated for finishing it. Usually to be imbibed while reading or watching movies.
M.J.B. says
I took my most recent draft to Wellington, New Zealand to edit it at my favorite Starbucks on earth! (Also did a lot of hiking/walking/exploring/thinking…).
Otherwise I usually just make good food, have some wine, and watch a movie…i.e. remember how to relax for a while!
Susan Kaye Quinn says
My kids love Civilization IV! For me, I tend to have a hard time getting said draft out of my brain, so I try to do something else to occupy it. Re-runs of Glee are particularly useful for this! 😉
KellyP says
The creative process is such a rush. I don't want it to end, so I either delve right into the next book of the series or into the editing process so I can spend a little more time with my characters.
Kimberly Menozzi says
Once I've managed to *finish*-finish it (meaning no more work to be done. At all. Period.), I permit myself a trophy. Something related to the work I've just done.
For my current WiP, I plan to purchase a professional print of a photo which inspired the creation of the novel in the first place. It won't come cheap, but that's fine.
It's my treat.
Lynne says
With my first novel, I dashed off several queries. Oops. Classic rookie mistake. Having learned the hard way about the value of time, distance and painful revision, I celebrated the finish of novel number two by putting it in a drawer to marinate, where it currently sits. Oh, and then I had a glass of wine with my husband (who was thrilled to see me again) and settled in to watch Glee. (I mean really watch it, not just sit there with my HP Mini in my lap and look up every so often and nod). 🙂
Fun post Nathan — thanks. And congrats on finishing Book 2. Woot!
Natalie Whipple says
I usually get my lazy on: Warcraft, anime, movies I missed while writing for however long.
Sushi is often involved as well. Or cheeseburgers. But not together.
Bryan Russell (Ink) says
Well, for finishing a draft of something small I don't really do anything. But the completion of a major draft for a novel is met with food and hopefully the purchase of a new book. What better treat is there?
Teralyn Rose Pilgrim says
My feeling of satisfaction and pride are celebration enough for me… and honestly, nothing else compares to it. The best celebration is to bask in the happiness that comes with finishing.
I love "Romancing the Stone" when she finishes her book and shares dinner and champange with her cat. It always makes me laugh.
Alyson says
For the last two rough drafts I finished, I simply go to sleep, no strings attached (obviously my teachers will understand why I haven't finish my homework–I was writing a novel). Generally the ending has kept me up till the wee hours of the morning as it was, an easy rest thinking about what I've done is the best possible reward.
Joanne Bischof says
I do a happy dance and walk around blissfully happy for about a day.
And then I edit 🙂
Alan Orloff says
Sleep. Lots of it.
Jeffrey Ricker says
I finished my draft and promptly went on a cruise to Alaska. Mind you, the timing was largely coincidental, but really satisfying just the same.
Stephanie McGee says
Swedish fish.
That is all.
Though, sushi might have to be my celebration if I ever land an agent.
sharongerlach says
I have a glass (or two) of good scotch and dinner at a favorite restaurant. Then I have a three-month period where I can't write because I'm mourning my characters–until I start editing and revising, after which I'm so sick of them I'm glad to see the last of them for a while. Yeah. Writers. *shakes head*
Davy DeGreeff says
Although my next draft will be rewarded with the very special purchase of a PS3 I've been setting cash aside for, I generally treat myself to a celebratory glass of Booker's bourbon (accompanied by two ice cubes and nothing more), which I keep in a decanter for such special occasions.
Sarah says
I used to think I'd jump up and down and open a bottle of wine with my husband, but these days I just buckle down and start the process all over again.
Man, I've gotten boring. :/
Rachel @ MWF Seeking BFF says
I anticipate finishing up my draft of book #1 at the end of January. It will have some work to be done on early chapters, and some general reads and revisions very necessary, but still I dream of the moment I will hit Save. I picture a giant weight being lifted. (A good wonderful weight but a weight nonetheless.) Then I plan to drink a glass of champagne or wine, watch some TV and, yes, eat some sushi. And get a great nights sleep before starting the revisions.
Sierra McConnell says
There is no celebration.
I breathe. Then I dig right in again. Because I know that only part one of the battle has ended, and the second part has only begun. I am one-third through my potions and tinctures, and I need to use them carefully, or by the end of the fight I will be swooned by a simple blow.
I've played too much Final Fantasy, can you tell? :3
Gracie says
GRIN!! And grin some more, while enjoying the exhilarating feeling of "Yes I did it!" …and then try not to think about how it's not over yet.
Kristi says
After I finishedthe first novel I attempted, I bought a suit of armor. Decorative, inexpensive, fits my house decor and the book itself. After subsequent novel attempts, I just surf the web and read a book
Livia says
I finished my draft last week! I told twitter, reveled in the congratulations for about 30 minutes, and then started revisions. Writing time is scarce!
The Red Angel says
Wow, congrats Nathan! 🙂 That is a huge accomplishment, especially right before a new year is about to begin. When I finish a draft, I treat myself to something delicious like a smoothie or a dish at one of my favorite restaurants. Or I just indulge in candy and chocolate. 😛
Happy holidays!
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Dorothy L. Abrams says
I take a break and pick a reward from something I really wanted to do but postponed during the writing process. That might be a good meal in a favorite restaurant with my sweetie, or lunch and a brew from a micro brewery with friends, a drive to the lake, a trip to the city for "culture", or my personal favorite–a nap! I definitely enter the "downtime" before jumping back into the process because I need to fall out of love with my writing and gain perspective.
Chris Phillips says
I read Nathan Bransford's blog!
D.G. Hudson says
A glass of wine, good company – especially my Ideal Reader, and perhaps a night out at our favorite jazz club.
I put the draft aside while I gear myself up for revisions. I also like to absorb the feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing something to which I had dedicated a lot of time, soul, and energy.
Congrats, Nathan on completing book two of Jacob Wonderbar – how long would you say it took to write the draft of your second book? (if you don't mind saying, that is)
Nancy Thompson says
I danced around the house like a lunatic! And that was almost as fun as finishing.
Nancysthompson@blogspot.com
D.N. Stuefloten says
When I finished the first draft of my sixth novel, The Ethiopian Exhibition, I was living in an abandoned house next to the beach in southern Mexico. I was down to my last thirty dollars. I took a quick swim, packed hammock and typewriter on my motorcycle, and started north. The wind in my face, the open road, the delirious sense of freedom–that was my celebration….
Deni Krueger says
I whip it off to my family so I don't whip it off to an agent.
Then…a beer. And wrestle with my kids and my hubby.
Watcher55 says
I'm going to build a brick pad for the grill while I build up the courage to start the publication process.
Colin says
Ritual sacrifice.
Kay Theodoratus says
I tend to sit back and glow … before reality hits me over the head.