Friday, March 13, 2009

I Think I've just Finished...


Um…*looks around dumbfounded* … I think I just finished my first novel. I just finished with the bones, that is. The flesh is yet to come. As my wise friends here in blogworld say, a novel is composed of many layers, each one making it more and more beautiful. It’s a little baby book! Alright, I will be quiet. I have a few questions for my fellow writers. When did you know you had finished your novels?

I have 75,000 words at the moment, my genre calls for about 80,000. I cut a scene, which brought the word count down quite significantly. I now have 5,000 or so words to play around with. How important is the 5,000 words? What if my novel ends up having only 75,000?

Yipeeeeeeee! I can’t wait to jump into the editing process. Who knows, I may have something worth submitting to crit groups in the next month or so.

24 comments:

Tara Maya said...

Woooohoooo! Treat yourself!

Tana said...

Congratulations! Don't worry about the word count, 75K sounds about right. When you do your edits the words have a way of multiplying. Now celebrate you've done something most people can only dream of.

Tara Maya said...

I usually overwrite, so I am always thrilled to have 5000 extra words. When you revise, you may cut more words, of course, but you will also want to look through your book for White Room scenes where you've been scimpy with description. Add in sounds and scents, in particular, little details. Mabye not 5,000 words worth.

Traci said...

Thank you guys for being so supportive!!!

T. Anne...I was thinking the same thing! That I will add by changing the telling to showing etc!

Tara...I have a ton of white room scenes that need help! :-)

I was thinking about imitating that book that Merc posted. LOL Then I could add 10,000 words, all adjectives describing body parts! LOL

Kate Karyus Quinn said...

I just finished the first draft of my novel this week too! I was worried that I would be under my word goal of 85K, but ended up going approx. 7K over. I don't know how anyone ever accurately predicts those things.

Anyway, congrats on getting to the end!

Traci said...

Congrats Kate! Yeah... I think it's impossible to predict. It's over when it's over right? ;-) I'm sure I will add here and there. The tracks are laid though..YAY!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Oh, congratulations! I think the word count is just fine and, like everyone else said, it will go up and down as you edit. I say, though you have editing to do, consider your novel done! Congratulate yourself on being dedicated enough to actually complete an entire work of fiction. The editing and adding and deleting scenes is an entirely different thing and just one that will refine your work and bring it to a better level. Good work!

Traci said...

Thanks Cindy! :-) I am so thankful for all of you. I am always amazed how welcoming the writing community here is!

Michelle D. Argyle said...

I know my novel is finished when I've written the last chapter. *grins foolishly*

That's just the first layer. The bones, yep! I think the REAL writing comes for me when I start layering and adding the meat.

I'm going to answer your email soon. Thanks for letting me know! I am very excited for you. It's fantastic news. :)

Traci said...

Glam -Cheeky! LOL

lotusgirl said...

Yippee! As for word count, it's usually in a range depending on the type of book and the age of the reader. 75K Is a great length for a YA book. I wish mine were 75K. It is still going up and down. Mostly down. I'm at about 90K down from 115. Haha. Way out of the 60-80 range of YA books. I actually think I could get away with 90K. It's at least in the ball park.

Like some said, yours will go up and down as you edit. You're well situated for adding adjectives. ;-)

Traci said...

I whipped out a list of adjectives for every occasion. LOL

Thanks Lotus! ;-)

The Screaming Guppy said...

Grats! That's so awesome!

Though...you scare me a little when you talk about being excited to edit. >:D

I think 5k words won't make or break the book personally. You find out soon enough if you need them or not when you edit, I would think.

Samantha Elliott said...

Congrats! I remember that feeling...it was one of the best in the world. Just don't forget to STEP AWAY from it for a while. I'd suggest at least a week.

And I agree with Tara, treat yourself! You've just done something amazing.

Anette J Kres said...

Congrats!

Make sure to send me a message when your stuff goes up on CC so I can look at it for ya. :)

And yeah, don't worry about your wordcount. It's going to change with rounds of edits.

Traci said...

Guppy...LOL!!! I'm trying to remain positive! he he Love editing...love, love, love. *looks for Kermit the frog video*

Samantha - I think stepping away is a good idea. I can't look at it objectively at all right now. I'm out with the girls tonight to celebrate. ;-)

Anette - I'll definitely let you know when I post on CC. I am thinking in a couple of months. Maybe? :-)

Unknown said...

YAY! I am so happy for you!

As for when a novel's finished: when you give it to other writers to read, and the only comments they make are either irrelevant to your goal (i.e. they want the main character to be a girl instead of a boy, but you want it to stay a girl), nit-picky to the point of silliness (i.e. little comments on sentence structure that don't change the meaning, just the style), or are contradicted by at least two other readers (i.e. one person dislikes a scene, but at least two more love it).

But also: it's done when you just can't do anything else to it. :)

Either way: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Traci said...

Beth...LOL!! I'm not adding vampires either. he he Thanks for the support. ;-)

Davin Malasarn said...

Congratulations! That is a big accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself. As to when you will feel officially done, I'm not sure that ever happens for some people. I think it just depends on your personality. If you've finished a short story, then you probably have some idea of when that moment happens for you. Since you brought it up, you might be there already!

Traci said...

Thank you for the support David!
;-)

scott g.f.bailey said...

Congratulations! I remember when I finished my first novel. I was high on it for a week.

Don't worry about word count. Do give yourself a couple of weeks between each draft to attain some sort of critical difference.

I hope you did something to celebrate!

Traci said...

Scott - I had margheritas with the girls. ;-) Thank you for the support!

scott g.f.bailey said...

Excellent! When I finished my first novel, I took my two best friends out for fajitas and margaritas.

And of course I meant to write "critical distance," not "difference." I haven't had my coffee yet this morning.

Traci said...

Scott -

I can't WAIT to read your book! No problem about the "difference" comment. I haven't had my coffee either, so I just thought you were cleverer than me! LOL