I'm done. I'm crying. And I'm done. I revised and rewrote an ending that made me feel proud to write the words "The End" at the bottom.
Now all I have to do is go through with line edits and touch up a few places that my gammas and CPs have pointed out to me. But this is it. This is my novel. I am going to be querying by the end of the month (just in time for my birthday, which is March 2nd --FYI--the same as Dr. Seuss).
I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but let's check out the score.
6: Years since I had the dream that inspired this story
2.5: Years that I've been actively drafting, writing, rewriting, cutting and writing the book
50: Times I wrote the first chapter or started a new draft or version of the story
6: Weeks it took me to finally write the right draft, the version of the story that was the ONE!
6: Months it took me to revise every single chapter of The Draft (at least once, some chapters have had multiple treatments)
9: Drafts it took to me to compile and perfect my query letter.
5: Titles I seriously considered before settling on Stolen (at least that's the title for now, hehe)
470: Pages of Stolen
136,943: Words in Stolen (I know scary!)
Infinite: The feeling I have right now that I wrote the best story I could write (plus one more revision and line edits).
Here's the song I'm listening to, which shares my book's namesake and is one of the bonus tracks on my playlist:-)
Fin!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!! Isn't it wonderful? I give you a few days before you start to miss your characters so much that you go back. Or at least that is what happened to me. I was so happy to be finished and thought... okay take a few days to distance myself... a bit of a break... then three hours later I was back at my computer working on book two. WONDERFUL JOB AND I AM SO HAPPY YOU FINISHED!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! WOO HOO, I don't normally do this but, "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
ReplyDeleteWhat a ride huh? Bask in this moment ;o) Can't wait to hear the rest of this story :o)
*applause*
Aw! *Big, GIANT HUG!!!!!* Can't wait to read it--I'm so proud of you (and hehe, LOVE that Dashboard is in the post) Celebrate Frankie--you deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!! SO PROUD! SO EXCITED...SO PLEASED ;O)
ReplyDeleteBREATHE - Enjoy the feeling & know you have a wonderful story to share with the world.
uncentr - is my word verification...hmmm perhaps you should meditate after such a great accomplishment then like flake out while eating vegan cookies to uncentr...interesting...
Aww, yay!!!! I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to read all about your query process - even though I haven't been with you from the beginning, I've loved seeing your journey (the parts that I've seen) and I'm so excited to see how it ends! And I'm eagerly awaiting the Shakira video...
ReplyDeleteWow. That's a long journey and such a high to finish, I'm sure! Congrats!!! I hope I can do a similar post in a couple of months!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great news!--and your score shows all the work you put in. I bet you're on cloud nine.
ReplyDeleteWhat better (early) birthday present could you ask for?
Emma, Thank you and omg 3 hours! 3 minutes later I wanted to jump back in. I finished close to 2am and I couldn't fall asleep until after 3 bc I couldn't stop thinking about my ending. But thank you soooo so much!
ReplyDeleteJ. Joyanagi, Thank you!
Erica, WOOT! You squeeeed, Thank you! And yeah its been quite a ride and its far from over. Whew!
Shannon, thank you!!!
Southern Princess, hahaha, that's awesome and thannk you and OMG your email...I had to read it 5 times!!! Thank you!!!
Heather, thank you and oh boy...we're closer than ever to that Shakira video!
Regan, yeah its crazy!! Im sooo excited and happy.
Jon Paul, thanks and I think this is a perfect early bday present-though of course having an agent call after literally 2 days of querying (aka on my bday) would also rock as a gift.
Congrats Frankie! That is fantastic. Thanks for posting your stats--pretty incredible.
ReplyDeleteBravo :)
Congratulations! I just got my butt in gear and started revising my draft. I still have to add some chapters, and slow down the timeline a lot...
ReplyDeleteCongrats, I'm happy for you. I have about 50 words left of my first edit and I'm about to cry.
ReplyDeleteann
Nice! Great job on the song choice too!
ReplyDeleteChristine, thank you and Im glad you liked the stats-it is kind of fun to see it now.
ReplyDeleteChef Runner, woot, yay get moving! I want your book finished too! Your my Cornell-bellydancing-writer twin!
Ann, awww keep going! You're almost there!!! Yay!!
Jonathon, thank you!!!
WoooHooo!!!! Congratulations on reaching the end of the beginning of this process!!! Embrace the utter perfection of this moment...You did it! :)
ReplyDeleteFrankie - SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! You have definitely had a long journey! Congratulations, and keep us up to date!
ReplyDeleteYay! That's wonderful news! Now you need to spoil yourself rotten for a while. Bask in your accomplishment, Frankie - you've earned it! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Frankie. What a fantastic feeling!! Revel in it. Post pictures of your celebration!
ReplyDeleteSheer determination and perseverance! That is so exciting! Go out and do some celebrating. You deserve it!
ReplyDeleteYee ha! What a wonderful feeling! Hope you find a fantastically fun way to celebrate this milestone moment.
ReplyDeleteRhonda, thanks and Im trying but Im too excited to jump back in with the line edits to get it shiny enough to send to agents on time.
ReplyDeleteAnne, thanks!!! I will:-)
Shannon, hahaha, yeah I will once I have it out to agents in query wars.
Carolina, hehe thank you, and I dont think my celebration looks too exciting at the moment but I will do something fun and share soon.
Tiffany, yeah this was all about determination!
Laurel, thanks and soon enough the celebrations will start!
Congratulations- that is really exciting! It's a long road when you do the math, right? Good luck with query-ing. I'm about to start the process myself!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS! YES I'M YELLING RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S BECAUSE I'M HAPPY FOR YOU! AND ALSO POSSIBLY BECAUSE I'M ON MY 3RD CUP OF COFFEE THIS MORNING AND GETTING SILLY WITH OVERCAFFEINATION!
ReplyDeleteYOU ROCK!
And, um, now would be an appropriate time for a martini. :)
HUZZAH!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so stoked for you!!!! I am dreaming of the day in my future where I can also take up the call of "I FINISHED!" and pass it along like a torch to light the way into THE QUERY WARS!
Congratulations!
*kicks the icky spammer*
ReplyDeleteSQUEEEE for Frankie!!! That is so awesome!! *applauds and cheers and dances*
I can't wait to read the whole thing ---- and cut down that word count for you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, I'm so proud!
Excellent number montage! I love that. And congrats on finishing! There's nothing like it. Except the freaky queasy feeling of querying. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Frankie! It's been a long time coming. You deserve all kinds of yummies and happy dances.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel. Though, I thought my book was done at one point and I've gone back to it. Almost ready to start querying again.
If your ending kept you up so late and made people cry (saw your Twitter post), then it must be AWESOME! Can't wait until we all get to read it.
Congrats!!!!!!! That is so exciting!!!!!!! I really want to sprinkle this with a thousand exclamation points and caps lock, but I'm not going to, but here are a few more exclamation points because I'm so excited for you. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYAAAAAY! GO FRANKIE, GO FRANKIE!!!! *Does the wave* Writing "The End" is the BEST feeling in the world!!!! Now go out and CELEBRATE!!! You DESERVE it!!! CONGRATS!!! :D <3
ReplyDelete~Ella
Melissa, oh yes, loooooooong road indeed and a lot of late nights.
ReplyDeleteSimon, hahahaha omg am I the first person you've ever yelled at on the blogosphere?
Amalia, Huzzah!!! Yay thank you!
Mireyah, hahaha I deleted that stupid spam and yay thank you!!!
Donna, hehe thanks and yeah....need to cut those words down still.
Elana, thank you!! It really puts the moment into perspective when I see how much work went into it.
Kristie, thank you and YEP! I have been there multiple times before. I just know in my gut that after so many drafts, this ending is The Ending! Glad to finally be here.
Hayley, ooooh thanks! I love exclamation points, I say we need more exclamation points!
ELla, thank you!! And I will celebrate sooon, once I finish my line edits:-)
YAY, FRANKIE!! Woo hoo! That's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it. And I really can't wait to handsell the finished, published book in the bookstore. Signed copies, of course.
OMG! Congrats on finishing! I am so happy for you. Looks like hard work really does pay off in the end. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm crying with you! And 50 first chapters? Hey, that kinda really sounds like my book... *whistles*
ReplyDeleteCongrats! It's an awesome feeling when you put so much work into something and you actually have a finished project to show for it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I love your breakdown of time. What an amazing accomplishment. You should be so proud! GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEXT ADVENTURE!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Frankie!!! I am so proud of you, and can't wait to see all the good things that happen from here! *HUGS* *hands Frankie some vegan Twizzlers*
ReplyDeleteJoanne! Thank you and YES Im dying for you to read the new draft and let me know what you think and of course--your still will only carry signed copies! Plus totally having a launch party at your place too:-)
ReplyDeleteRaven, thanks and Im not quite seeing the pay off yet but I believe that with all my heart, goals are more worth it when you worked for them.
Heather, awww yay, good bc I feel lame crying by myself:-)
Nicole, yeah it rocks!!!
LiLa, thank you and yes....the next part is uber exciting!!
Sarah, squeee thank you and I accept the vegan twizzlers:-)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now we get to live vicariously through you as you field offer after offer of representation from fabulous agents. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Also, I wanted to let you know that I've given you the Over the Top Award!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS so happy to hear it. I love you
ReplyDeletejm
Frankie! I couldn't have picked a more perfect day to check out your site!! I don't know you, but I'm sharing your feelings of elation at getting your MS finished!! I'm far, far from that point with my first novel, but your post inspires me to get working on it...as soon as I send this off.
ReplyDeleteI'm signing on as a follower -- I can't wait to read your post announcing publication!!!
Congrats, Frankie!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you! This post was so encouraging to me to see all the years, months, weeks, drafts, etc. that if took you to get to this point. Sending you a big hug- take time to BREATHE this week and celebrate!
ReplyDeleteLiLa, thank you soooo much! Your predictions for my query wars are my favorite, I HOPE you are right!
ReplyDeleteKelly, thank you and SQUEEE! Thank you!!!
Julie, thank you, I love you toO!
Nicole, Hi! Welcome and thank you! I'm so glad you found me and whew, I totally hope to be making that announcement soon, hehe, btw I make deals with the universe, wait till you see what I'm planning when that announcement comes:-) Hope to talk to you more.
Kelly, thanks and good, Im glad it was encouraging---thanks for all of your support!! I will celebrate soon:-)
This is the happiest post ever! CONGRATULATIONS! So much hard work you've put in, it's astounding. CONGRATS, CONGRATS!
ReplyDeleteTime for the deal with the universe to enact!
Good job! It's fun to write THE END. I've changed my title five times. Will I ever get it right? And I love editing. Each time I get to THE END again I feel a little....I don't know. Lost? Sad? Forlorn? then I start all over again. Making every....word...count.
ReplyDeleteA big fat congrats to you. Time to dance in the streets. What an awesome feeling. Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThis is flippin' fantastic!!! And just in time for your birthday! You'll have two reasons to celebrate that day! ;D
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Frankie! This is awesome news! :)
Aaaahhh! Congratulations!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!!!
Good luck with querying AT THE END OF THE MONTH! WOW! So soon!
Angie, yay Im glad you think so, this makes me happy and Im so happy still and in love with my ending! Cant wait for my deals with the universe...well...maybe a little.
ReplyDeleteYvonne, hehe yeah I burst into tears when I wrote the end. Im soooo excited I get to go back into it tonight.
Southpaw, thank you! Totally dancing!
Pirate Penguin, thank you!!! SQUEEE!
Kat, I know! It IS very soon-aaaaahhh!
Atta girl. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eric!!!:-)
ReplyDeletecongrats on your novel. I finished mine last year at this same time. Pretty cool eh. I queried too got some bites but then I realized it was too early for me. I had to let it cool for bit and now i got to go back and make it better. I've grown since then and things appear different to me. Take a pic of the manuscript if you can it will be something that you will cherish.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I can feel your excitement all the way over here in AZ! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteAs an aspiring author myself, you must feel so proud of yourself! I wish you the best of luck!
ReplyDelete