So the big news is . . . that I finished my first draft! I stayed up ridiculously late one night and knocked it out and I am still so happy ^.^ And tell me that picture doesn't work awesomely. I know it's probably a wedding invitation or something dumb like that, but to me it's a diploma because I am now the "better half" of the way through the create-a-book process :D
Here are the stats on where the first drafts stands.
Pages~ 179
Chapters~ 33 and an epilogue
Words~ 94,870
Started~ September 9, 2015 in the 10 am hour, I think
Finished~ June 9, 2016 2:06 am
Total Time~ Precisely 10 months. It makes my OCD heart happy :) update: it was actually 9 months
Oh my goodness guys, can I just say wow. I really had no idea how long this was because I had written each chapter in a separate Google Doc. When I copied them all to my Word Doc today that holds my first draft, I was shocked. My initial goal was 50,000 words and 20 chapters. Do you think I surpassed that? My goal is to have beta readers (*nudge*) by September and the story self-published by Thanksgiving so I can distribute it to family.
It feels so rewarding to finish my first draft!! I am so blessed by all of your encouragement throughout the process. I seriously would not have finished as quickly as I did (don't laugh) without all of you by my side! I have written twice as much each month since starting this blog because of the accountability of all of you awesome guys. You all mean so much to me, so thank you :D
My note of advice to you is this: once you finish your first draft, ignore it for weeks (I haven't looked at it since) and treat yourself to some relaxation and possibly therapy. My wonderful author friend, Jamie Foley, actually sent me an accomplishment/care package and it was so amazing. I mean, goodness guys, she's just amazing, okay? Dark chocolate, fuzzy socks, and new earrings are exactly what I needed. And the classy file folders and notepad will come in handy when I get back to it :)
As for all the other aspects, I am looking into getting a professional edit and format, with the goal of having this as an e-book as well. I know what the cover is going to look like and it just needs to be sketched by my brother . . . still. My rendition just wasn't quite up to par. This is basically what I want, though, so if anyone of you wants to spend time on it, go for it!
I hope despite what interest you have in my story that this can be my encouragement to you because you can do it and it will be so worth it when you do.
Now for the delightful editing phase . . .
~~~~~
Any questions? If you want to know more about any of my process, leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail. (I finally got all my media buttons working!) What is your writing status? Have you self-published? Impart your wisdom, I'm clueless!
WHOA HANG ON you're saying that you're nearly 100k word novel is 100 pages in Microsoft Word, right? XD Not like in published form.
ReplyDeleteBut anyhow great job! *high fives*
Oops. XD Not 100, 179. :)
DeleteThank you :D Yes, it's 179 pages in Word :) I have NO idea how long it's going to be published. But I'm guessing around 250? *shrug*
DeleteOoh, did you say Beta readers? *grins hopefully*
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the finished draft! I've never yet been able to have a draft with that many words. The most I've done is 60k...but I'm working on it. :D
Yes, ma'am. I'm glad you're interested ^.^ Thank you!! I was shocked it ended up this long, honestly, but I was very pleased :D 60,000 is a nice length--still over the full-length novel line and long enough to seem like a whole story. Length is not everything ;)
DeleteWow, congrats on finishing your draft!! That's so exciting!
ReplyDeleteThank you :D I'm so happy!! ^.^ I am relishing giving my poor story a break :)
DeleteCongratualtions, Abi!!! I would love to be a beta-reader. So exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! You most certainly may be a beta. The more the merrier!! :D
DeleteCongratulations!! That's so exciting!!!! I love that it was exactly ten months that makes me very happy too xD
ReplyDeleteThank you! Ah, yes. I didn't even realize that at the time! Too tired I guess. As it turned out, I miscalculated: it was actually exactly 9 months. Even better ^.^
DeleteYay! Congrats!!! *showers chocolate and confetti* Finishing the first draft is seriously probably the most awesome part of writing! It's my favorite part. And wow, that is long! I think the longest story I've written was around 65,000 words. It probably would have been longer, but I completed it during NaNo last year, and by the time the end of November rolled around, I was so ready to end the story!
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I cannot imagine having a story around 94,000 words!
Oh, oh, I'd LOVE to beta-read!!! Your story sounds amazing! :D
Right now I'm in the editing stage with above mentioned story, and in the finishing-touches-before-publishing-stage with my other book!
And if you're looking for an editor or cover designer, I know a few wonderful people to work with. ;)
Thank you :D *receives chocolate and confetti* Yeah, I can't imagine feeling this fulfilled again until it's published :D Obviously, I would have to majorly change my writing style to be able to get an entire novel done for NanNo D: 20,000 is my all-time high for a monthly word count. 65,000 is REALLY good! I'm thinking about giving Camp NaNo a shot, so that should be fun :)
DeleteI'm so glad you're interested! I hope to get some serious editing done, because the first 10 chapters are still not up to the par of the last 23 :/
I would love to hear more about your editor and cover designer (even if they're you) ;) I would love low-end, high-quality. Totally not a tall order . . .
Wow, I LOVE the new blog look! It looks so amazingly professional!
DeleteHaha, I'll send you an email with all the wonderful people who have helped me with my book. Nooo, I hired both a cover designer and had someone else edit for me. I'm no good at designing, and I cannot ever seem to edit my own work. Though I can seem to do other's pretty well. ;)
Thank you!! I spent all of today on it . . . I ended up just super customizing a Blogger theme ;) Still needs some work, but much better :)
DeleteI just saw your e-mail come through. You're amazing! I'm sure I'll be able to find some good resources there. Thanks so much :D
CONGRATULATIONS, ABIGAYLE! *showers you in confetti* I can't wait to read Martin Hospitality one day! :D
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you!! I'm loving all this confetti ;) It makes me so happy that people are interested. I will do my best so that it will hopefully meet the high expectations I have set ^.^
DeleteCongratulations on finishing your first draft! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Definitely the furthest I have ever gotten on ANY book. I'm really enjoying my break before having to jump into editing. *sigh*
DeleteCongratulations! That's fabulous! I will definitively be on the lookout for a chance at beta-reading! While my story is a bit longer than yours, it took me and my writing partner nearly three years to finish the first draft and we're still in the editing phase! So awesome job on getting so much done in such a short time! That's some great dedication that will carry you through to publishing. Can't wait to get the chance to read your book, congrats again!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That's awesome to have such a long story! It makes sense that it would take longer to draft when you're having to share with someone else as well ;) Is it a co-written novel then? I always wondered what it would be like to do one of those :) It feels like it took me a long time to write, but then again, I actually have a complete first draft for the first time ever! I'm so glad it interests you. Christian Contemporary is not everyone's thing ;)
DeleteWow, that's awesome! Congratulations! And I love that it took you exactly 10 months. :)
ReplyDeleteSerena | poetree
Thank you! I recalculated and it actually took me exactly 9 months. But the precision is still there and that's all that matters!!
DeleteAlso, on a completely unrelated note, I LOVE your sign off! Very classy :)
Haha, I didn't even notice -- I'm terrible with numbers!
DeleteThank you! It's actually a tip I saw posted on another blog, and I'm not very consistent with using it...
A very big congratulations on finishing your first draft! Is this your first draft ever? Cause that's even more cool then. I remember the day I finished my very first first draft. It felt amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to read your work someday! Awesome job!
Thanks, Emily :D Yes, my very first first draft ^.^ It did feel amazing. I good go to bed in peace knowing that I was never going to have to crank out an entire chapter. It will just be editing now :)
DeleteThanks! I can't wait to hear what you think! :)
Finishing a draft is one of the best feelings, especially when followed with chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. I had no idea. Of course, I collapsed into bed since I finished so late, but it was so worth the lost sleep. I was so ready to be done! And, yes. Chocolate totally makes everything better ^.^
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS, ABI!!!!! XD That is so exciting!!! Published by Thanksgiving -- woah, you've got ambition, girl. ;)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck and congrats again!! :)
THANK YOU!! I'm still excited about it!! Aw thanks :D I plan to self-publish, though, so that should speed it up just a little. I am not nearly brave, composed, or educated enough to try and conquer traditional publishing yet D:
DeleteThank you. Luck would be awesome for a good second draft ;)
You finished your first draft?! HURRAY!!! *gives you cookies to celebrate* That's SO exciting! And wow, I can't believe that you might have a self-published book by Thanksgiving :D.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, I just realized we both finished our first drafts within a week of each other (I finished mine yesterday)! Though ... yours is a novel and mine is a novella :D. Still, it's pretty cool!
Thanks! I will always take cookies ;) I know!!! I'm very excited that I could have this entire book done in around a year :D Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I hope not :)
DeleteCongratulations!! *gives YOU cookies* Finishing a first draft on anything is so exciting :D How long did it take you?
I hope not too! And mine took three months - pretty fast for me :D.
DeleteGreat job, Abi!!!! When can I be your Beta reader?!? =D I've been waiting so long already! ;) Let me know if you need any advice on self publishing! I am in no way a professional, but I've been through the process. =) I would love to help you in any way I can!
ReplyDeleteYou changed your blog design?! **gasp!** I was so surprised! LOL! Now to check out all of your amazing, new pages. ;)
Thanks, Hosanna!!! Soon, I promise :D I just have to edit it to my heart's content first :P
DeleteI would love to know anything and everything you learned about self-publishing. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but I have a PDF from a friend that I'm supposed to read :)
I know!! I was tired of the old one. I wanted it to be more professional looking so I dedicated an entire day of my life to it, hehe. Hope you like it :D
Oh good! =)
DeleteMolly Evangeline has a helpful booklet on self-publishing that I used. =) You might want to look it up. =) I also am planning on writing some posts on self-publishing in the future, but I have several others planned too...so we'll see. =)
I completely understand! Changing blog designs takes FOREVER! But when it's done, it makes you so happy! =D
OH CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy for you :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I was done with my first draft... But no. I've only got 25K... :| and I'm at a bit of a "writerly laziness" I like to call it. I'm currently working on a novel, which I think the premise is much more interesting.
Good luck with editing!
Thank you :D
DeleteYou'll get there eventually, I promise :) The only reason I made it this far is because I was interested in the premise from the beginning. You have to do whatever it takes to get yourself to the end!!
Thanks, that's going to take even more self-discipline :P
Well, I congratulate you on doing what I'm too lazy to do. Okay, I'll try again and I'll try harder this summer! Hopefully it will work this time!
ReplyDeleteHaha, Grace. Thank you. But I promise you will get there eventually. I have started 100 stories before (I kid you not) and this is the first one that I felt a pressure to finish, and I don't even know why *shrug* You can do it!!
DeleteYay! Congratulations! Celebrate, breathe, relax a little.
ReplyDeleteOh, the putting it down awhile part. It's a smart thing to do, but I'm terrible at it. I usually have to force it. You have more willpower than I do.
Are you having beta readers look at the first draft, or the second draft? I can't tell from your post, because you didn't mention a second draft, but you said your goal is to have readers by September. So I thought the time lapse might be you writing the second draft.
Congratulations again! Yay!
Thank you, Becky! Yes, I am definitely kicking back. I haven't even opened my document again since I finished :) I've heard it's a good thing to do, but I kind of burned myself out trying to finish writing it, so it didn't take much discipline to say goodbye for a while :)
DeleteYes, I intend to give my book an entire edit, which will be me forming my second draft. THEN I will have betas. My alphas got to read my first draft and I wouldn't dare grace anyone else with that privilege ;)
Thank you! Do you have a book you're working on right now?
It sounds like you've got a good plan for how to move forward, which is great. I'm on the 10th-ish edit of my first novel, an adult post-apocalyptic thing. I had no clue what was doing, so I kept starting over. I finally put it down for almost 2 years and now I actually know how to make it work. I also have a YA paranormal novel I'm going to put out in serial format next month.
DeleteI also have an adult mystery that I wrote for NaNo last year. It's really really rough and currently on the back burner while I focus on the other two.
Good luck! Let me know if you have questions about editing, querying, or anything. I've learned quite a lot from doing things wrong.
Congrats on finishing! I just finished my 9th draft and I'm kinda dead -- rest up, eat some chocolate, have fun. :D
ReplyDelete