Finishing a Book & Not Knowing What To Do With Yourself

Ever read a book and felt a wave of sadness wash over you as you realize it’s over and you can never relive that adventure in quite the same way again?

Apparently that happens when you write books too.

I just finished a novel I started in November. It was supposed to be last years NaNoWriMo project, but I started slow and didn’t write barely enough to stay on track, so when December came around I only had around 20k words. But I stuck with it, kept at it, and saw it through.

Yesterday, I wrote the last scene for the first draft.

I’ve written books before. I’ve finished first drafts and felt that surge of emotions as you realize it’s over, but I’m either not remembering correctly or I’m getting old, because I swear that used to be a good feeling.

Now, I don’t know what to do with myself.

Well, that’s not entirely true. Of course I know what I can do. I have another older first draft lying around that I can edit, and as soon as I hear back from my last beta reader, I can revise my third thriller and prep it for my editor.

But I feel like I don’t know what to do.

When I really think about it, I know what the problem is. Writing a first draft is safe, know what I mean? It keeps you focused and motivated, while at the same time making sure you’re too busy to do anything else.

“Can’t edit that other book right now, I’m busy with this first draft.”

Excuses. That’s what that first draft has been. A reason to put other things aside. A way to shove my other projects in front of me.

Now that it’s done, I have to stop pretending. I got to get back to my other responsibilities. In reality I know exactly what to do with myself. I just have to figure out where to start.

Ever feel overwhelmed with your art? That your projects take up all your time but you never get closer to the finish line? How do you deal with it? Got any secret ways to cope? Let me know in the comments!

As always, please check out my books. I appreciate it.