I just reached the end of a 224 page manuscript. And...it's time to turn back to page one and begin again. I offer this stock photo as my novel is set in a high desert like this one.
That image and finishing another pass brings to mind my stages of the novel. I wonder if this is normal? I have a crazy emotional journey with each that tends to pattern like this:
1. First draft: "I'm writing an AMAZING work!"
2. Handing over the draft for a critique: "Oh, dear. It's actually stupid."
3. Listening to comments: "Maybe it's not so bad."
4. Multiple rewrites: "I'm pulling this up, and it's really not so bad."
5. Final pass: "Woohoo! This is soooo strong."
6. Sending it to my agent: "This is stupid. What was I thinking?"
7. Hearing her affirmation: "Could it be good after all?"
8. Waiting on an editor: "What was I thinking? No, wait. This is a really good work! She should buy it!"
9. Sale: "See. It is good!"
10. Waiting for reviews: "What was I thinking? It's stupid. Everyone will say so."
11. Reviews: "It is good!"
12. Starting a first draft: "I'm writing an AMAZING work!"
This is really what I go through. Oh, my. I exhaust myself. *sigh* Now back to page one.
