Friday's Top Ten

First, you may have noticed that I've been getting a little spam the past week or so. Because of that, I put the box with the squiggly letters back in the comment section. I'll leave it up for a couple of weeks and then take it down and see if we're OK for a while. Sorry for the inconvenience.

So . . . in honor of COMPLETING THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY MANUSCRIPT - YES I DID, JUST LAST NIGHT! - here's the Friday Top Ten:

Top ten emotions upon completing a manuscript draft:

10. Anticipation - I know I can finish today . . .

  9. Expectation - one or two more pages . . .

  8. Amazement - the last bit of dialogue . . .

  7. Accomplishment - OMIGOD!

  6. Triumph - I did it!

  5. Elation - Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!

  4. Party - Dance with me!

  3. Freedom - Tomorrow I don't have to look at it or think about it.

  2. Dismay - Uh, oh.

And the #1 emotion felt upon completion of a manuscript draft:

  1. Resignation - Oh, no! Now I have to do it all over again!

Comments

Southpaw saidā€¦
CONGRATS! The is so awesome. I love your list.
joe doaks-Author saidā€¦
Very clever list...and quite true to life. Did I see revision, or, is that what you meant by doing it again? Jobs not done without a thousand revisions.

Best Wishes Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Southpaw - Thanks.

Galen - Yes, revision - doing it again. And again. And .....
I probably end up doing five or so full drafts.
Elspeth Futcher saidā€¦
How wonderful!!! Rejoice! Dance! Radiate light!
Yay! Snoopy dancing with you. It's an awesome feeling...for a few minutes, until that #1 thing kicks in. LOL!
Anonymous saidā€¦
Congratulations and you really nailed the ten emotions that are experienced with finishing.
Thanks for sharing.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Elspeth - It's such a great feeling.

Carol - There's always a kicker - LOL

Cassandra - Thanks. And you're welcome.
Marisa Birns saidā€¦
Yes, I am doing the #4 with you right now!

Congratulations on completion of first draft! You've done it!

And I laughed at #1! Yes, that is such a truism.

But just follow #3 - #7 for a while longer, yes?
Jan Christensen saidā€¦
Huge congrats--can you really believe it? LOL Anxious to see it in print from one of the "big houses!" Oh, I know, you have some work to do, but I have confidence.
Kathy McIntosh saidā€¦
Great list!
Congratulations, again. Every step means so much...and leads to so many more.
But you're well on your way.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Marisa - Oh, I will. Definitely!

Jan - Wouldn't that be awesome? But, first it's the work.

Kathy - Who said 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'?
Joanne saidā€¦
Raising my coffee cup (decaf at this hour) in a congratulations toast! I always like the revisions, really finetuning the words, perfecting the story, putting your finishing touches on it. Enjoy!
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Thank you for the toast. I enjoy the revision process, too.
Mason Canyon saidā€¦
Congratulations and way to go. Just think next time it won't be as rough. :) Okay after the 100th time you tell yourself that, it will get easier and remember you have 10 great things to do when you finish (again).
T. Powell Coltrin saidā€¦
Congratulations!!! Finishing is almost...sadness for various reasons.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Mason - It will be easy. It will :)
I'm already working on the first closet.

Journaling Woman - Thanks. I've heard others talk about sadness when they finish. I haven't had that so far. I still like the characters, and I'm still going to be spending a lot of time with them during revision and editing. By then, I'll probably be ready for them to go on vacation!
Anonymous saidā€¦
I like the party one the best. Been a long week. Time to celebrate and have a good time.

Stephen Tremp
Laura Eno saidā€¦
Congrats! Good list. Maybe you should stay on 'party' a bit longer. :) That will help with #1.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Stephen & Laura - It's Saturday evening . . . the party is ON!

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