Monday 6 October 2008

Virtual Headpoppingness

At about 2pm last Friday I really did think my head was going to pop. Surrounded by books and paper and envelopes and a flashing email box and a hungry cat, a half packed suitcase and a pile of washing I'd forgotten to wash. I just wanted to throw my hands in the air and shout , "Ok, Ok, I give in . You're right I can't Do it All."

But I didn't because I would have been letting too many people down. So somehow, by five o'clock, I met all three work deadlines that had horribly coincided; I packed the daughter's rucksack for her weekend away in the Dales and my suitcase for my working weekend in Cardiff; I paid my credit card bills, fed the cat and sent out my CV to three prospective new employers. And. I finished the first draft of my novel.

It was only when I was standing on the train platform saying goodbye to hubby and daughter that it sank in. It was when the daughter said 'Mummy have you really written a whole novel?' just before waving goodbye. I sat on the train in shock. I'd done it. The one thing I have really wanted to do ever since I could first cobble together a sentence. I've written a novel. It's a first draft and it needs soooo much work. But I've done it. Milestone reached. Tick. I spent the rest of the five and a half hour journey in a bit of a daze.

I'm really keen to get get on with the rewrite but fortunately have an enforced time/space away from it, first the weekend in Cardiff and now a couple of days working in London. Next Monday should be just right for taking a fresh look. It's been months since I looked at the first chapters - I almost have no idea what I'm going to find!

Meanwhile I did have a sneaky peak this morning at the the chapters I hurriedly sent off to my mentor on Friday (just catching the last post) and was horrified by the number of typos, some of which made a couple of passages difficult to understand (gulp) - I have sent her an apologetic email. Looking forward to hearing what she has to say about 'The End' at our meeting on Wednesday.

7 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Well done you! That's amazing news x

Val said...

blimey congratulations,, thats awesome!

Tamsyn Murray said...

Yes, very well done. You've done what a lot of people say they will and never do. Enjoy the moment and be proud of yourself!

Honeysuckle said...

It's quite something to write a whole novel - well done! But, to be honest, I'd have found your Friday afternoon daunting so you're impressive on several accounts...

Anonymous said...

Brilliant news that you've finished the first draft. You must be very relieved.

CJ xx

Karen said...

How exciting, well done! As someone once said, you can always go back and edit but you can't edit nothing. You definitely cleared the biggest hurdle :o)

pierre l said...

I try to avoid playing Black Boxes more that a few times a day. On this occasion, I landed here, and see several familiar names in the comment box.
Good with your mentor, and I'll be back to follow your progress.