How do you celebrate finishing a book?

[Ermo]

Wine? Vacation? Six pack? A naked run through the woods?

I am nearing completion of my second novel. I was too stupid to realize after my first one that I had actually accomplished something (as bad as that book was) so I did nothing except maybe sigh.... Not sure what I'll do this time.

[dios4vida]

I hug my cats. (No joke.)

I excitedly call the few people in my life who think my writing is cool - which is, sadly, my Mom, my mother-in-law, and my husband.

Then I usually go out to my backyard (I have one of those?) and look out at the desert behind my house (what are those bushy things out there?) and get myself reacquainted with the outdoors (my gosh, it's bright out there!). I do some breathing, dump everything out of my brain, and celebrate with something special. It used to be wine, but darn medications won't let me drink anymore. So usually it's ice cream now.

Yeah, I know. I'm not very good at celebrating. I'm saving the big party for signing with an agent (or at least a ms request).

[steve]

Human sacrifice

[karenbb]

I'd first like to know how you determine that it's finished...my book has been finished for two months and yet I can't bring myself to stop editing...

[cheekychook]

I was just going to ask the same question....does finished mean the first time you type the words "the end"? Or the first time you make it through a round of editing? Or when it's finally good enough to give it to readers? Or when you tweak it for the umpteenth time and can no longer stand to look at it for fear you'll find a typo on a page you've read 8000 times and it'll be the tipping point where you finally do run screaming into the woods? (Oh, wait, running in the woods was one of the celebratory options....but that was naked...) Or is finished when your agent/editor/publisher/psychic calls you and tells you "the presses are rolling, it's too late to change anything"?

[WilliamMJones]

I stayed up all night writing, and finished the last three chapters at six in the morning. I promptly jumped up and shouted, waking up my family. I then fell asleep.

[JustineDell]

I'd first like to know how you determine that it's finished...my book has been finished for two months and yet I can't bring myself to stop editing...

I'm like this. ;-) Finished isn't really finished until the linger is gone. Then I actually don't do anything. That's pretty boring. LoL

~JD

[cheekychook]

WilliamMJones---congratulations! And I hope your family doesn't decide to scream and wake you as payback.

Ermo---sounds to me like you need to celebrate double when you complete this one since you forgot the first time---there's no expiration date on the right to celebrate.

[Heather B]

I start the next one. No rest for the wicked and all that...

[AnimaDictio]

I've never come close to finishing a novel. I've finished many songs, poems, and short stories, but never a novel. I have only finished the third chapter of my first novel. I have so long to go. :-(

[Ermo]

Hey cheeky and karen - my definition of "finished" is completion of the first draft. Yeah, yeah I know there is still a ton of work to do after that but I think it's quite an accomplishment to finish a first draft. Plus, it gives you more opportunities to celebrate in the future (yay! my edits are done! or woo-hoo! I have an agent! or It's going to be published! Order up a case of Dogfish head! (that's a beer))

I like how William did it - that's good stuff. And Heather - you really don't allow yourself even one private moment of celebration?

[cheekychook]

Ermo----I like your definition---it means I owe myself a few celebrations and will owe myself yet another by the end of the week if things go as planned (hoping to finish the current round of revisions by Friday...that would be round....uhmmmm...okay, it's a lot of rounds). ;)

[Down the well]

my definition of "finished" is completion of the first draft

Okay, by that definition I do what dios4vida does: I come up out of my well and go outside into that bright stuff they call sunlight. I check back in with reality, have some fun, and drink some wine while my project marinates, waiting for revisions.

[Robin]

Great ideas, but the day I type, "The End" I am eating carbs!! I haven't eaten a damn carb in over a month, so the idea of have a plate full of carbs is making me type faster and really focus on finishing.

[dios4vida]

Great ideas, but the day I type, "The End" I am eating carbs!! I haven't eaten a damn carb in over a month, so the idea of have a plate full of carbs is making me type faster and really focus on finishing.

I salute your dedication! I couldn't go a single meal without carbs, let alone a month! Way to go, Robin, finish that book up and enjoy some bread and pasta and rice - all at once! :)