How do you feel when you have finished a piece of work?

[Oldgnome]

Quite often, after many false dawns and self-deceptions, I realise that a piece of writing is finished. I tend to have a day of relief and disbelief followed by a weirdly distorting experience that I can describe thus:

I feel as if I had been trapped inside the story (less often a poem) for the whole of its invention, but when the story is finished I feel a bit like Alice and that the story has shrunk and I am now looking down on it. The story then loses all of its appeal for me and when I read it through, some weeks later, it is as if someone else had written it. I never feel any joy after finishing a piece of writing. I never feel like celebrating. I did feel some celebration recently when I realised that I had written a novel, but that is about form and not about the story itself.

It is only when I have started a new project that I lose this contempt for the last piece and eventually I see the previous story as belonging to readers who are not me. Then I let go of that work. In other arts, such as acting, actors bathe in the glory of having done something well. Apparently Johnny Depp never watches his own movies, and so he might be an exception. I wonder, in the case of my writing whether it is the endless editing that pummels me until I have no hope left of the story ever finishing. When it does finish, maybe I am too exhausted to care.

 

[Incanus]

Interesting question. I don't think I've seen this one before.

I'd say my feelings are mixed. I usually feel a bit of a sense of accomplishment, having finished what I set out to do. But, I also feel it was A LOT of work, and the results are usually... mixed.

Completing my first novel wasn't very satisfying, largely due to the knowledge it was pretty terrible, and not fixable. I guess it was good practice, but I have nothing to show for the three-or-so years I worked on it.

My current one is turning out better, but it is incredibly difficult. For it to truly work as I think it should, my skills need to be at least a little better than they are at present. It is not easy to keep up the faith that I can meet the challenge.

I'll be curious to see what other members have to say on this subject...

 

[Karlin]

I don't have such negative feelings. If I go back and read parts of it, it does feel a little foriegn, but it's " who wrote this weird stuff? It's great, but insane."

 

[Mad Swede]

I wonder if this depends on why people choose to write.

I never feel like this after I've completed a story. When I first got serious about writing and completed my first novel I felt elated, proud of myself for having done this despite my dyslexia and, perhaps most importantly, I felt that I had finally started on the long road to recovery after a personal tragedy. Since then I've felt pleased and proud of everything I've written, I've never felt any sort of distance from my work. That might be because I have a publishing contract and a fair few satisfied readers, so I get some sort of confirmation that I can write quite well.

 

[Oldgnome]

I think what I am describing is a general feeling of hangover. I love the writing process (not so much the editing) but the aftermath when the work is finished seems such a lonely place. This might be why I quickly start something new. I can appreciate how you used writing to overcome pain, Mad Swede. Writing has always been my private autistic escape world. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I think of my stories, but I also get hyper critical and lose faith. I did have a literary agent when I was young. She liked my realism but hated fantasy. She said 'fantasy has had its day.' Given my memory glitches I sometimes think I am living a fantasy of sorts in the sense that my blurry attention is unreliable, but I have written quite a few stories, albeit with a small number of characters and mostly a single setting. I think I have learned strong focus over the years.

 

[xena]

For me, finishing a piece is like closing a door on something you’ve lived inside. I feel proud of creating something, but also a little sad that it’s over.

 

[ThinkerX]

'Ugh...' followed by a day or five of other stuff.

 

[pmmg]

It is only when I have started a new project that I lose this contempt for the last piece

Wow, contempt for my story is such a strong word. I never feel that. I still love all my children.

I am not an idle personality. I have to be doing something. If I finish a story, I do feel a sense of accomplishment, but I also feel its time for the next. But then, I am writing a series. I hate having nothing to do, so I don't stay idle for long after completing one.

I also, dont get sick of editing them. I prefer editing to creation. To me, I liken writing the thing to drawing in all the lines of a sketch, and editing to adding all the color (or as I usually say, the rough is the outline). Editing is where it goes from my dream, to something I am proud and eager to present. And I am proud of my stories (though, I will admit my editor has beaten the crap out of the current one ). I am just not there with you. I have love and pride. I am far from contempt. I think if I felt that, I would quit writing and pick a different hobby.

 

[Gurkhal]

I feel incredible satisfaction and relief, when I actually manage to finish a story.

 

[Oldgnome]

I feel bad now that I see I have rubbished my own work somewhat. I do feel proud when I get through the long process with any story. I suppose I am talking about the exhaustion and how that affects me. Having read so many people's responses here it reminds me that I do have a tremendous feeling of satisfaction. It is the mental and physical fatigue that is overbearing, since I tend to work day and night when the finish is near and I emerge blurry eyed and wondering what the piece of work has done to me, even though it is self-inflicted.

 

[black magic]

I feel a lot of things. Often mentally exhausted and I've often take a few months break before reading any of it. Exhilarated. Sad the ride is over. Dreading the second draft. I mean, it's a mixed bag really.

 

[skip.knox]

Like Dorothy Parker, I "don't like writing, but like having written." I'll use any excuse to quote Parker.

Like the OP, the whole process is exhausting for me. For one thing, there's rarely a moment where I look at the manuscript and cry "Done!". Usually it's a case of done! Oh, well sure I have to read through for consistency. Done! Now it's off to beta readers. Revise. Done!

I won't bore you with the other iterations. It's just that there are so many moments of Done!, I get exhausted. Even when I can cry Published!, there's still marketing and writing new marketing copy for new opportunities, and it's not infrequently months if not a year or so before I'm truly quit of the thing.

But there is some moment in there when I *feel* like it's done, even though I know there's more work ahead. The story is told, even though it need polish. And when that moment arrives, I am indeed pleased. There's a deep satisfaction in knowing that I came up with a story and managed to get it told. That I did justice (in my own eyes, anyway) to the characters and the premise and so on.

I do feel a certain distance, and I only realized this recently when I saw that I have not gone back to any of my published works. I may have re-read one or two short stories, but none of my five novels. Nor do I have any interest in doing so. They are like written letters (or posts, for you youngsters). They're done, they've been mailed, and I'm on to other things.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I feel a lot of things, and it can get complicated, but as my team's drafter I type every single word, so I get all the creative goodies. I feel elated. I feel post-coital, but that one's usually just for the novels. I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. My desk is uber trashed and I still need to write a letter thanking Hershey's and Frito Lay for their participation. I get to do the social media rounds, announcing that I have, yes, actually finished writing something and aren't I fun to talk to?

And then I take a bloody nap.

 

[Gurkhal]

Like Dorothy Parker, I "don't like writing, but like having written." I'll use any excuse to quote Parker.

Like the OP, the whole process is exhausting for me. For one thing, there's rarely a moment where I look at the manuscript and cry "Done!". Usually it's a case of done! Oh, well sure I have to read through for consistency. Done! Now it's off to beta readers. Revise. Done!

I won't bore you with the other iterations. It's just that there are so many moments of Done!, I get exhausted. Even when I can cry Published!, there's still marketing and writing new marketing copy for new opportunities, and it's not infrequently months if not a year or so before I'm truly quit of the thing.

But there is some moment in there when I *feel* like it's done, even though I know there's more work ahead. The story is told, even though it need polish. And when that moment arrives, I am indeed pleased. There's a deep satisfaction in knowing that I came up with a story and managed to get it told. That I did justice (in my own eyes, anyway) to the characters and the premise and so on.

I do feel a certain distance, and I only realized this recently when I saw that I have not gone back to any of my published works. I may have re-read one or two short stories, but none of my five novels. Nor do I have any interest in doing so. They are like written letters (or posts, for you youngsters). They're done, they've been mailed, and I'm on to other things.

That's a really good quote. I hope you won't mind if I steal it for future use.

 

[skip.knox]

Well, it's Parker's, and people have been swiping her witticisms for a long time. You'll often see it as "I hate writing, but I love having written", which is the form I first encountered. The above is the original; take your pick.

If you want a biting quote and a good chuckle, and the occasional gut punch, you can't do better than Dorothy Parker, with a side of Oscar Wilde.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Parker knew what was what. lol

 

[Prince of Spires]

I tend to feel happy that I can finally start on the next project. Whenever I'm writing, I tend to get loads of ideas for next projects. I just don't let myself dig into them, cause I can only do one thing at a time. So when I finish, I'm eager to start the next thing.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I tend to feel happy that I can finally start on the next project. Whenever I'm writing, I tend to get loads of ideas for next projects. I just don't let myself dig into them, cause I can only do one thing at a time. So when I finish, I'm eager to start the next thing.

I'm working on learning to switch back and forth between worlds and projects. I've been a bit spoiled by having the Books of Binding as our only active project. Lots of stories coming together, but still all connected. But now we're heavy in development of an Epic Fantasy trilogy and man, changing gears is hard. I'm normally not the best at multi-tasking, and when every character we have will sit on my desk and demand attention. At all times of the day or night. It can get a bit noisy in here.

 

[pmmg]

On another note...how will I feel when book 2 is all over and published...greatly relieved. Cause something happens after publication. Its like...I know its on its way and i am not going to revisit it for a long long time. I am very close. Cover artist and edits are all coming together. Now its just how fast can I do it.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

On another note...how will I feel when book 2 is all over and published...greatly relieved. Cause something happens after publication. Its like...I know its on its way and i am not going to revisit it for a long long time. I am very close. Cover artist and edits are all coming together. Now its just how fast can I do it.

You are more pro than I am. I have to be locked out of the files to keep me from screwing with the book while it's in edits. I read the reviews. All of them. And I edit and revise throughout the drafting. I am a clingy book mama and I do see where changes need to be made, and even still I'm not allowed to touch anything until after release.

Anyone still wondering why I draft at speed of Martin? lol