Writing Diaries: When You Hit "The End."
Acknowledgements, Post-Release Day, and Wishing the Coffee Would Never Run Out.
It’s funny. When we are told about stories and fairytales growing up, they usually go a little something like this…
Once a upon a time… yadda yadda they may or may not live happily ever after… The End.
I’ve never written “The End” as the final line of any of my books.
But I do think it when I get there.
I hit the final page of another book a few months ago. I sent it to editor. I pushed it through to reviewers and posted about it wherever I could to hopefully attract readers. Now, it is out in the world. Boom.
When in the December is out in the world.
The end. The story is over. The end. For now.
I always write a little more than is likely average in my acknowledgements of my books, mainly, because I can. Also, I find that mainly the people who read acknowledgements once they hit the end of a book are doing so because they don’t want the words to stop just yet.
I’ll share a piece of the acknowledgments from When in December here as I took the time to reflect on finishing my eighth romance novel.
Knowing that, it feels like I’ve crossed some kind of finish line. Only, when I cross it, I’m gasping for air and trying to figure out why now one is cheering other than my heartbeat, rapidly pounding against my chest.
Metaphorically, of course.
When writing, however, that quiet rush of energy that just as quickly disperses, is simply how it is. It’s an anticlimactic process most of the time. It’s solitary. The only person usually there when you hit The End is yourself, and your computer you’ve been begging like a friend not to give up on you before you finish edits or hit publish.
I definitely felt this truth while writing When in December.
After Call You Mine, I was left with an overwhelming sense of unease. Call You Mine was my first book I put out there where I went, “This is it. This is going to be the book that changes things for me.”
Only, it wasn’t.
There is a phrase often used in the publishing world as much as it is used in the author world when you ask how someone took off with readers. It usually goes something like, “It was all luck.”
Oh, how I hate that.
But, in the end, sadly, it’s true. Beyond all the hours of writing, editing, marketing, and handwork, often, it comes down to that single word. Luck. And as an author or creative in general, from that point there is only one way forward. You have to try again. You have to write another book. You have to build yourself back up again.
It took me a little while longer than normal to do that from Call You Mine, debating on whether I should go back and keep writing more of the Barnett Witches, but then came along When in December.
Here we are.
Let’s try again, shall we? And again and again if we must as I remind myself of the need to write and the excitement of still having that “one day” I’ll be able to do this all the time.
There are still many stories to be told.
Now, I know that I must continue on to my next story and figure out what comes next, luck or no.
I hope there’s plenty of coffee, and plenty of characters with worthwhile stories to fall in love with ready to come out of the woodwork and chat over a cup or two.
But I have to ask…
Do you know what story comes next on my to-write list?
Ready to read When in December?
You can get your perfect read for the weekend today in Kindle, paperback, or on Kindle Unlimited.
You can also pick up signed paperback from my online shop through Beventi! You may even get a special bookmark or fun swag if you do.
Looking for more? Meet B. Perkins & Aimee Vance!
Fellow indie romance author, Aimee and I have been chatting all throughout fall so far since we have something in common. We love a good romance with witches in it. How can you not? She also shares my strong love of paranormal romance.
Which, if you know me, if my book genre of choice when distracting myself from writing.
Be sure to check out all her books including Smoke Show featuring a supernatural small town and the found family trope (my favorite)!
Congratulations on finishing, and publishing, your novel Kendra!