Are you always startled when you actually manage to finish another novel?

[JRTomlin]

I always am. I am always convinced I have forgotten how to write and will never be able to do it again. 🤔

[LilyBLily]

I'm more amazed at my chutzpah in calling what I've written a novel.

The weird thing is that while writing it, it's often just an amorphous, meandering thing. Then after a while the characters start to tell me who they are, and scenes begin to make sense. And then it's a story. Very likely a story that needs surgical attention at revision time, but a story nevertheless.

[Michelle Louring]

I never really seem to believe it. I'm almost left with this feeling that I'm not really done and that there's just something I've forgotten to do.

[Robin]

Definitely. All those words coming together to form an actual novel still amazes me. 

[Rick Partlow]

I used to be.  After the sixth one, it kind of became routine.

[VanessaC]

Since I abandoned my pantser roots and started outlining, finishing the first draft has definitely got a lot easier (not easy, but easier). 

For me, the hardest part of getting the end is the seemingly never-ending hell-loop that is fine tuning and line editing.  It seems to go on for months, and every time I make one change I have to make another.  For the last book I honestly didn't think I would ever finish and then, suddenly, I was done.

Of course, I'm only four published books in - working on the fifth.  I'm sure there are other, er, joys waiting to be discovered. 

[notthatamanda]

It's more of a relief for me.  Once I can see the finish line, I get pretty anxious to be done with it already.  Throughout the process I know that, when I put the work in consistently, on anything really, it will get done eventually.

[Authoress]

I'm more amazed if I sell one lol. 

Actually, I was always in awe of people who could write that many words in a sane & sensible order that eventually turned into a novel. 

I started my fiction writing with short stories & then managed to come up with novella length for Witch Spelling, it was a big surprise to me when I managed a full novel & now I have 2.   

I'm still very much in awe of authors who write series or huge novels, if I manage to go over 50,000 words, I'm happy. 

[Alice Sabo]

It's more of a relief for me.  Once I can see the finish line, I get pretty anxious to be done with it already.  Throughout the process I know that, when I put the work in consistently, on anything really, it will get done eventually.

It's more like this for me, too. The first couple were overly edited and rewritten (and might need another look by now). This last one had the cleanest draft I've written to date. I guess that means I actually am learning from my mistakes.

[Vijaya]

The first couple were overly edited and rewritten (and might need another look by now). This last one had the cleanest draft I've written to date. I guess that means I actually am learning from my mistakes.

That's so great! I'm on my second one so will be amazed if I'm pleased with it. I really am in awe of all of you who have multiple novels!

[Becca Mills]

What is this "finish another novel" you speak of??

[idontknowyet]

What is this "finish another novel" you speak of??

Mine are just going to sit in limbo as I come up with new stories. I'm pretty sure I wont ever finish one.

[EB]

I always am. I am always convinced I have forgotten how to write and will never be able to do it again. 🤔

Omg, yes. Every time I type those words (The End), I'm amazed I actually finished the story. I think it's due to the years and years of unfinished stories I wrote in my childhood/youth that i wish I'd completed. 

[Maggie Ann]

I'll certainly be surprised if when (trying to be optimistic) I finish the one I'm working on now. I have never written such a mish-mosh. My characters are cardboard cutouts, my scenes are worse, and I've completely screwed up the timeline.

Have I convinced y'all to get the pre-order yet?

[Authoress]

Have I convinced y'all to get the pre-order yet?