Tuesday, February 07, 2006

End of Story

On Friday I finished my latest manuscript, tentatively titled Dangerous to Know, and sent it off to my agent. It sounds a straightforward process but that doesn’t really describe how I feel when I finish a book.

As I got closer to the end I became obsessed with finishing. I stole hours morning, noon and night to spend more time with my characters. I lived in their world. Even when I was walking the dog I was seeing nineteenth century London in front of me rather than twenty first century Oxfordshire. I felt compelled to finish and at the same time, anxious about what I would do once the book had gone. It was the same feeling I get when I’m reading a particularly enjoyable novel. I desperately want to find out what happens but at the same time I feel bereft when I read the final word.

I don’t suppose every author feels the same when they finish a book – if I’ve learned anything from being a writer it’s that different people write in different ways and there’s no right and wrong way of doing it. But I wandered round like a lost soul for several days after I had finished. I missed my characters. I worried about whether anyone would like the story.

So there’s only one solution. I treat myself to a few historical trips out and then... I start the next book!

Nicola

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, congratulations on finishing! And hope you have lots of fun writing the next book.

Nicola Cornick said...

Thanks, Laura! My next book is set in Scotland and is inspired by the book "Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson. It's the first time I've written a Regency in the first person so it's very different and interesting. I know some other authors, Mandy for one, have written first person before. It would be good to have a discussion about the similarities and differences!

Nicola

Anonymous said...

Well done on finishing Nicola. I understand how you feel: I am half-way through my latest and with the book all mapped out in my head I can't wait to reach the end! I then have a few "lost soul" days before I do my final edit, by which time the next books is already forming and trying to get out.

Nicola Cornick said...

Fascinating, Laura! Thank you so much for posting the NLS information. I've copied down all the links so I can peruse at leisure.

Nicola

Anonymous said...

Oh Nicola, I ALWAYS feel that way. But, unlike you, I have to then go through so much editing that the characters and the story stay with me for months and months and months and ....