Your NaNoWriMo Check List: Novel Complete—Now What?

Now that NaNoWriMo is over, what is there to do? Here’s what NaNo Participant Jeff Bray suggests:

First of all, Congratulations, Wrimos! For some of you, the thirty days of November have been the most grueling adventure you have ever been on. For others, perhaps those with one or more NaNos under your belt, the thrill of crossing the finish line once again is burning in your heart. Either way, your senses are on edge, and you have never felt so exhilarated in your life. Burnt out or on an “another-notch-on-the-bedpost” high, you are finally glad to cross the finish line of NaNoWriMo2020. 

A Year to Remember

This year has been a year for the books. Maybe your story reflects some of the adventures this year held for each of us. Perhaps you used your writing as the escape, and it pulled your readers as far from reality as possible. Either way, good for you! You now have a piece of yourself in writing that will be remembered for ages. But now that the adrenaline is winding down and the smoke is clearing from your keyboard, what’s next? You have grown so accustomed to your daily dose of clickety-clack and late night cappuccinos. (Okay, maybe you went a bit heavier at times. Especially in that last week.)

Your Biggest Temptation

The biggest temptation is to dive right back into your piece and begin the editing process, right? I mean, you can’t get your book on the shelves for your readers to purchase if you don’t begin the editing process today. Am I wrong? 

The truth of the matter is that NaNoWriMo experts all agree that stepping away from your project for at least thirty days is best before you begin the editing process. There are many reasons for putting your masterpiece on the back burner, one of them is the opportunity for the smoke to clear the room from the speed at which you wrote it. The other, and primary reason, is to allow your objectivity to settle in. That can only be accomplished when you step away from your project for a short period of time. It is similar to the fresh eyes/fresh perspective principle. Only time gives you the freshness you need.

Go Celebrate!!

So, what can you do during the long, painstaking event-filled month of December? Well, for one, go celebrate!! You deserve it. You just crossed a milestone many only dream of—you wrote a novel! Congratulations!! Second, enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. That will do a good enough job of occupying your time. However, don’t let temptation whisper in your ear or trick you into opening up a page to edit. Remember, objectivity only comes with time. You will thank yourself come January 1, 2021. With waiting, your eyes will be fresh, and you will see errors and changes you would’ve missed if you had opened that file on December 1 to edit. Until then, enjoy your success wholeheartedly with the excitement of what next year holds for you, while your beloved masterpiece simmers on that back burner.

Jeff S. Bray is a full-time Freelance Writer, Editor, and Published Novelist. He lives in South Texas with his wife, Carolyn, and two of their children. He is a three-time NaNoWriMo participant. Both of his completed NaNo projects, The Five Barred Gate and Little Reminders of Who I Am, have gone on to publication. He also writes children’s stories with a published series titled Elissa, the Curious Snail.

Photo Courtesy of Glenn Carstens-Peters via Unpslash.