I Wrote A Book…Now What?

Even though there are currently a lot of writers burning the midnight oil to finish their NaNo novels, another NaNo is behind me. I fully disclose that as a teacher, I have a good bit of time off in November which helps me get finished faster, and this particular November brought a few sick days where I had to stay home with vomity children, so I had more writing time than most people.

But every year after I upload my novel for verification and I order my winner’s T-shirt, there comes a thought: Now what?

Whatever you’ve written and poured so much effort and energy into, whether it’s a novel, a short story, a screenplay, even a profound haiku, what do you do next? Some people just like the process of writing a story and getting it out on paper, without ever considering letting others read it. At the same time, there are just as many authors who are churning out book after book after book with the express purpose of publication. Do what works for you with your own writing.

I do recommend a break after completing a project. Before you try to polish it or edit it, take some time away from it. I’m currently editing a novel I wrote last year, and seeing it with fresh eyes has made me very critical and more willing to make important changes, but has also made me fall in love with these characters in a whole new way. At the same time, stepping away from your completed project and focusing on something else for a while is going to make you appreciate the process all that much more. Instead of being a chore that has to be accomplished, your writing becomes an outlet again. Go for a walk, spend a month or two reading others’ work, offer to edit or beta read a friend’s story. Do something other than write, even if it’s just for a little while, so when you feel like it’s time to be a writer again, it will be new to you.