The day after finishing a novel

What comes next?

Well, for me I have a lot to think about.

"Do I want to edit? Or take that time to research and outline my next project?"

"What scenes do I need to rewrite/add in?"

"Is it worth writing a query letter for it when I'll be focusing all my attention on my next project?"

"Would it have a wide range of people interested in reading it?"

Like I said, there is a lot to think about. Today I have decided not to edit it. To let it sit so I can have a bit of a breather. I spent hours last night writing that novel and I am still pretty tired. I wrote five thousand words over the course of one day. My brain needs a break. There is a lot of editing to do as well as add in a few scenes I had left out. Maybe change the character a bit and rewrite a few chapters. But right now I have to decide whether or not I want to polish this novel to get it looked at by agents or put all my attention on my next project, which is unlike anything I've seen in book stores. There are a lot of "what if?" going through my mind right now. Today I'm trying to sort all that out.

Since my computer has once again decided there is something wrong and it MUST be repaired I was not able to use it until now. It took about two hours (just like the last two times.) to repair whatever it thinks it messed up. I think it may be because its low on ram. But that will be fixed tomorrow. Just got to delete a ton of stuff in my downloads folder and a few games I don't play. My fiance has promised to get it some more ram later on (Thanks honey! Frankencomputer and I love you!)

He tried bringing up about getting a new one (Wouldn't be now, as computers are a lot of money and I have no job to help pay for it.) but I said no. I love my computer. We called it Frankencomputer for a reason. Its stuffed full of mixed matched components. It has died and been brought back twice (meaning I lost EVERYTHING. Thank goodness for backing up those writing files right?) but it has been loyal to me. And has taken a big beating from me over the years. I love it and will not get a new computer until this thing is on its side breathing its last breath of pixels.

Any who. While I was waiting for the computer to do its thing I got out my Breakout Novelist book and started taking some notes. You in high school, how your teachers tell you taking notes will help you memorize what your learning better? They were telling the truth. It does help. I plan on taking notes throughout the whole book. This book is really helpful. I love it. I call it my writing cookbook mainly because that is what it looks like. I'll leave a link to where you can buy it down below. No, I was not paid to do so. I just really love this book and it may help you too. This book is for writers wanting to become career writers. But it is easy to understand and is very well organized. So for those of you who just want to improve their story telling skills, you might still be interested in reading it.

After I take a few more notes I will start out lining my next novel more. I am very excited to write this next book as I don't think I have ever read anything like it. I will also be writing it in third person which I hadn't done since I started writing my first novel back when I was a freshmen. I have high hopes for it. I'm doing a lot of research as well today. Finding out what Agents are looking for, what they aren't. What is in with readers and what is not. Doing more research on German culture as well as their folklore, myths and urban legends.

So there to answer the question of what is there to do after writing a novel, there is a lot! I have my plate full and I am not going to stop. I am full of strong will right now and I want to improve and do my best this time around. I have a lot resting on this and I want to become published and start my career as a published author as soon as I can. Of course it will take time and lots of cups of coffee. But I enjoy the wait. There is always something to do.

Breakout Novelist written by Donald Maass