I often tell people that writing books is “the only kind of marathon I run.” But should a runner cross the finish line and then stagger right to the next starting line?
I kept a savings graph with built-in prizes that I unlocked at different levels to celebrate. Coffee with a friend, once a new couch. I had to write Find Yourself At Home in three months, so I needed them :)
It's so hard, when there are so many different milestones (finished the draft! signed a contract! hit a list!) to celebrate any of them. But this one feels huge, so I'm glad you're taking time to go to dinner. Allowing for a pause, a moment of pride (you earned this!), will help that memory feel more significant (not to mention the dangling of rewards as an incentive to hit milestones). Congrats on pub day and your first thriller!
I've always been a fan of celebrating every milestone, and have cheered on friends and editing clients when they finished manuscripts, got a book deal, won an award or got their first good review...but now that it's my own book, I struggle with the same love-hate relationship to celebrating as you've captured here. I'm always pushing onward and upward, putting it off, waiting to achieve the next (bigger) milestone before I can celebrate myself.
With all those firsts - I wish I was the first to congratulate you. Congratulations.
Thank you!
I kept a savings graph with built-in prizes that I unlocked at different levels to celebrate. Coffee with a friend, once a new couch. I had to write Find Yourself At Home in three months, so I needed them :)
Great system!
It's so hard, when there are so many different milestones (finished the draft! signed a contract! hit a list!) to celebrate any of them. But this one feels huge, so I'm glad you're taking time to go to dinner. Allowing for a pause, a moment of pride (you earned this!), will help that memory feel more significant (not to mention the dangling of rewards as an incentive to hit milestones). Congrats on pub day and your first thriller!
Thank you!
I've always been a fan of celebrating every milestone, and have cheered on friends and editing clients when they finished manuscripts, got a book deal, won an award or got their first good review...but now that it's my own book, I struggle with the same love-hate relationship to celebrating as you've captured here. I'm always pushing onward and upward, putting it off, waiting to achieve the next (bigger) milestone before I can celebrate myself.
I'm glad I'm not alone in this. :)