About 12:50 p.m. today, EDT, I finished my thirteenth novel — and promptly burst into tears.
Well, it’s long been acknowledged that I’m not particularly hardboiled.
Now “finished” is a relative term. Would I send this version to my editor or agent? No, in part because — it’s not due yet. And it really needs a good polish, particularly the last 10,000 words, most of them new and most of them written this week in increasingly manic bursts that have left me with sore-ish wrists and a punky right shoulder. (My posture, when I write, is not as good as it should be.) But there are no missing scenes in this version and everything is worked out.
And a shout-out to Mark Billingham and DEATH MESSAGE because I honestly believe that his incredibly satisfying novel, the seventh in the Thorne series, helped to propel me over the finish line. When you read something that good, you want to be in the race, too, even if you’re lagging far behind.
My subconscious, however, must have known a celebration was coming because when I stopped at the grocery store today (the incomparable Eddie’s of Roland Park), I bought: fresh crabmeat for tacos, Dogfish Head IPA (they didn’t have Raison d’Etre) and Otterbein chocolate chip cookies. I had a very satisfying lunch while watching part of Waiting for Guffman on videotape.
Now I get to spend the rest of the day waiting for a repair man. (I’ve got the noon-4 p.m. slot, who thinks I’ll see anyone before 3:59?) I might get my act together and provide links, in the comments section. And I may even drop a hint or two about the Christopher Guest regular with whom I had exactly one date; I pined for him mightily, but he just wasn’t that into me. We went to see Carol Channing in HELLO, DOLLY. I don’t know why it never worked out, given our mutual love of musical theater.
Oooo, Dogfish Head…sigh. Have you had their 60, 90 and/or 120 Minute IPAs? Though I think my favorite is still their Aprihop.
And congratulations on finishing the draft. That’s a pretty good celebration whichever way you slice it. I’m on the verge of finishing a draft of a play, and I’ve got a bottle of <a href=”http://www.twohandswines.com/sitePages/winedetail.asp?ItemID=72&WId=13″>Brilliant Disguise</a> by Two Hands Winery waiting for me when I do.
And when did you start this draft? What a work ethic. I want to be like you when I finally grow up.
This draft? Good question. About a month ago, based on the fact that there are late chapters with a (3) designation in the folder, dated July 12th. I wish Word gave both the time of origin AND the latest revision.
(It probably does, but I’m too dumb to know it.)
I’m not sure it counts as work ethic. If I don’t turn in a book, I don’t get paid!
As for the Dogfish, this was the 60-minute and I thought it lovely. I may be going public soon with my love of Dogfish; the question came up this week in an interview with what I’ll call a prominent media outlet. More details when I have them.
The 120-minute is the limit for me hops-wise, though it reduced my theatre colleague to tears of joy. My uncle and aunt have a summer place in Rehobath within walking distance of Dogfish, and he never fails to remind me of that. Apparently, the food’s delightful, too.
Remember what happened to Corky when he tried to simulate the smell of smoke during Backdraft!
Congratulations on finishing the book! And where are the hints??
Congrats! Enjoy the feeling. Do you stick it in a drawer for a while before the polish? I never know how long is long enough before my eyes will be “fresh.”
My eyes will be fresh, by necessity, by Monday a.m. With three weeks to go, I need to do an average of 25 pages a day, Monday through Friday. But some sections are far easier for others.
As for my one-sided romance . . . perhaps I should keep that off the Internet, as my Googling indicates this public person has managed to remain pretty private. Gotta respect that.
Congrats!! Similarly, reading this makes me want to reopen the dormant Word file and finish the couple of projects hanging over me. ‘Tis time, methinks…
Congratulations. Of course now you’ve made me hungry. Not the best thing to be when you have to do grocery shopping. I can only imagine what I’ll come home with – and what the bill will be.
Sarah,
Has CAAF tempted you to try Scrivener yet? I’ve just downloaded it — Michael Marshall Smith’s endorsement tipped me over — and I’m dipping my toe in, rather nervously. Virtual index cards, a corkboard!
Mary, I not only enjoyed my crab tacos, but then made spinach pesto, inspired by a recipe from (lowers voice) Top Chef. Although I modified it mightily, reckoning it must require some olive oil and cheese.
Otterbein chocolate chip cookies…hmm…is there any chance we could have some on the snack table at Bcon? <just kidding; I’ll buy me own!>
I’ve been ‘working’ on my novel…but nowhere near finished first draft yet. Trying to write at least 100 words a day on it, even if they’re not that great, just to get it done, and usually I managed a lot more than that..cause once I put my butt in the chair and start writing, it comes like silk.
Gotta do some more research this weekend…Smallwood Store…near Everglades City, of that island I still can’t spell yet. Nice quiet Saturday..yea, right
w00t!! Congrats on #13 and the finishing thereof. I will use you as the *good* example. ::g:: (My own deadline is November!!)
Celebrate and have a lovely weekend, sweetie!
Me as a good example? Never thought I’d see that day, La Lima.
First, an Andy Echebarren reference. Now, Carol Channing in Hello Dolly. Very very weird.
I saw Channing, on Broadway, in Dolly, in my sixth grade year. Someone had made arrangements, and we got to go backstage, and met Ms. Channing after. She was TALL (I’m only 5’2″ now) and wearing a hot pink floor length (what we’d now call a) hoodie. Her son, Channing, is my age, as she told us. Yes, of course I’ve lost that autograph. (along with Jim Gentile’s, another vintage O’s reference)
In my middle college years, I took a college friend to see La Channing in a review at the Morris Mechanic. Quite a woman!
Was it Fred Willard? I once accidentally saw him with his pants off. Long story, entirely aboveboard.
Congrats! Not only can you write, but you can cook too… the question is, can you do both at the same time?
Was it Fred Willard? If it was, my admiration for you will exceed all previous levels of hero-worship…
And you’re right — people don’t like having fire just poked, poked in their noses!
The other day it was Maryland tomatoes and now it’s fresh crabmeat and Eddie’s. I’m going to have to stop reading this blog or fly to Baltimore just for the food. (I would, however, substitude Berger cookies for the Otterbein chocolate chips).
But many congratulations on the book!! I am eagerly awaiting it! You wouldn’t happen to need a betareader would you?
I would be happy to go on a date with Fred Willard, if we were both available. I was just briefly worried that you thought I was 68 or thereabouts.
I suppose that makes Dogfish (first) draft beer?
Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.
Two months and I have completed exactly half of three poems. I hate you! Except when I�m eating your cooking! xooxoxo L
You go out with Willard; I’ll take Dreyfuss with his pants off. Deal?
No, it wasn’t Fred Willard. I was about to get all defensive and point out that Fred Willard is twenty years older than I am, then I realized I didn’t provide any context about my date, so there’s no reason people would know it was someone closer to my own age.
And I now think that Jack has a far more interesting story . . . Or maybe it’s a new thread, celebrities we’ve seen with their pants off? In aboveboard situations?
I’ve seen Dominic West with his shirt off, but I don’t suppose that counts for much. I once helped the second-oldest living Confederate widow adjust her petticoat. Again, I don’t think this qualifies.
(For our purposes, crime writers do not count as celebrities. Otherwise, I’m sure there would be far too many stories to recount here.)
Is it slander or libel or something if I say that I know someone who once saw Richard Dreyfuss on his front porch with his pants off? I hope not! Anyway, now I have used up all of my pants-off celebrity stories. P.S. I had a feeling it wasn’t Fred Willard, but what’s wrong with dating an old dude, especially if he is as funny as Fred Willard? Anyway, he looks pretty good to me.
May I suggest the beer I just discovered He’Brew? It’s “the chosen beer” Haven’t tried it yet but you just gotta love it. Shmaltz.com offers a Pomegranate Ale, A Messiah Bold and a “rye based double I.P.A. “bettersweet Lenny’s 9named for Lenny Bruce.”
It was going to see Channing that did it. i adore musical theater too but, well not her. (sorry, but shudder)
And in yet another link to all this, tonight’s “Celeb Jeopardy!” rerun featured the fabulous Michael McKean. As another veteran of community theater, i admit to being fond of Guffman but “A Mighty Wind” won my heart. Oh my god, was it perfect. I even bought the CD those songs!!!
Mazel tov my dear. May I suggest a massage? You need to be nice to your shoulders. Trust me on this.
Yeah! Lucky 13! Way to go, Laura.
Is it maybe Michael McKean?
A tardy raising of the glass to #13!
You’re truly an artist, Laura. Congrats!
What’s wrong with lusting after Fred Willard? Granted, he doesn’t do it for me, but it’s up there with, say, Robert Forster, whom I totally have a crush on.
Fred Willard? You people are lusting after Fred Willard? Funny yes, sex symbol not so much. From a male hetro point of view, I’d have to say Parker Posey, but Jennifer Coolidge has that whole Stiffler’s Mom thing going for her.
As for my guess, I’m going with John Michael Higgins – who I think is the funniest in that group.
I once saw Robert Forster with his pants off.
I might be writing more about what I think, but I’ll say this much: I’m skeptical.
Nothing wrong with Fred Willard lust, absolutely nothing.
With or without the rug?
I am dying to know what you think … I too am a little skeptical!
In a completely unrelated topic … I saw that the Poe Toaster has been unmasked… I imediately thought of you.
That’s so funny, Marika, I mean that’s exactly what I did – first thing I said when I spotted the headline was “wonder what Laura thinks of this”. Then I went and read the article!
Congrats on finishing the novel-I will be waiting anxiously to read it!
Just finished Death Message myself-it’s great, Thorne has really changed over the last few novels and I like the way he’s moving.
Fred Willard-I love the Christopher Guest movies and I think the allure of Fred Willard is something that maybe women best understand-it’s just something about a guy who makes you laugh that hard. But all the guys in in Guest’s movies are great.
I once so Duane Swieczynski with his pants off. But then, who hasn’t?
Laura, I’m reading one of your books now and you’re right about it making me want to be in the game, no matter how far behind I am.
Really, how do you do all that character backstory thing, the thing that in other writers I find annoying, but in your work just makes me want more? How do you do that?
Amazing.
so=saw
One should never try to type with a migraine.
I’m going to go lie down in the dark now.
All I have to say is I loved “What the Dead Know”; I keep recommending it. Is your new book a Tess Monaghan one or a stand-alone? Sorry if I missed something earlier on this. Don’t know how you can write so fast. Am now reading “Origin” by Diana Abu-Jaber. Did anyone else read this? It’s quite riveting.