So, you’ve finished your book. Congratulations! Writers often work alone, with very little validation. We have to struggle uphill, putting up with rejection and radio silence.
This is why we absolutely MUST celebrate our completed books. Here’s how …
1) Acknowledge the Win
Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re the main wo/man. Remind yourself LOTS of people want to be writers … but very few of us manage to get words on paper, never mind make it out the other side to publication.
So first things first, pat yourself on the back for your achievement. That’s it!
2) Take a Break
Confession time: I used to find finishing a book a bit of an anti-climax. This meant I wanted to fill the hole my last story had left, so I would go straight from one book to another or start editing without a break.
Unsurprisingly, this took its toll VERY FAST … and I ended up burning out, HARD. Learn from my mistakes!
3) Tell Your Writer Friends
If you have a group of personal writer friends, tell them you’ve completed your book. They will get what a big deal this is, so will celebrate with you.
If you DON’T have any personal writer friends, that’s okay. Drop in to Twitter, insta or Facebook and tag ME as @Bang2write.
I will congratulate you and so will the Bangers. W000t! You can also use hashtags like #WritingCommunity to find writer friends too.
4) Treat Yourself
It’s true that many of our friends and loved ones won’t ‘get’ what a big deal it is to finish a book. (Hell, many of them think we’re just mucking about – boo).
When I finish a book, I go for a walk. It’s great to get away from my desk and be at one with nature. I even go when it’s windy and rainy! I love to see how dramatic the British countryside can get.
If I’ve just done a MAJOR edit or had a book published, I go one further and treat myself to a block of my favourite chocolate. I have expensive taste – it’s £3.50 for a small bar. Yikes! But that’s okay, I’ve earned it. So think about whatever it is you like to do … and do it. You deserve it.
5) Remind Yourself
Sometimes writers tell me finishing books makes them anxious. This will usually because they feel daunted about about revising the story.
Other times it will be because they have to ‘reset to zero’ by moving on and starting a new project.
Remind yourself every writer feels this way. What’s more, you know now you CAN finish a book. You’ve done it before and you’ll do it again. YOU GOT THIS!!!
So what are you waiting for? Go CELEBRATE!
Lucy V. Hay is a script editor, author and blogger who helps writers. She’s been the script editor and advisor on numerous UK features and shorts & has also been a script reader for 20 years, providing coverage for indie prodcos, investors, screen agencies, producers, directors and individual writers. She’s also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry. Lizzie’s latest, a serial killer thriller titled The Good Mother is out now with Joffe Books, with her sixth thriller out in 2024. Lucy’s site at www.bang2write.com has appeared in Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life, as well as a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK (ninth in the world.). She is also the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays: From TV Pilot To Feature Film (Creative Essentials), which she updated for the streaming age for its tenth anniversary in 2023.
Buy a “good” bottle of red wine (I suggest a good Australian Shiraz or Chilean Merlot), smile, walk the dog, drink the wine, and think for a little while about what you have achieved. Then author another novel.
You are right, “Celebrate the win”. For me it is a nice bottle of red wine, Some good cheese, and olives. I do not take time off as I like writing. Lol- I am old. Younger it was Champagne and girls (though most were not interested in a bookish boy like me). Hey but I hoped they would like me.
Oooooh I absolutely love olives! And champagne. Enjoy!
Lucy V, a good reminder to celebrate finishing a book. I did, in a way, after self-publishing a debut historical fiction book. I was short lived. The self-marketing took over and was all consuming. I had to slow down and start writing again. Many readers wanted to know what happens next? And I fell for it. I’m 20,000 words into a sequel, and structured a whole new story 8-10 years ahead. I know the horror of sequel not making it. However, the time frame is 1961-1970 including Woodstock & Vietnam War, and a move to Germany. Relatable to many people in the US. Fingers crossed, I’m on the right path. 📚🎶 Christine
Sounds full-on … good luck with it Christine!
When I was solely writing fiction, I would take an entire week off after finishing a book. I would read, snack, take baths…glorious!
But then I got busier and busier, and just didn’t have time for breaks like that anymore. I miss it. I think I need to create a new ritual other than collapsing in a heap briefly before turning to the next thing. This is such a welcome post, because no matter how busy I am, I do need to celebrate the victories along the way. Thanks, Lucy!
I received your email right after finishing the final section of my novel and emailing it out to my critique partners! What great timing!
Congrats to everyone finishing books today!
Haha wow! Spooky 😉 Good luck with your projects
Thanks for the reminder to celebrate! It takes so long to write a book…I happy dance with my rescue pup whenever I reach a milestone or have an amazing ‘aha’ moment. I usually treat myself to a massage when I finish a book.
Your post inspired me to celebrate more with critique partners. A few of us go out to eat after our local critique group meeting. We celebrate things like sales and getting an agent…we should add finishing a book to our celebration list, too. 🙂
Delighted to inspire you! Have a fab time
The Strengths Finder test showed that I am high in “achiever”, meaning that once I have an achievement, I quickly move on to go after the next one. But my friend insists on taking me out for dinner to celebrate finishing a book, and I appreciate her reminding me to pause and bask in the glory of finishing a book!
Totally relate to this, I had to force myself to slow down and acknowledge the win. It felt very strange at first!
Love this! Angela’s and my books don’t have an obvious finish point; it’s usually being done in chunks, with some parts being drafted while others are revised and still others are being edited, formatted, etc. There’s nothing as clear-cut as writing THE END to mark the finish. So I save my celebrations for publishing day and go out to my favorite restaurant with the family.
Celebrating the wins are important. Thanks for the reminder.
Great stuff – yes I know what you mean, it can be the same at B2W. But publishing day is a good one!
Great advice! And needed again for when you’ve finished editing and (hopefully) published it – unless you are trad. published. I finished my last book and brought it out in February. And I kept thinking I ought to write something else. Then I decided I’d lived in that world for six years (it was the last of three). I could take a break.
I started a new book this morning; wrote a thousand words just before checking my emails. 🙂
I am a hybrid author, so have a mix of self publishing and traditional publishing going on at one time. Congrats on your new project and good luck with it!