Friday, October 9, 2009

The End

Yesterday I wrote over 3,000 words and then I wrote the best two of my story -- The End. Yay! It's only the first draft and I have a list of things I need to go through and tweak before I send it to my first beta reader, but the bulk of the story is there.

I wrote the first page of the final chapter on Tuesday, and yesterday I was determined to get through a little more, even if I didn't finish. I knew that in addition to the final scene (which I envisioned when I first came up with the idea), I needed to find a way to explain WHY everything happened. I was thinking about that while I worked on that final scene when it suddenly hit me. I backtracked a couple pages and 2,000 more words flew out of me. Flew. It was one of the few times I can recall writing fiction and not being able to type fast enough. I think it was partly because that section was all dialogue, which comes much easier to me. I get how people talk.

(And I also get how people ramble. Man, focus much?)

Another thing I want to share is something strange that happened on Tuesday. I was writing a scene that takes place in the local hospital of my hometown (my book takes place there) and later that day my mom emailed me that she'd been in the hospital for an appointment earlier that day. Meaning she was IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE EXACT TIME I WAS WRITING A SCENE IN THE HOSPITAL. My characters may have walked right by her!

As Jim Carrey would say: Spooky!

Actually, that scene takes place a month from now, so they wouldn't have actually seen each other, but still. :P


ETA: I received an email this morning that my grandmother's surgery went well. It started later than we expected so it wasn't finished until early this morning. Thanks for the well wishes everyone!

15 comments:

Janna Leadbetter said...

That's such great news! What a feeling! Congrats, Melanie.

Hope your mom is okay!

Anonymous said...

Mom will be with Gma by evening. All is well at this point.

Good job on getting past one more step.

On your prior post, theory suggests that multiple connections or follow up (7) will leave a mark and put it into memory. Consider the current owner, manager level decision makers come from a more now, instant life style. Process normally is cull the total pile, narrow to some manageable number, get more data with interviews or information queries, verify information, pick top group, have final interviews which may include applicant meeting with other key deciders at company (culture, culture,culture) and make an offer to top applicant keeping the runners up if rejected.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Thanks Janna. Yes, she's fine. :)

Gary, I've emailed mom so I got the update. Thanks for the info about the job search.

JLC said...

YaY! Thats wonderful! Congrats! Did you celebrate?

Anonymous said...

Congrats on The End. Two greatest words a writer can write.

Jewel Allen said...

Glad your grandmother's surgery went well!

Congrats on the second draft. And I checked out your website. It is fabulous! You are talented, m'dear.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

JLC, I celebrated with a beer and hours of Bejeweled. Yes, I'm living the life.

Thanks Ferret!

Pink, me too. It'll be a long recovery but hopefully she'll be free of pain now. And thanks!

Adam said...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

I love hitting "the end." :D

Adam

Nadine said...

Congratulations on finishing!! So exciting!!!

And to quote from Grease:
"Is this the end?"
"No, it's only the beginning"

YAY!!!

erica m. chapman said...

So glad your grandma's surgery went well :)

Congrats on finishing your first draft!! That's so funny about the characters in the hospital and your mom! LOL

I get dialogue too. It's so much easier for me.

Liz Kreger said...

Congrats on writing "The End". Two of the finest words an author can type out.

Now you get to start doing revisions. Fun, fun, fun.

Spy Scribbler said...

I'm so glad to hear about your grandmother, Melanie. Yay! :-)

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Adam, I hit it again just now because I wrote another 1300 words.

Nadine, nice!

Erica, it was really so bizarre that she was there while I was writing about it.

Thanks Liz, and welcome!

Thanks Natasha, I am too.

Adam said...

Twice in one draft? You bad ass, you. ;-)


Adam

Robin said...

Congratulations, Melanie! That's a satisfying feeling. The only thing flying around here are stink bugs.