Well, the day has finally come. My final, final, final, final draft of Matchbook is ready for the final editor to take a final, final, final look at it. (You can read an excerpt here)
I have to admit to being a little conflicted, but not the way you might expect. I've worked on this novel for years after finishing the first draft. The first chapter won awards. Version 3 landed me an agent - although no publisher. I found flaws, fixed, and fussed over my character and her arc. She was quickly becoming Joan of Arc, I was focusing on her so much.
In the meantime, the publishing world changed and indie publishing became not only viable but desirable. Publishers got hung up on things my agent said readers never fuss over. I burnished it one last time, and realized it was done. And I realized, after a friend had a rather harrowing journey with her publisher, I might be better off on my own. Then my BFF agreed to join me in an indie publishing journey.
So what's the conflict? I'm excited to be at this point and I'm really sick of working on my wonderful novel. I imagine it's a bit like the day your child leaves home. You have done all you can for this beautiful part of your life and while you are heartbroken to see her head out into the world, you also have your eye on remodeling her bedroom.
I want my novel out there, wandering among the people, being read by new eyes who aren't looking for threads to clip and trim, but who just want to find out what happens next. I want to be cursed for keeping people up until 3 in the morning.
In a month or two, I will be. I truly can't wait.
