Writing a Book (Part 4): I DID IT!!!

Wow. I actually did it. I have finished the book and emailed it to the publishers!

I am in shock.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Ten- and fifteen-hour days 7 days a week have kind of taken their toll. I emailed the book at 11am last Wednesday. I wish I could say I hit ‘Send’ and jumped for joy but I felt numb. And not to put to fine a point on it; totally and utterly knackered.

How did I celebrate? I made my favourite scrambled egg breakfast with feta and spinach (it tastes much better than it sounds) and treated myself to a book from Amazon.

Yup, living life on the edge.

The past few weeks have been a crash course in how to write (and how NOT to write) a book. I have learnt a lot. Some of it has been great. Some of it, not so great. I’ll put it all in a ‘What I’ll do differently next time’ post.

Whatever happens next, I’m certain this is what I should be doing with my life. That’s not meant to sound grandiose. I’m not saying I was put on this earth to write a book about sugar or that it will be a roaring success… what I’m saying is that I’m pretty certain I was put on this earth to write books – whether they’re published or not; whether they’re successful or not; whether anyone gives a flying fig or not.

I know this for a fact. Because even whilst I was busting my arse to finish the manuscript on time, and feeling physically sick at the thought of staring at the computer screen for endless hours and hours and HOURS, every cell in my body knew this was the start of SOMETHING. My focus narrowed like a laser beam. I got up every morning with a sense of purpose. I liked it. It suited me. It was just the ridiculous working hours I wasn’t so keen on!

Now my brain is whizzing popping (as Roald Dahl would say). In the past 9 months I have fulfilled two big dreams; moving to the sea and writing a book. If I can do both, and live to tell the tale (despite worrying that I wouldn’t), then what next????

Whilst I am pondering such cosmic things, on a more mundane level, I’ll twiddle my thumbs whilst I wait to hear back from the publishers…