43,601

The first draft is finished.

But before I can even give a sigh of relief and enjoy the moment, my mind is already making a mental list of edits. Shush brain, let me be for a day!

I was aiming for between 40,000 and 50,000 words for the rough draft, knowing I’ll be deleting and adding large chunks, and I’m right there.

I kinda want to run around this Panera shouting with joy. I’ve spent a lot of time in this seat, staring at these odd pictures of bread and bagels. I even have no fewer than 4 employees here that know my schedule, my order, and where I sit.

43,601 is my new favorite number.

I finished just in time too. After Thanksgiving I will start my new job at our community library.

In the seven months I’ve been writing, I did the research for and finished writing two picture books along with this rough draft. Well, and a lot of letters of publishers. Not bad.

Maybe I will walk away from this novel for a couple weeks, clear my mind. I’ve got illustrations that need my attention.

My thoughts are fairly fragmented today. I can’t believe I got through it. Is there something writers are suppose to do to feel less lost…?