That Feeling

You've done it. You've finally finished that dreaded first draft. Blood, sweat and tears along with countless hours spent tapping away at your keyboard have finally resulted in that blasted idea coming to life. Elation and trepidation are only a fraction of the feelings bouncing around your mind worse than kids on a sugar high.

Then comes the realization that you have to perform a kind of corrective surgery on your creation. Flashes of Dr Frankenstein working to perfect his creation springs to mind. And so starts the second draft, with its mountain of research, correction of story flow and possible tweaks to the ending, but first a break to replenish the creative mind and replace any negativity and uncertainty. Sometimes walking away, then coming back is just what you and your book need to evolve.

It's finally time to drop a copy of your draft to the printers. Anxiety runs rife when they tell you to leave your USB with them and they'll get it done. Sure I'll leave it with you, and while I'm at it why not leave my newborn to. Are you freaking kidding me. Your book has become your new child, with hours of devotion spent nurturing it, and countless more hours to come. Yet you do as they request, leaving the USB in their hands, whilst contemplating whether hiding behind the tree near the store would be considered as weird or socially acceptable considering the circumstances.

Phone lighting up, it's finally done. Glory Hallelujah! Walking into the printers your sweating worse than a sinner facing judgement day. What if they didn't get it right? What if they've looked at what you've written and found it lacking? Then there it is in all it's glory. Your creation, your baby. All negative thoughts take flight and you're dancing on air. Hell yes, that's mine! Walking from the shop, thoughts of dancing in the street whilst waving your baby in the air are all you can think of. Cheeks aching you continue to smile, because nothing is going to bring you down. I mean come on look at this beauty.

Writing like any work of art allows us to release our many emotions, yet leaves us with so many new emotions. The creative process is exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. So keep at whatever form of art your are working on or creating, ride the waves of emotions after all they are what make your work unique and special in its own right.