I've finally buckled down and made it happen.. I've outlined the last few chapters of An American Crusade.. all the way to the end.. and by the end of the week.. I'll finish writing the first draft...

It feels good.. in a way... and sad in a way..

Good.. for the obvious reasons.. it's been hanging over my head for so long.. it will be nice to have it complete.. to go back and rework it.. making it perfect... and hopefully.. someday soon.. seeing it published.  With the story being somewhat tied into the current political climate.. sooner would probably be better than later...

On the other had.. there's a sadness connected with finishing a first draft.  Maybe the obvious ones are the end of the creative experience.. editing doesn't seem as creative to me.. and, as I just said, the editing... it's not much fun...

But also.. my characters are people I've been living with in my head for over a year now.. more than that.. they're like children that I've watched grow and change in ways I never imagined.  It must be something like what it's like to watch a child leave home.. you teach and nourish them.. and then they leave.. and you can only hope for the best for them.  As soon as I type the last word.. they're done growing.. and that's a little sad.

Still.. I was listening to an interview with an author based in Davis, CA the other day, John Lescroart.  He made an interesting comment.  When someone called in and asked what the best thing was that he could do to get published.. John said, "finish your story."  I've seen so many authors start great novels.. and never finish the first draft.  Either they get distracted with another story, or they spend so much time making the early chapters perfect that they never get to the end.  I've always been a little mystified by that, since I want to see how it turns out.

But maybe it's something more.. maybe they have a hard time saying goodbye.. and want to stay with their story.. and never have it end...

Sometimes.. I can relate.. sometimes.. I wish life were the same..