I find it incredibly frustrating when I finish something, and then figure out it wasn’t finished after all.
There it is, laid out in all it’s wordy glory. There is a complete plot, a few fully fleshed characters, and a wonderful vista for their story to take place.
Putting “the end” on a manuscript is so wonderful. Knowing it’s finally finished, edited, and complete.
Then you send it to be read and when you get the comments you realize… it isn’t finished at all.
Such a terrible feeling. But all you can really do is pick up where you left off and polish some more.
The wonderful yet maddening truth about art, no matter what the medium is that only it’s creator can say when a piece is truly finished. It rarely looks exactly like It was originally meant to, but just as a sculptor or painter working their craft… it is the piece of art that speaks those silent magical words allowing it’s creator to finally feel that sense of accomplishment and pride. Until then, we are bound to the arduous journey, doing everything we can in order to share our vision with the world. Stick with it. You’re close. As I have said many times: I didn’t say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.
-Z
True.