Jun
What One Does When One Is Done
I am staring blissfully out the window of the ballroom. Letting the cool night breeze caress my face, taking a sip of my champagne as I simply take in the vista, the stars, the…
Lady B: Miss Noble!
… the somewhat constantly irate hostess…
Miss Noble: Lady B, yes, good evening.
Lady B: Miss Noble, what are you doing? There are guests! Miss Ashe is quizzing everyone, heroines who might actually be mistresses, and you remove yourself from the festivities. Why, you even abandoned your beloved card table who knows how long ago! And all for what – staring out the window?
Miss Noble: I have earned a good stare out the window, I promise you, Lady B.
Lady B: And why would that be?
Miss Noble: Because I just turned in my latest novel.
Lady B: A hearty congratulations! When shall we expect new guests? Please tell me that they will not in anyway bring a ship into my ballroom.
Miss Noble: It will not be out until next year. I would not fear a ship, however, and I’ll give you a little hint about the new book – if you bring a piano into the ballroom, it should not cause any structural damage. But when I finish a book, my head is so fuzzy, I feel I have earned a good long stare out the window, and of course a bottle of bubbly.
I raise my glass to her. But Lady B just cocks her head to one side, a perfect, inquisitive mirror of Albert, perched on her shoulder.
How I get my relaxation on!
Miss Noble: Oh, don’t look at me like that – I deserve an evening with champagne and the mindlessness enjoyment of staring at nothing. Tomorrow I will continue the ritual with a thorough house-cleaning.
Lady B: Ritual? Miss Noble, I am afraid I do not know what you speak.
Miss Noble: No? Do you not have some kind of celebration, some little ritual you do when you complete a large task?
Lady B: I should not admit to it if I did.
Miss Noble: For heaven’s sake, we all have them! Why, Miss Ashe tells me she indulges herself in a long, hearty run once she completes a book.
Lady B: I am not one for such exercise. I prefer to save my exertions for Lord B’s company.
Miss Noble: (blushing furiously) Well, what about Miss MacLean? I happen to know that every time she finishes a work, her shoe collection expands.
Lady B: (eyeing Miss MacLean’s Pradas): She is remarkably well-shod.
Miss Noble: And Miss Dare and Miss Foley both enjoy the pampering of day spa after the tortures of writing for months on end.
Lady B: That does explain why Miss Dare had cucumbers over her eyes a few months ago. That or she indulged in too much ratafia the night before.
Miss Noble: In either case I warrant a day at the spa is deserved. Meanwhile, Miss Darby shares my desire for a thorough house cleaning, and Miss Willig – well, she claims to never quite be done enough to celebrate, but the point is, there is nothing shameful in congratulating yourself for a job well done. So come now, Lady B. Tell me, what do you do to celebrate a momentous event.
Lady B: Well, Miss Noble, I shouldn’t be telling you this…
She leans in close to whisper in my ear. Oh, what fun! I, the recipient of one of Lady B’s secrets!
Lady B: I get dressed up in my absolute best gown and feathered headpiece…
Miss Noble: Yes…
Lady B: And then I host a ball and force young authoresses to interact with my guests! Now come along!
Miss Noble: Ow! Lady B, please let go of my ear!
While I am being forced into human interaction, tell me – how do you relax and celebrate finishing something big? Be it a novel, or a project at work, or completing your taxes, I know we all like to pamper ourselves in some small way!
Jun 28, 2012
7:16 am
I would say shopping therapy. Get myself that nice purse or something else I don’t need, but I want is how I celebrate. I also do a little happy dance and sit and relax. I am not a champagne or wine drinker, but I think going out for margaritas would be nice.
My one friend has never liked alcohol. Then last month, she went to this wedding and had a Bay Breeze drink and really liked it. I told her that is because she always had wine, but never stuff with rum and other heavy liquors in it. Like me – give us the strong stuff – keep the wine.
Jun 28, 2012
12:00 pm
Oh, a shopping trip! I should have thought of that. Nothing says “congratulations!” like a new pair of sunglasses…
Jun 28, 2012
1:15 pm
Shopping is a wonderful reward. I need some new sunglasses myself, though I haven’t just finished a book. Maybe a reward for finishing a chapter …
Jun 28, 2012
3:40 pm
Sounds eminently reasonable to me, Miranda. Chapters deserve celebrations too!
Jun 28, 2012
9:56 am
Congrats on handing in your book Kate! That is definitely an achievement worthy of much celebration.
In the past, I’ve celebrated with a sweet potato pie, a new pretty handbag, or a nice meal (on separate occassions, not all at once!) But mostly, I treat myself to a shopping binge on Amazon. On line shopping is DANGEROUS, let me tell you, lol. All those books and DVDs just a click away.
And I’m not adverse to a nice glass of white wine either. Just saying.
Jun 28, 2012
12:02 pm
That sounds like fun (and YUM on the sweet potato pie, by the by). Amazon is dangerous… especially if you are drinking that glass of wine while you do it!
Jun 28, 2012
7:27 pm
Congrats again, Kate!
Jun 28, 2012
7:37 pm
Thanks Gael!
Jun 28, 2012
11:05 am
Congratulations, Kate, on finishing and turning in the new book. What a thrill!!
It’s strange for when I think of all the things I should have celebrated – my first house sale, finishing my novella and submitting on time, etc. – I realize that I did not celebrate at all. I smiled happily and moved on. I guess I’m the kind of person who accepts a finished accomplishment and moves on to the next without fanfare. I’d much rather celebrate someone else’s accomplisment rather than my own. I wonder why that is? Now look what you’ve done – you’ve got me questioning myself. [sigh]
Congrats though!! I suppose if I ever sold a book I think I would definitely jump up and down a bit and scream!! LOL!!
Jun 28, 2012
12:03 pm
Amy — when you sell that book we will ALL jump up and down and scream.
Jun 28, 2012
3:42 pm
Ditto, what Kate said!
Jun 28, 2012
7:27 pm
I second that!!! Persistence, persistence, persistence…
Gaelen
Jun 28, 2012
1:16 pm
Amy I think you are saving up the celebration for the big one. It will be Epic!
Jun 28, 2012
3:42 pm
“I’d much rather celebrate someone else’s accomplisment rather than my own.” How lovely you are, Amy!
Jun 28, 2012
10:34 pm
Aww, y’all are sooo sweet! Believe me, when (notice I say ‘when’) it happens the Ballroom crowd will be among the first to know!!! Thanks for your support. Love you all!
Jun 28, 2012
11:12 am
Oh Miss Noble, how cruel you are to tease us so! A new book finished and no hint of when we can read it? Tell me it isn’t so!
Go on and celebrate now while we are left wondering how long we have to wait!
Now when I want to celebrate I like to share with friends. My favorite way to finally be able to relax after a job well done is to bake! Ah, surrounded by the smell of apple pie or cheesecake 0r chocolate cake baking in the oven!
Just the smell of those sweet treats baking makes my day complete. Now if I could just figure out a way to bake them without any calories my life would be perfect!
Jun 28, 2012
12:07 pm
I’m so sorry to tease you so! this one will be out early 2013, which is actually closer than you think (it’s almost July… how did that happen?)
I love the idea of celebratory baking too… I enjoy chocolate chip cookies and apple tarts, myself.
Jun 28, 2012
11:51 am
Actually I like to relax with a good novel as a reward for just about anything I can think of. I think the best way to celebrate is reading a good book and getting a pedicure or a long foot massage.
Jun 28, 2012
12:09 pm
Oh yes, reading is a wonderful way to celebrate. I actually find it very difficult to read while I am in the final throes of finishing a book, so I start to yearn for it. Once I’m done I pick up a book or four and can spend all weekend reading, knowing that I earned it.
Jun 28, 2012
3:45 pm
Likewise, Kate. I often don’t read any fiction while I’m writing a book, which means months and months of delicious novels piling up waiting to be read the moment I type “The End.” Once I’ve done so, it’s pretty much a novel reading orgy for me, and it’s sublime.
Jun 28, 2012
3:43 pm
That sounds positively dreamy, Ora.
Jun 28, 2012
1:49 pm
Huge congratulations on finishing, Kate. Now we can all look forward to reading it. Enjoy that daze of relief feeling!
To me the greatest celebration is not having anything to do. Sit around, read, shop, weed the garden, watch TV during the day, whatever, without feeling pressured or guilty.
Jun 28, 2012
7:37 pm
Thanks Miranda! My daze is pretty much over, but I shall make it last as long as possible.
Jun 28, 2012
2:07 pm
Congrats on completing the book. You should celebrate! For me, chocolate always works. Champagne is pretty good, too.
Jun 28, 2012
4:24 pm
Chocolate is a must. After all, what is champagne without it?
Jun 28, 2012
10:36 pm
And strawberries!!
Jun 28, 2012
2:43 pm
I yell “And now time for something completely different!” and go do something that will not, in any way, shape or form, remind me of what I have just finished.
I love to relax at the pool, go out to dinner where I neither cook the food nor clean the mess after or go out with my husband for a much needed Date Night.
Congrats on turning in your novel, Ms. Noble- we are all looking forward to reading it!
Jun 28, 2012
4:26 pm
Hah! I love it! Now if only I had a pool…
Jun 28, 2012
8:36 pm
Congratulations, Kate! I’m late to all the balls lately because I’m deep in the writing trenches myself. I can’t wait until I can say “I’m finished!” and head for the spa.
Jun 29, 2012
8:17 am
Congratulations on finishing your book and submitting. I will wait patiently for it to be released. Not because I want to, but because I HAVE to. Darn publishers.
Now when I have done something spectacular, say finished the 10m$ grant request (and get it) I do take a trip. 3 -7 days somewhere in the US. Lately it has been to WDW. For this years’ grant request I am expanding my horizons, perhaps I’ll take a last minute cruise or visit the kiddos.
Jun 29, 2012
2:47 pm
Thanks Lady Susan! And wow, on those grant requests! You work hard and deserve to enjoy your WDW time!
Jun 29, 2012
3:08 pm
Hi Kate!
Congratulations on your new novel! It must be such a wonderful thing to do what you love and get paid for it, even if it takes up lots of time and effort. My only dream/goal for the future is to someday (hopefully soon) be able to do what you do. When that day comes (when a manuscript gets accepted, I’ve written and submitted one so far), I can tell you the celebration will be massive!
Considering I have recently developed a sort of allergy to chocolate (the horror!) and sweets of any kind give me pains (yikes!), it won’t be a food sort of celebration.
I have two kids so I guess I celebrate by taking a few hours for myself, somewhere, like a cafe (though I’m cutting coffee off too – OMG!) or a bookstore.
Can’t wait to see the new book!
Kelly