[edmjill]

Surely I'm not the only writer who does this...

With whatever I'm working on, I dawdle and dawdle at the outset, poke along in the middle, and then when I get to the last pages or final paragraphs, I fly like lightning!  I'm sure it's just because I'm so glad to see the end and to feel that *sigh* of contentment when I'm done.  I was even this way when I was a students and had to do essays (and my profs often commented on my brief conclusions...)

Does anyone else really speed up when they're in the home-stretch?

 

[Al Dente]

Yes! I will dawdle and take my time through 3/4 of a story, but when I feel the end coming, it's like I become Speedy Gonzales. 

 

[60169]

Absolutely! My Dad used to have a name for a horse that would start to gallop when it saw the barn door, but it escapes me. Whatever that name was, that's me!

 

[strath]

I am very hesitant, pokey, and jerky/spurty at the end. I can't sigh with relief but with trepidation. For me the real trial is at hand because I fear the proofing.

My absolute first motto is: there is no such thing as writing - there is only rewriting. I've got stuff older than you that I still rewrite. That's one thing. But proofing is agony to me. I reread my ebook 30, maybe 40 times. Published the darned thing then began arranging a POD. When that proof got to me I found 75+ spelling errors and 20+ paragraph indentation lapses. I was floored. I reedited and resubmitted the ebook and await (fearfully) the second POD proof to hit my mailbox.

I wistfully await my sigh of relief that all is done. And, I envy you!

Congratulations.

 

[edmjill]

I still dive in for revisions & edits & proofing and all that, but doing those things really doesn't bother me because I am so glad to finally have a "whole" instead of just part of a story or half of a book.  When I get to the final few lines of whatever I'm working on, it's like I'm on the Autobahn!

 

[strath]

You need to bottle that skill (and that ability to dive right in) - I'd buy lots of it and I'd bet other writers would too.

 

[strath]

P.S.

I do admit I'm glad when my baby(s) are 'birthed' and I miss them greatly. Do you have that feeling? It's not dissimilar from that feeling I get when I finish a book I loved.

 

[Lummox JR]

The end goes faster than the beginning, but the meat and potatoes of the book are quickest for me. There I only have to introduce new characters (and come up with names) some of the time, the plot has congealed a little and gotten easier to manage, and it's not as important to be sure I'm approaching the end at the right pace and that I'm tying everything up properly. The final dialogue or action is often so important it needs extra fussing over.