I've finally finished my book.

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And I'm at a loss, to be honest.

Doubtless the next few weeks will inspire serious reflection on everything I've had to sacrifice over the last 12 months in order to see this through, not to mention open the door on more second-guessing: was it was all worth it? I don't know. For now, it's finished. It's actually finished. And I can't remember what my life was like before this deadline struck.

The hardest part about all of this, especially the letting go, is that I honestly believe this to be a flawed book, and probably not even close to what I would've written had I signed the contract today, as opposed to two years ago.

The next step will be to prepare myself for what I fully anticipate will be a mostly lukewarm critical reaction. How strange it'll feel to have my name stamped on something that no longer feels representative. My saving grace right now is macro-perspective: "Dammit Mark, it's your first book, you're still young, of course it's going to be flawed."

I'm honestly alright with that. And anyway: it's finished!!

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:52 (twenty-three years ago)

congrats.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Absolutely, I applaud you.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Beer?

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:19 (twenty-three years ago)

What's it about?

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:20 (twenty-three years ago)

i am insanely jealous as usual

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Rah! Well done sir. Now to revise mine!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:23 (twenty-three years ago)

are you giving yourself a test on it ned?

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Revise in the American sense, you wonderful crazy man.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:29 (twenty-three years ago)

What is it called?

― Tom Millar (Millar), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Beer?

Ten.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:58 (twenty-three years ago)

And link.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:59 (twenty-three years ago)

How soon before a book is published does a book appear on Amazon? Before it's even finished being written seems a bit absurd...

Congrats on finishing, though...

― kate, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 01:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Crazy! According to Amazon, this book was release 33 years ago!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 01:02 (twenty-three years ago)

December 31, 1969 - That is kind of bizarre isn't it? Not even a typo could explain that one. Maybe it's the y2k bug come late for dinner.

That and the "customers who wear clothes also.." thing right below it make me wonder what kind of cheap drugz are afoot at Amazon.

But right - congratulations mark! I'll be buying one.

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 01:40 (twenty-three years ago)

How soon before a book is published does a book appear on Amazon? Before it's even finished being written seems a bit absurd...

Kate, it's been mostly written for a while; I've just finished the final bits and bobs now. Although for a spell I considered pre-ordering it in lieu of writing it and then just handing THAT in.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:21 (twenty-three years ago)

And I'm not sure about the wonky release date either. They got everything else wrong (length, my credentials), so it makes sense that they'd mess that up too. I think they're going from a basic one sheet; they'll likely update it when they see an actual copy.

But anyways, thanks everyone. Also: it's FINISHED!!!!!

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Do you dream in Icelandic?

― Momus (Momus), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't we all?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Daydream, maybe.

Have you been, Nick?

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:44 (twenty-three years ago)

The "customers who wear clothes also shop for" thing is k-brilliant!

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 06:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I first noticed the "customers who wear clothes" thing while checking something about PEACHES, so as I was scrolling down it looked like Amazon was recommending that anyone who buys the Peaches record should also stock up on clean underwear. (Ew.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 07:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Plus I was gonna make the "customers who wear clothes" joke and then I realized: it's online shopping, for all they know you might not wear clothes.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 07:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I got the 1969 thing last night when pre-ordering a book about capybaras.

Congrats Mark!!

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 08:55 (twenty-three years ago)

congrats! do you have any free author's copies to pass around yet?

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 09:04 (twenty-three years ago)

congratulations mark.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 09:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Well done Mark P!

ECW! So they publish books now instead of barbed wire table matches? Cool!

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 09:52 (twenty-three years ago)

That's fantastic Mark! Roll on 1969!

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 12:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow. (Flutter.)

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 14:00 (twenty-three years ago)

so as I was scrolling down it looked like Amazon was recommending that anyone who buys the Peaches record should also stock up on clean underwear. (Ew.)

They're just trying to be helpful (and honest).

Congratulations Mark! It's quite an accomplishment.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 14:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Congratulations too. They're rather flattering Ms. Peaches.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 14:08 (twenty-three years ago)

whoo, congratulations mark!!!

― lyra (lyra), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 15:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Congratulations. Also, I never imagined, back when it was part of your email address, that that was your real name.

The IMDB has gone mental too:

http://www.imdb.com/Recent/UK

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Well done Mark, it must be a great feeling, a book really is something I want to do.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Congratulations. I'll see you at my local Ottakars when you do the signing sessions. Last author here, Dickie Bird.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:34 (twenty-three years ago)

How exciting - congratulations Mark!

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Congratulations, Mark. Well done.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Yay Mark!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Aw hell thanks everyone. I'm psyched.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 21:29 (twenty-three years ago)

i have been reading this thread pretending it is the one i get when i finish my book

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 21:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Just don't do that with the reviews, else you'll get discouraged.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 21:57 (twenty-three years ago)

There will be dancing in the streets if nonono when it happens, Mark.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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