Celebrate!

How many times have I said it to my students and to other developing writers? When you're publishing a book, celebrate every step of the way, because if you don't celebrate the small moments, you rarely arrive at one that feels big enough to justify loud rejoicing.(Okay. If you win a Newbery or a National Book Award you get a party. Short of that, one moment in the life of your much-loved book tends to blend right into the next.)The process of writing a book and getting it published is a long and arduous one, but it has many defining moments along the way.So . . . when you finish the umpteenth revision of your manuscript and are ready, however warily, to show it to the world, celebrate!When an agent agrees to represent you, celebrate!When a publisher offers to take your manuscript, celebrate!When, months later, the contract is actually in your hands, celebrate!When, more months later, the check for the first part of the advance arrives in the mail, celebrate! Use a bit of that money on a fancy dinner or a romantic weekend with your spouse or . . . well, you know what's special for you.When you send your editor the very last draft in response to the very last jots and tittles to be revised, celebrate!When you receive a copy of the ARC—Advanced Reader Copy—of your book or get the F&G's—folded and gathered sheets—of a picture book with all its glorious art in place, celebrate!When you read your first review--we'll hope it's a glowing one—celebrate!When you finally hold the finished book in your hands, celebrate . . . celebrate . . . celebrate!If you don't do it, who will?As always, though, advice is easy to give. And advice givers don't always live by their own wisdom.During a recent Sunday after church, a friend and I were discussing the health crisis I've just been through—now behind me—and wanting to turn to a more cheerful topic, I announced that I have two books coming out May 1st, Little Dog, Lost, my first novel in verse, and Dinosaur Thunder, a long-awaited pictured book."How wonderful!" she said. "Let me give you a book party."I was startled. I haven't had a book party since . . . well, since 1976, the year Shelter from the Wind, my very first novel, came out."Oh," I stammered, "when you have more than eighty books out there a book party begins to seem a bit--"She interrupted. "No," she said. "Let me give you a book party.""Let me think about it," I said. And I went home and did just that.When I told my partner about my friend's generous offer, she said, "What a good idea!" Then she added, playing with words in a way that would delight any writer, "We need to do it quick while you're still quick."So while I'm still alive and can enjoy it--a state of affairs I expect to last for a good long time, by the way, but nonetheless, why wait?--we're going to have a party for two books I've been looking forward to, two books I'm proud of, two books worth celebrating: Dinosaur Thunder and Little Dog, Lost.It's taken me far too long to take my own good advice.But it is good advice, and I intend to enjoy every minute of that good party!