Post-Parting Blues

Last night--my eyes bloodshot from hours of staring at the laptop screen--I attached the file containing the manuscript for Temptation and pasted a synopsis of the book into the body of an email. I wanted nothing more than to shoot the message to my editor at Lyrical Press, but I hesitated. Like I always do. Is the book good enough? Did I spend enough time on self-edits? Maybe I shouldn't send it because there's that one scene that I think isn't quite perfect. These doubts and more circled brain.

"No," I said aloud. My family is used to me talking to myself at the computer so the sudden outburst drew little attention. The manuscript is ready, just do it already! Finally, I clicked 'send.' My stomach clenched into knots and my palms started to sweat. This morning, I feel about the same way.

An author friend of mine also subbed something to a publisher about a week ago and it's nice to have someone to play the waiting game with. We both have lots of other WIPs to work one, but neither of us feels much like writing. And I realized, I feel this way everytime I finish and sub a manuscript. I'm off my writing game for at least three or four days. Sometimes the funk lasts as long as two weeks. I wonder, is there such thing as post-partem blues for writers?

Let's face it, producing a manuscript is much like going through labor...except the sweat and pain and pushing lasts for weeks or months on end, lol. Perhaps when the baby we've incubated for so long is out in the world, we do go through what I've deemed post-parting blues. I'm interested to find out if other writers go through this kind of letdown after the initial glee of finishing up a novel. And don't forget to vote in this week's poll. How do you feel once you've subbed the book to a publisher? Check all answers that apply.

Can't wait to see what y'all have to say!