What Comes Next? So you took the challenge of writing 50,000 words, whether or not you made that goal, it is time to decide how to proceed. 1. Finish the novel. You've got the momentum, ride it out. Get the story out of your head. Once "The End" is on the page, you can say you've written a book. You're now an author! 2. Take a breather. That's right, give your story a rest. A month or two is good then you'll be able to look at it with fresh eyes. During the waiting period read up on craft, journal story ideas or make an outline and start writing another manuscript. 3. Join a critiquing group or enroll in a writing/editing seminar. Whether local or online. It helps to have others to bounce things off of and give helpful hints to improve your work. It's nice to talk with people who are going through the same process and can relate. If you Google "critique groups" several sites will come up like Critique Circle and Roses Colored Glasses
