Manusript completed

The manuscript is complete in its first incarnation. It's in the capable hands of Judy now, my main proof-reader and my main gal. After her input and the changes it brings, the manuscript goes to a professional proof reader who does not share my life.

The ending gave me some cause for pause. Life is not made up of endings. Each day in a life until the last one is followed by more days. The last day in a novel is likewise followed by more days, more problems, more conflict, more solutions. Those days are not part of the story, though. You have to acknowledge them, but not explain and resolve them.

Lawyer novels have verdict rendered. Detective novels have case closed. Cowboy novels have sunset ridden into. Romance novels have wedding bells ringing.

Books that reflect reality, though, don't have formula-driven, predictable endings.

Sometimes you just have to declare the story to be ended. Close the book and think about a sequel. Hmm. The old show biz rule: Always leave them wanting more.

It's a big letdown ending a book. I think I'll go out into the workshop.

Congratulations. I agree that endings are difficult.

Al,
congratulations.
The ending is usually the first phase of more work. Unwinding is needed before continuing. I think the workshop is a good idea.

The best way to deal with a letdown is to start something new. I know, easier to say ...

The hardest part about finishing a work, and putting it out for others to see, is that it is no longer your work.

We have no control of how others might perceive our writings. The different perspectives of the readers will cause each to interpret what we write in her or his own way. They will see things we never intended and miss things we thought were necessary and obvious.

No wonder ending is so difficult.

Ann

A good story never ends. There is always something to be imagined past the written words. That is the lovely thing about writing. Not all need be told. The reader fills in what goes on after.

The reader is better at that than the writer.

Love,
Betty

My best gal is down to the last chapter. She likes it. Now, of course, she is my wife, but in the past her judgement on such things has been good. She critques all my scripts, for example. If she thinks a joke is okay, it's going to get a laugh. It she thinks it's too much over the edge and shouldn't be told, it's going to get a big laugh.

I should add that she reads lots of murder mysteries and knows what works and what does not. This isn't a mystery. There's never any question about whodunit. It's more suspense, intrigue and some action.

Anyway, my concerns about the protagonist's identity changes have not come up in Judy's comments, so I am going to leave it the way it is at least until the pro proof reader gets a whack at it.

I want a story you can't put down. Being close to the narrative, naturally I don't know where that would be. I am asking my proof readers to identify the places where they could easily put the book down to go do something else.

There are suggestions of sex in the book but nothing explicit. The only real action is a fatal hand-to-hand bout between the protagonist and a bad guy. I'm wondering if some agent or editor is going to ask to have it spiced up just for the sake of doing it.

But that's down the road a piece.

Damn, it's hard to find something to do when you don't have something to write.

I have stacks of flash drives that need to be cleaned up for my WIP to come together; but I look at them and cringe.

I'm cleaning closets.