MASTER OF THE OPERA, my erotic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera set in modern day at the Santa Fe Opera House, originally published as a serial ebook, is now available in print! Exclusively from Books A Million for the time being. You can read a snippet from the book at That’s What I’m Talking About.
It’s kind of funny to have a “release” like this, for a book that originally came out a year and a half ago, and that I finished writing long before that. I’ve written so many books and novellas since then, that it feels forever ago. In particular, I’ve written three more Twelve Kingdoms books, with the last two hitting 125K and 130K words. Even more distance from this serial novel I wrote in six parts.
All the same, finishing is finishing, and it always seems to carve a chunk out of me. I sometimes get asked in interviews how I celebrate finishing a book (answer: I don’t, being done is joy enough! I guess I celebrate by not having to be writing it anymore). I know a lot of writers have a big ritual upon finishing. Some of them post to Facebook, etc., with a screenshot with a big
THE END
I have never done this. When I’ve questioned it, some writers say their editors expect it, so they know pages aren’t missing. I guess I’ve always felt it should be obvious that it’s the end and the story is done. So I’m curious – do you all type “The End”?
I’ll type it for me, but I don’t ever include it in the final version. For my readers, I hope it’s obvious enough when they read the final sentence. (Which is a LOT harder than typing “the end.”)
I don’t type “The End” on my novel manuscripts. However, it might still be expected for a newspaper column or magazine article.
I forgot to mention I jump up and do a happy dance instead of typing The End….
Why do you type it for you, Terry – for a sense of conclusion? I agree on the final sentence being the one that should seal the story. I wonder about that, Pat. Hmm…
I write it for me because it’s a personal achievement (and it says “don’t mess with this anymore; wait for edits.”)
A long time ago, I was told that I should not type The End on my novel length manuscripts. Unfortunately, I can’t recall who said this–or did I read it?–so I can’t vouch for whether or not this person even had the credential to give the definitive answer. I can say that it impressed me enough to quit doing it. Terry, I love your reason for writing it, and I think it serves a very useful purpose! I also remember reading The End in storybooks as a child and how it gave me such a great sense of finality and satisfaction. Those were the good old days before I knew about things such as sweating over getting that final sentence just perfect.
I love that, Terry! And, ooh, I remember that, Margaret. Sometimes “The End” would be in pretty script with a border around it. I have such lovely feelings associated with it!
Okay. I’ve decided to use The End for me (like Terry–and maybe I’ll put a pretty border around it) when I finish the first draft of my WIP. I can already imagine how much satisfaction I’ll get from that! 😀
Now I kind of want to do this, too!
Exercise is always important, Patricia! Good for you!
LOL!