Writing THE END isn’t really "the end"

That’s the strange thing about writing a novel. Back in July of 2000, when I “finished” RADIO STARR, I honestly thought I was done. Cue the laugh track. Oh, how naïve I was.

I just finished the sequel which I’m calling RADIO STORM.

I wanted last scene to feel like a window, not a door slamming shut. For readers to imagine Eva’s future unfolding beyond the final page: her new career, Dusty by her side. But it felt too sweet, all tied up with a bow.

So I rewrote it—but I missed the sweet part. Then I remembered something I’d written long ago, meant to be a continuation of the story twenty years into the future for another book. Could I use it as an epilogue? When I told my Wisconsin Writers Association critique group about the idea, I stopped in mid-sentence, saying, “I have chills right now.” A good sign, they said! Either that or the air kicked on.

When I start reading the new book from beginning to end for the first time, there’s no doubt I’ll find plot holes, inconsistencies, and gibberish that somehow survives. The target word count is 80,000 words, so I need to cut 7,000 words. Naturally, this will require me writing another 5,000 words first, because writing is craziness.

While working on it this morning, I came across a few sentences I genuinely don’t remember writing—which happens more than I’d like to admit. I’m not exaggerating when I say I edited RADIO STARR a hundred times. I stopped counting at fortyish, and that was two years before publication. I’m not sure whether forgetting parts of my own book is a normal writer thing or simply evidence that I’m of retirement age.

This time, I plan to edit the book twice before sending it to my editor, Tara Huck, as five sets of WWA eyes have already critiqued it. Thanks Becky, Jen, Maureen, Lisa and Terry!

The timing works out well. When Fresh Water Press signed RADIO STARR, they knew I had a second book started, and by some miracle of publishing schedules, Tara has a brief window to read it in between edits on a memoir by Tina and Jason Prigge.

I’m curious to hear what Tara thinks about the epilogue, although there’s a chance she’ll recommend taking the axe to it. With RADIO STARR, she suggested I write a different beginning, because Eva seemed too young in the original version. The last thing I wanted to do after typing “The End” was write a new chapter, but it turned out way better.

So now the question becomes: Will RADIO STORM be as good as RADIO STARR? After ten years of practice, I should be a better writer. We’ll find out what my editor thinks in about a month!