I knew there was a reason to read Stephen King

[mousme]

Other than because I enjoy the books, that is.

I've been re-reading The Stand thanks to a loan from the lovely curtana with whom I spent Friday morning. That, of course, has put me back into a horror frame of mind, and so, as I walked from the metro to sultrysong's place for lunch on Saturday, I figured out why I can't get the end of Crisse, des Zombies! (Zombie Crisis!) (aka Afternoon Snack of the Living Dead) written.

I can't get it written because the story is pretty much finished. The remaining scenes I have in my head are too disjointed to make a proper narrative. They either need to be edited out entirely or saved for a different book, supposing I ever figure out a sequel. All of the book up unfolded itself in front of my eyes as I wrote it, and it's no longer doing that. I'm guessing that's because the story has been told and is just waiting for me to admit it and move on.

So the plan now is to go back over my manuscript, tie the ending together, and re-work the structure slightly so that it works better than it does now. A few existing scenes are going to end up on the cutting-room floor, and the book may not end up being 100,000 words, but I can live with that.

In a way I'm pleased, because now I can focus on polishing and editing and getting it sent out, rather than agonizing about why the ending refuses to come together.

I'm quite excited about this, really.

Now, if only I could come up with a title that won't put off any self-respecting editor. ;)

Comments

[conscioussoul.livejournal.com]

Although I have started reading it on Secret History, (still at the beggining, after the first zombi attack in the metro, though) I am dying (pun intended) of gettings my hand on a hard copy. I want one!!!! :-)

[vureoelt.livejournal.com]

Hehehe. "Stepen" King?

Still, I remember The Eyes of the Dragon being a solid read. I've just never read any others, predominantly because horror has never been my thing.

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

I am a self-respecting editor! I love your titles with a passion that transcends the ridiculous!

Congrats on the revelation regarding the completeness of the story. Amazing how suddenly things lock into place when one encompasses a truth such as this. (Especially when one certainly didn't plan it this way -- leastwise, not consciously.)

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you. :)

The problem is that the tone of the titles doesn't match the tone of the novel. The novel isn't nearly as flippant as the titles, which don't take themselves seriously.

I need a title that will not mislead my readers into thinking this will be a fun romp like Shawn of the Dead, for instance.

And yes, I love revelations like this. I kept fighting the rest of what I thought was the book because the last "real" scenes I'd written felt like a climax, and I didn't want to write 20,000 words of anticlimax.

Then I realized that, well, maybe that was the climax and I should just stop fighting it.

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

The Stand?

<3's t3h St4nd.