nWith the release on April 15 of my latest book, Triple Burn, I know well the giddiness and sense of accomplishment that accompanies “The End” on a book manuscript. It never grows old.
n
nThere’s a momentary lapse when the author heaves a big sigh and says, “It’s finished.” But it isn’t really finished, and the savvy author knows that. Editing and revision and formatting have yet to come.
n
nMany people get the same heady sense of relief and accomplishment when completing a project, whether it’s related to writing or not. For instance, a carpenter can stand back and admire the beauty of the chest of drawers he finished. An electrician can flip a switch and feel satisfaction that everything hooked up operates as it should. A gardener harvests the fruits and vegetables of his labors.
n
n”The End” is only just the beginning, whether that beginning is another phase of the project or another project entirely.
n
nSometimes, “The End” means the severance of a relationship. The tension and anxiety leading up to that severance cause lost sleep, indigestion, worry, and other problems. I’ve been going through that lately with a client. There’s fault to be found on both sides, but the problem remains that I find it increasingly difficult to work for this client. Whether I finished the project or terminate the contract, I will feel relief once I can affix “The End” to it.
n
n”The End” also pertains to the feeling that things are crashing down about one’s ears and the subsequent crush and humiliation of failure will force me into doing what I absolutely, positively do not want to do or force me to quit doing what I love to do and what I believe excel at doing. “The End” doesn’t necessarily translate to “happily ever after,” but might be the harbinger of personal tragedy.
n
n”The End.” Those two small words convey enormous meaning and emotion.
n
n