Inspiration is funny. I’ve said that and written that many times over the course of my life. It’s an indisputable fact that all writers understand. There are days… Stretches where you just don’t have it. Days when the story is there, but you are simply unable to put it on paper. Maybe you’re tired. Preoccupied. Burnt out. Drunk. Stoned. Loving. Fucking. Weeping. Watching “Squid Game.” Whatever you’re doing. As hard as you try you just can’t properly find the words you need.
Contrary to this, there are days when your story just flows. When inspiration grabs you by the balls, squeezes and forces you to write. Those days… You have no free will. You’re being held captive by your muse. Your only job is to keep going, regardless of what is happening around you. Time slows like it does in Endworld. And when you can break away–whether to sleep, eat something or refill your water cup–you’re left with the worst case of artistic blue balls you’ve ever had, along with a gnarly five o’clock shadow.
A week ago, yesterday, I wrote about finishing HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD before August 20, 2025… My 50th Birthday. It was a personal goal I tasked myself with not because I was under a deadline, but because I didn’t want to cross the half century mark of my life with my 30 plus year, labor of love incomplete. At the time I wrote that blog entry, linkable HERE if you want to give it a read, I did not know how long it would take me. Much of the story was already completed so August 20th seemed reasonable, even with the myriad of additions, subtractions and revisions I and my always reliable beta readers had proposed. Shortly after I wrote and posted that blog entry, I started re-re-RE-rewriting it. And last night? On June 29, 2025, shortly after 11PM EST, I read over page 215/word 130,947 in the document opened on my computer, and in a moment of sheer relief and visible sorrow, I understood.
The ENDWORLD Series was done.
There are likely a few people reading this, right now that are scoffing at that and scratching their heads. Didn’t you complete HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD four years ago? Technically yes. I did. But anyone who has ever written a story knows that the first draft is never the last draft, and even then–as I explained to my youngest minion #NatNatBoo last evening–I knew that the story wasn’t done. As thrilled as I was to have completed a draft, I knew it needed revision. I knew before my beta readers even got their respective hands on it that there were things about it that just didn’t work. It was short for one thing–less than 200 pages at that time–a length that was bolstered in part by a Forward, “What is The ENDWORLD Series” and an Afterward, “What was The ENDWORLD Series” that… spoiler… remain a part of it. I knew when I started re-re-rewriting it in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic that it was going to be shorter than the other, two books, due largely in part to the most common concern people expressed about Books One and Two. “Too long.” “Too repetitive.” But sub-200 pages seemed too short. My fears were confirmed as the first of my readers came back to me with a laundry list of notes on what it was missing, a handful of suggestions and the simple statement that it needed “more.” You know who you are, Beta Reader 1, and if you’re reading this right now, thank you.
So, I toyed with it. Over almost four, additional years as Beta Readers 2, 3 and 4 expressed similar sentiments over the months that followed. My deepest thanks to them, as well. But it wasn’t until one week ago yesterday that I decided it was time. And that decision… That moment was the product of a number of factors in addition to my self-imposed deadline that I will not launch into here–maybe I’ll blog about them another time. As you can likely imagine, I’m a bit fried at present, but I needed… I need to write this to bookend the process that started last Sunday.
Here’s the thing: Writers know when the moment is apt. Very few of us are Stephen King, able to pop out 2-3 books a year. Most of us are lucky if we complete one novel over the course of our life. I can now say that I’ve completed three, and I know this, even before I start editing again and ship it off to my real editor, because in that moment last night, when I read word 130,947, I knew what every writer that has ever completed anything, whether it be a novel, a short story or a poem et al knows. I felt it deep, within my soul. My story… the narrative which has been an integral part of my life for over 30 years, was complete. Every plotline was where I wanted it. Most if not all of the dialogue was as I’d heard it in my mind–yes, friends, I hear voices in my head–and my main character’s ending, as it had been many moons ago when I first wrote it, was… right. One of the biggest aspects of the story that I toyed with over the years was his ending, for reasons that will become abundantly clear when you read it. In the end I decided to stick with my original plan, and how that will play with the people that eventually read it will likely cause a spirited debate. Or it won’t. I’ll leave that for you to judge.
What now? That’s a heluva good question. I think I’ll take a day or two off after I post this. Watch the end of “Squid Game” with my minions who have recently returned from a cruise with their mother. I’ll likely reach out to my editor and my cover artist, and if they’re both reading this right now hey guys! Guess what? I’m done! And if you’re still game I’d love your assistance one more time. You know who you are, and I’m excited to hopefully conclude this journey with you both, once again by my side. I may reach out to Beta Readers 1, 2, 3 and 4 again, as well. Or I may ask others to step in this go ’round. I honestly don’t know. From my perch atop my home in Swarthmore, PA right now I’m looking out, over my neighborhood and the world beyond it. I’m watching a shelf cloud move slowly in my direction and I can hear the distant sound of thunder. I feel… within me for the first time in many years–when I first came up with this idea and typed the closing sequence from Book One on a long, blue library card at my then-place of employment–a degree of peace that has been sorely lacking from my life at points over the last decade or so. It’s a peace that comes with completion. I’ve more to say on that… much more, but for now you’ll have to wait to read the book.
HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD. Book Three of The ENDWORLD Series by Frank Marsh. Coming soon.
FM.
THE ENDWORLD SERIES 