How to Succeed in Evil is not a self-help page for the maladjusted. It it is the story of Edwin Windsor, Evil Efficiency Consultant. He's like Arthur Andersen for Supervillains.
I have take a pause and realize just how cool you guys really are. For example,
check out the comments on Chapter 70.
http://succeedinevil.com/2009/07/27/htsietn-chapter-70the-only-sane-thing-to-do/#comments
Helpful, critical, smart feedback. And a crapload of encouragement. It’s just awesome.
It’s coming. I’ve actually reworked the entire last third of the book in preparation for submitting it to publishers, and am now working on a suitable epilog for these audiobook episodes.
Thanks for bearing with.
So I bobbled the ending.
Well, that’s not completely true. The story has a great half an ending. See the story that really interests me is what would make a reasonable person decide that they need to take over the world? How does someone become an Evil Genius. Not in a “in the summer we made meathelmets” kind of way. But in a very real, step by step, that makes sense kind of way.
It’s Edwin’s internal story arc. And that’s a friggin tall order. And I pulled it off, so I am justly pleased.
But the problem is, the external story hasn’t been wrapped up very well. Let me use the example of Jaws to illustrate. Jaws is a movie about a shark. And when Chief Brody overcomes the shark, he’s won. Except it’s not. You can make a beautiful looking film, with far better special effects than Spielberg had available at the time, and it will still suck. Much like Jaws II.
See the inner story, the one that makes Jaws go, is about Chief Brody overcoming his fear of the water. I think that story arc is the difference between Jaws and Jaws I,II,III (oh my god please stop making sequels already)
So for people who were interested in the internal story, they are satisfied with the book as it ends now. Perhaps they feel something is missing (sound off in the comments folks) but they’re not emailing me. But you other people…
You other people are expressing your displeasure. Or at least, your confusion. And, you are right to do so. In fact, thank you for doing so. ‘Cause it will make the book stronger.
So I’m writing the rest of the book now. Actually, I’ve written most of it. Quick polish and it will be up shortly.
Thank you all very much for honest and insightful feedback. More ending is on it’s way.
