Ok, The Rake is fantastic all the way to the part where it should be coming to a satisfying emotional ending. But then it sucks. I have ripped the guts out of an entire chapter (and, of course, moved it) and there's another one that has to go, too, only I haven't gotten that far yet. Right this very minute I should be replacing the six pages I cut with completely new material, only I'm just really stressed at the moment. Arghh! I am inarticulate right now. Deep breath. It's just that I really wish the good writing would just flow, but it never does. I only realize it's good after the fact.