TECH: Endings (1 of 4)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting 31 March 2010

Writers Digest, August 2007, pages 83 and 84 have an article by Colleen Thompson about endings. With a sidebar by her, and a short piece by James Scott Bell about endings. And there's even an exercise about endings! So... here's part one!

Colleen Thompson points out that getting and keeping the reader's attention with a great beginning, a middle that pulls them on and wonderful characters still requires that the ending fulfill the promise of the story. If the ending falls flat, readers are disappointed, angry, and they won't buy your next book or story. So what are the elements of a satisfying ending?

1. Fair play. The opening of the novel makes a contract with the reader. It sets tone, genre, and introduces us to the protagonist. You're creating expectations for the reader -- the story's going to be tense and dramatic, it's going to be comic, it's going to be lyrical -- and the ending needs to fulfill those expectations. Mystery readers expect a crime to be solved, romance readers want that clinch (or something like that), and so on. Your job as a writer is to meet the expectations in an innovative way, while still completing the framework of the story that you've built. Oh, and while you may want to surprise the reader, you need to foreshadow the solution with subtle clues. Readers should think of course, why didn't I see that coming?
2. Go for the gut. Truly satisfying endings leave readers with strong emotional reactions. Don't force or manipulate the reader -- contrived situations look like melodrama, and mostly aren't satisfying. But, give us an ending that is a logical outcome of the plot and the characters evolution, and readers will follow you through fire.
3. Mirror, mirror. Many satisfying endings mirror the opening. The protagonist returns home or encounters a similar problem, but having learned and changed -- having paid the cost -- now they know what to do.

Whether the character succeeds, changes goals, or gives up on the initial objective depends on reader's expectations, the genre, and what the author is trying to do. But all of your crucial scene have built to the climax -- make it great!

So that's Colleen's advice on endings. Make sure that they fulfill the promises you made at the beginning, have emotional depth, and consider how they could return to the beginning.

TECH: Endings (2 of 4)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting 1 April 2010

Writers Digest, August 2007, pages 83 and 84 have an article by Colleen Thompson about endings. With a sidebar by her, and a short piece by James Scott Bell about endings. And there's even an exercise about endings! So... part two! Without further adieux?

Exercise! Here's the five step program that Colleen recommends:

1. List what each protagonist must learn, overcome and change to achieve, revise or abandon the story goal. (tink says, "Oh, how does the protagonist change?")
2. Reread your book's opening to determine what type of ending its tone or genre promises.
3. Brainstorm five possible outcomes for your protagonist and decide which will leave the reader surprised and satisfied. (tink says, "Oh, a quota! But shouldn't we have done that way long ago?")
4. Write a brief synopsis, sticking to the main characters and primary plot. Keep it short. Use it to visualize the story's beginning, middle and end. Try many versions until you find a favorite. (tink says, "Y'a know, Colleen must be a discovery writer. Okay, so she's pulling plot out...")
5. If you're stuck, skip the build up and write the most emotionally satisfying final scene you can envision. Then write your way to it by filling in the missing pieces. (tink laughs, "Yep! Okay, let's write the final scene, then figure out how to get there.")

Go ahead, write!