McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Oh crap - I'm stuck...

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Drew:
Walk away a bit.  If it feels forced, go back to it in awhile and see if it still feels that way.

blgarver:
Okay...good, good, I'm learning...

I'm gonna try writing a synopsis of everything that has happened so far. And possibly a second synopsis including cuts and additions so I can be a little more prepared for the second draft. 

However, the end is still perplexing me a little, and after taking in the advice thus far (which I appreciate immensely, by the way, thank you guys) my question/conundrum has changed a bit.

I haven't picked up any bits of info from the writing books I've read, but maybe it's there and I just overlooked it.  Anywho, here's the evolved question:

In your guys opinions, what should the end of a story do?  I mean, functionally?  I know the textbook "it should resolve all the plots and subplots and yadda yadda" but there's gotta be more than that.  I read Koontz's "The Face" and really liked it, but the end was kind of blah. Left me with literary blue balls, I guess.  I don't want to do that to my eventual readers (crosses fingers).  So, any advice on what things to do to make a good ending?

Josh:
I guess it depends on how you want the reader to feel upon finishing your book. Is it a series that you want them eager to return to? Do you want to invoke warm, cozy feelings of satisfaction like after having finished a good meal, or do you want the reader to feel like they just stepped off a roller-coaster, with shaky legs and a need to get some fresh air (but still exhilarated)?

One thing I try to avoid is dragging out the ending too far. I do tend to have a kind of epiloguish closing scene that ties a few threads together after the final crisis explodes/implodes and the world has been saved. A chance for some character resolution, a hint of future danger still lurking in the shadows perhaps, or a spark of hope igniting where there was none before. That final scene can serve many purposes. I don't think you want to end the story right after the bad guy got shot, fell off the cliff, or got a stake through the heart. Most readers will want a glimpse of the life the characters will continue to follow after they've survived whatever trials they've suffered through. They want to feel like the story goes on even after they've closed the book (or at least I do). So...maybe a scene or two after the climactic battle, or whatever, for closure...the resolution of a subplot or some such. An emotional farewell, maybe. Though you certainly don't want to fall into the trap of too many endings, or else all the tension that drove your story to this point is going to sputter out. You get this in the movie A.I., for instance, or even, as some complained, in the Lord of the Rings movie. The summation of my philosophy? Give 'em closure, but still leave them wanting more. It's a fine balance. You'll find it.


www.jrvogt.com

blgarver:
Awesome, reading that post just gave me an idea.  It's just fledgling glimpse right now, but i'm gonna work off it. 

The whole showing hope where there was none before...I'm gonna do a variation of that.  Huzzzah!

Thanks a million guys!  And keep the input coming, just reading this stuff gets my brain working.

cautiously optimistic
BLG

Drew:

--- Quote from: blgarver on March 01, 2007, 04:25:10 PM ---Okay...good, good, I'm learning...

 In your guys opinions, what should the end of a story do? 
--- End quote ---

Whatever works for you.  If it's somthing different, all the better.

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