I wanted to point you all to post Natalie Bahm had about endings. Her post really hit home for me. I am all about endings. I love, love, love a good ending. Doesn't have to be uber-happy, but like Natalie says, it does need to wrap things up--at least the majority of things.
I'm at the point in this rewrite/revision (some days I write, some days I revise. It all depends on my level of consciousness) where I need to write the end. It's climax time. Then the denouement. I'm pretty confident with the way I envision the story ending, I just have to write it. And that's the hard part. I want to get it right. I want it to shine. I want it to be the best part of the story, as it should be.
I have encountered this problem with every manuscript I've written. When it comes time to crank out the ending, I pause. And pause. And pause. It's almost like I have to really pump myself up to get it out. Maybe that's it. So far I haven't felt in the right emotional state of mind to get the scene out right. Thankfully, I have other parts of the manuscript to edit.
I can feel the time coming. One of these mornings I'll wake early. I'll let Puppy out to potty and then I'll write. The perfect ending will flow from fingers. I can't wait!
How about you? Do you struggle with endings? If not, what's your secret? I'm all ears.
21 thoughts:
Do you think your subconscious just doesn't want the story to end? :)
My last book I wrote the ending almost first thing. I had the whole story planned out, but the ending came to me in a rush of words, so I got it down. It changed a little by the time I'd written the book, but not by much.
This new one I have no idea how it's going to end, but I'm a long way from being there yet, too.
I am terrible at beginnings, I haven't really experienced trouble at the endings, but I also have never gotten that far... when I do I'll be sure to let you know!
Good Luck!!
Feel better soon. I am having this problem at this exact moment. I am basically finished my first draft but keep dwelling on the ending. I know what has to be done but I can't make it sound or feel right. I think I should have written the ending first.
Get better :)
I find beginnings harder than endings, but endings are equally important. I hate it when I give my time to a great book, just to have the ending feel rushed or lack luster.
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I'm sorry you're sick. And on a Monday, at that. I hope the worst of the bug passes you by. Thanks for this post. I need to work on the end of the book I'm revising...( I guess we keep trying and when it's right, we'll know.) Take it easy on yourself.
I'm sorry you're sick!
So sorry you're sick, hon!!! Lots of tea and lemon. So hard to keep blogging when you're feeling like that. As to endings...I LOVE writing them. It's one of my favorite parts. Especially since I generally start a story knowing how it will end, so I spend all that time just waiting to get to it. It's like the dessert portion of the meal for me ;)
Hope you feel better soon, sweetie.
Struggle with endings...? I don't even make it that far! I am on my way to one ending, I think.
I hope you get better.
I hope you feel better, being sick is no fun. :(
Thanks for the mention! I really struggle with endings. I rewrote (and I mean COMPLETELY rewrote) the ending of my last manuscript a half dozen times. I just couldn't get it to feel right.
I worry the same thing will happen this time. But you are right, at some point the ideas will flow and hopefully it will all turn out.
I'm so sorry you're sick. I hope you get to feeling better... soon.
I have no advice for you. Right now I'm struggling with all parts. : (
Hope you feel better!!
My ending actually came to me at the very beginning of writing Shattered...
But I'm sending out happy vibes your way to good health and beautiful endings :-)
Also, how is the new puppy?!
I struggle with endings but mostly because I don't want them to end!
I hope you feel better soon!
Endings scare me. I somehow always convince myself that endings have to be perfect (!), but actually I've never had to rewrite an ending. Now, my starts? Those dreadful first three chapters. *shudders* They spread horrible rumors about me ALL OVER the writosphere. Seriously, they hate me.
I hope you feel better soon! :)
Endings are freaking hard! We usually have to talk through them and talk through them and talk through them again. And even then, they're not quite right. I don't think it's possible to nail it on the first try. Luckily, we don't have to! That's what revisions are for...
I have always been such a persnickety writer that I haven't made it to the endings. I get too bogged down. This time, I am having a completely different experience, letting my first draft just be a first draft. I also started in the middle, which I've never done before. So I can't predict what the ending will bring but I think I find the whole idea of endings scary! :)
Feel better!!
I think you know how endings plague me. ;)
Endings are hard. I tend to rewrite and rewrite until I think it's perfect. That thinking doesn't usually last long. ;) Great post! Good luck with your ending. I hope you're feeling better soon!
I'm like you. I know the ending but it takes a while for me to get it out because I want it to be so good. :-)
I hope you start feeling better soon!
i don't typically struggle with endings - they usually just show up, right on time, and surprise me with some goodness.
But my last WIP, *groan*, it did not go well at all
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