Final Chapter/Epilogue

EndlessDestiny · Nov 23, 2008

So I've finished the first draft and I've been revising. I've started a variety of different ending chapters but none seem to fit. How do you guys decide to end your stories?

scarletpeaches · Nov 23, 2008

If I've written an acceptable first draft, the ending kind of writes itself.

When I start writing I have no outline, but I do have the inciting incident, a fair idea of some scenes I'd like to write, and a vague vision of the ending. The actual writing of the book clarifies the ending for me so by the time I get there, it's easy to wrap it all up.

sarbonn · Nov 23, 2008

Take a step away from your book and then think about it from the perception of someone else reading it. Read it up to the point of where you are with it (not from the writer's perspective). Then ask yourself, what would be the most logical place for this story to go in its conclusion. Then repeat the action with the thought of "how can I best mess with a reader's head and end this in the opposite way he or she expects?" Then analyze the two responses and see which one gives you the ending your story needs.

I've ended 12 novels now (well, about 30, but who's counting the trash that came before the real ones?), and that has helped in those few moments where I was unsure of where to go. I even revisited one of my novels ten years later and realized the epilogue needed an Epilogue II, which totally messed with the reader's head. Today, I still get letters from people somewhat perturbed that the story ended the way it did.

Bippitybop · Nov 24, 2008

I'm curious about putting multiple endings in a novel. Kind of like a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but only with the ending scene.

From the many novels out there, it seems that one ending is all you're allowed to do. Granted, it's expected and the standard, but what would happen if you put two endings in? Would no one want to publish it or something?

I haven't reached the end of my novel yet, but I have some ideas for endings. I planned on writing them all out and then mulling over them to decide, but the two main ones seem equal when it comes to wrapping up the story. The only difference is that one is a happier ending than the other.

Are there any novels out there that allow the reader the choice of a happy or sad ending? If anyone knows of any, I'd like to see how it was handled.

(I'm aware that letting the reader know which one is happy and which one is sad could easily give away what might happen, so it seems like it'd be a challenge to guide the reader to what he or she would prefer without making it obvious).

regdog · Nov 24, 2008

I usually know the ending when I start the book or a few chapters into it. I just started a young middle grade and this time I'm in the very early stages of plotting and writing and have no idea how it will end

rostaria01 · Nov 24, 2008

my first draft ending took 17times to end, when it finally did n i was happy with it. I decided to rewrite the whole thing.

Danthia · Nov 24, 2008

Typically, the ending resolves the story question you pose at the begining of the novel. Your protag is trying to accomplish something, and the end will either be they do or they don't. Obviously, it's more complicated than that, but in essence that's the structure.

If you're not sure how to end it, look back at those core conflicts and what the story was about. Not the plot events that make uip the book, the story. Then look at how you can resolve that story that would best satisfy the reader.

dclary · Nov 24, 2008

My current wip has an epilogue simply because there's a singular event that has to be narrated in a sense that occurs a significant period of time beyond the last page of the "official" end of the book. It makes perfect sense in this form to me, although I suppose another author might have just called that the last chapter, too.

dclary · Nov 24, 2008

On another note, I like stories that wrap up their endings.

I hate stories that literally reach their denoument on the 3rd sentence from last, leaving you with a "WTF HAPPENED NEXT?"

Yes, Dan Brown, I'm looking at you.

selkn.asrai · Nov 24, 2008

I know my endings before I start writing.

maestrowork · Nov 24, 2008

I always know my endings.

You have to ask yourself these questions:

- What is the story really about?
- What are the central conflicts, and how are they going to be resolved?
- What do all these mean and matter to the characters?
- What is the logical, satisfying end of the plot?
- How does it relate to the themes?

If you're going to write an epilogue, you have to ask yourself what the real purpose is. "And then what happened to these people" is not really a compelling reason. Are you dragging the ending on because you don't want it to end? In a series (such as Harry Potter) it's okay to drag the ending on a bit more because you're trying to wrap up the entire series and give the characters a definitive coda. But in a standalone novel, the ending shouldn't drag on and on.

It doesn't mean you should end the story the second it reaches the climax, though. Like sex, it needs some cuddling at the end to bring it to a really satisfying finish.

EndlessDestiny · Nov 24, 2008

When I started the story I knew te ending, but that was five years ago. Lots of rewrites and tweaks and it no longer fit. It seemed more like a fanfic ending. I wrote an ending last night, then sent the thing off to my BETAs. They'll let me know what they think.

Sassee · Nov 24, 2008

It took me 2 years to fit the ending to my characters. One of those unfortunate deals where I work on noveling in my "free" time and had to wait for the ending to "click" in my head before I could really write it. (I had an ending before but it really sucked. heh)

Stunted · Nov 24, 2008

Bippitybop said:
I'm curious about putting multiple endings in a novel. Kind of like a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but only with the ending scene.

From the many novels out there, it seems that one ending is all you're allowed to do. Granted, it's expected and the standard, but what would happen if you put two endings in? Would no one want to publish it or something?

I haven't reached the end of my novel yet, but I have some ideas for endings. I planned on writing them all out and then mulling over them to decide, but the two main ones seem equal when it comes to wrapping up the story. The only difference is that one is a happier ending than the other.

Are there any novels out there that allow the reader the choice of a happy or sad ending? If anyone knows of any, I'd like to see how it was handled.

(I'm aware that letting the reader know which one is happy and which one is sad could easily give away what might happen, so it seems like it'd be a challenge to guide the reader to what he or she would prefer without making it obvious).

This might work if you set it up from the begining.

Oh, you know, the story the Lady and the Tiger is like that.

tehuti88 · Nov 24, 2008

I must confess that for me, too, the ending just falls into place based on everything that's gone before. I do worry at times that it might come across as cheesy (since I write big epic fantasy adventure-type stories where the MC at the end returns to her own time/world), but aside from that, the further along the story goes, the clearer it gets. I like to wrap things up at the end. I recall that with my last serial, I had the final line of the ending in mind ages before writing it.

Granted, I write just one draft and I imagine it's different when your story is something you've tweaked/rearranged a lot. It might just be a matter of stepping back and mulling it over for a while. Here's hoping your betas like the one you came up with.

Varthikes · Nov 24, 2008

I always had an idea of how my first novel was going to end, even when I was originally writing it as a trilogy of short stories. The ending became infinitely more clearer, though, when I turned it into a full-fledged novel and added a few more characters. The main characters' goal would be achieved, but only hopeful that it would be a lasting achievement. But then, in a one-paged epilogue, the antagonists would begin to plan to disrupt their achievement and provide a basis for the possible second book.

I haven't reached the ending of that second book yet, but I am very close. And, I have a very clear picture of how it will end.

HeronW · Nov 24, 2008

The ends come when most of the issues are solved. You may want to leave some unanswered questions if you're doing a series or sequels. Your MC may live or die, the world be saved, or just a corner of it, a mystery solved and a good friend lost--up to you.

I've killed the baddy but there's an offspring to contend with in the next volume. I've rescued one character and lost another, I've resolved past issues and there's still angst over the past.

Final Chapter/Epilogue

EndlessDestiny

scarletpeaches

sarbonn

Bippitybop

regdog

The Scavengers

rostaria01

writer warrior

Danthia

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

selkn.asrai

Rawr.

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

EndlessDestiny

Sassee

Momma Wolf

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

tehuti88

Mackinac Island Fanatic

Varthikes

Dragon Writer

HeronW

Down Under Fan