The God Damn Ending

Stunted · Jul 31, 2009

What do you do when you can't figure out how it should end. I have all of these balls up in the air, and all of these potentially amazing endings planned, but I can't make any of them work. What am I supposed to do?

James D. Macdonald · Jul 31, 2009

... and they were all run over by a truck.

THE END

BenPanced · Jul 31, 2009

...and then the universe exploded.

THE END

Cranky · Jul 31, 2009

There's no easy answer here. Only way out is through. In other words, keep trying endings until you find the one that works. Maybe take a break, and it'll come to you, but really, the only thing to do is write it out.

Well, I guess I should add, "In my opinion, the only thing to do is write it out."

dgrintalis · Jul 31, 2009

In my opinion, take a break for a day or two. I bet the logical ending will come to you.

SPMiller · Jul 31, 2009

Find the spot where the conflict ends and delete everything you wrote after it. Then start querying.

AMCrenshaw · Jul 31, 2009

Just make something good up.

Don't worry about it, either. Yeah, that too.

AMC

extortionist · Jul 31, 2009

What's the fundamental conflict that the plot is concerned with resolving?

Resolve it and end the story some pages later.

JoNightshade · Aug 1, 2009

This is probably a good time to take a break and look back at the rest of your manuscript. Write an outline or talk through the entire plot with someone.

Also, if you're trying to choose from several different options which all seem kind of "blah," I always like to force myself to think of something completely different.

Timothy · Aug 1, 2009

Stunted said:
What do you do when you can't figure out how it should end. I have all of these balls up in the air, and all of these potentially amazing endings planned, but I can't make any of them work. What am I supposed to do?

I do not know what your story is about, but the ending should resolve the conflict that the main character is facing. What does your main character want? What obstacles have made it difficult for him to get it? Does he get what he wants or not? The ending should leave the reader a little bit breathless. Try experimenting with things that the reader won't see coming but that will still maintain the plot of the story.
I also suggest that you start revising your story... again. As you revise it, I believe that the ending will come to you. Good luck.

bettielee · Aug 1, 2009

Wait for it... wait for it...

Try not to throw yourself in front of a bus, #1. Seriously. Try and do some writing exercises, cleanse the ol' pallette...get it off your mind. Sometimes they come out of the clear blue sky, when you've given up and stopped whinging and given yourself over to the universe... then POW!

good luck...

TrixieLox · Aug 1, 2009

Agree with what others have said, think about the conflicts and motivations, and see a way to getting those resolved in a satisying way.

I changed my ending soooooooo many times. In the the end, I stepped away from the book, watched some good films and read some good books, then one day, an idea just popped in my head. And that's the end... for now. If I get published, it might change again! I hate endings!

nitaworm · Aug 1, 2009

Let your beta readers pick. I did, then I took combined suggestions and came up with something even better.

Andreya · Aug 1, 2009

Ooh, endings are easy!!

It's everything inbetween that's.. yuck, mushy!!

So, lucky you for having everything else worked out!!

Screenwriting books say big Hollywood movies (or best ones) end with a 'big bang' or humorous scene.. Basically 'feel good' resolution.. You end the conflict first, things are settled, & then offer another 'fun scene' (at least I love it this way!)

So, maybe you can do it like this?

Ken Schneider · Aug 1, 2009

I think your title says it all.

GOD damned them for how they acted in this book.

Libbie · Aug 1, 2009

Stunted said:
What do you do when you can't figure out how it should end. I have all of these balls up in the air, and all of these potentially amazing endings planned, but I can't make any of them work. What am I supposed to do?

If you have a lot of potential endings and you think they're all amazing, write them all on pieces of paper and put them into a hat. Draw one out.

If you like it, go with it. If you find yourself thinking, "Ending X would really be better than the one I just drew out," then go with Ending X.

scarletpeaches · Aug 1, 2009

Let your characters dictate the ending.

Character is plot, which means the ending should be inevitable but somehow not predictable.

Bufty · Aug 1, 2009

I know you said you had all these potentially amazing endings 'planned', but I have to ask -did you write this tale 'on the wing'?

There's obviously loose ends or issues to be resolved - and the ending is whichever one ties all these up.

You also say you can't make any of the planned endings work, so it seems to me the only available answer is to hunt for another one - or remove whichever outstanding plot thread loose-end is causing the proposed endings not to work and see if that makes a difference.

Try playing with 'What if?' and Happy hunting.

ChaosTitan · Aug 1, 2009

extortionist said:
What's the fundamental conflict that the plot is concerned with resolving?

Resolve it and end the story some pages later.

This.

Also, if you find you're nearing the end and you have too many dangling plot threads, go back and tie a few up sooner. You don't have to tie up everything in the climax.

Makai_Lightning · Aug 1, 2009

When I couldn't decide on the exact way that was best to end anything, I just wrote one, saw how well it fit, and then wrote out the alternatives. I find the problem with ideas is that you don't always get a clear idea of any of them until you can see it more concretely, and for me, writing it helps. Once you have something down, it might be easier to find what sorts of thing the ending needs, or doesn't need. Then either you fix up what you have, or you write a new one.

Worked for me, well enough. Since you say you have ideas and you're not sure which one's best, I'd say start with an idea you think might work and just see what happens. If nothing else, you'll get more done than spending time staring at the screen yelling "what now, guys?"

My two cents.

maestrowork · Aug 1, 2009

Plot is about decisions and choices. What is your main conflict. How would your character(s) solve it? Pick a few options, then choose the most unusual one. Viola, you have your ending.

Or "Everybody dies. THE END."

dgl · Aug 1, 2009

"To be continued..."

The God Damn Ending

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Your Genial Uncle

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

Prodigiously Hanged

...

the obscure

has finally arrived

Aspiring Writer

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Benefactor Member

AW Addict

in denial

Absolute sagebrush

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Where have the last ten years gone?

Around

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Fear the Death Ray