The feeling of a "rushed" ending.

Nick Blaze · Apr 22, 2011

I'm 92k words into my WIP now. It's fantasy and its grown a little bit of of personal endeavors and more into the broader macrocosm of saving humankind from its own mistake.

A major plot point is yet to be introduced. The MC needs to lead an army to destroy the enemy, or, well, a few enemy strongholds and then the plot twist is unfurled. When it is, it pulls back into her personal view on the matter for a while, then back out to her overcoming her initial surprise and fear and saving humankind with the final battle.

I could do that with another 20k words and keep the novel at its normal pace, but there's no need to do that anymore. The MC has the resolve, has the resources and power, so I want to try and get this done in 10k or less.

I know movies often rush endings, so that a bunch of action, an explosion maybe, and then an emotionless ending. In no way do I want it to end in that fashion. I could speed up the battles, thus making the final plot twist less dramatic and then focus more on emotion after the chaos has ended.

Well, I plan to write what I write, which may be another 20k words. I'm sure I can cut it down. But before I do, I'd love to hear suggestions. When did a reader last say "man, that beginning/scene/ending was rushed" to you and why? What did you do to fix it?

sunandshadow · Apr 23, 2011

Well, one thing you don't want is redundant action. Showing any character doing basically the same action (in this case destroying an enemy stronghold) more than once, especially right in a row, will tend to kill the excitement of your climax by making the second version seem bland and boring.

Euan H. · Apr 23, 2011

There's only one way to tell. Write the shorter version then wait for a month and re-read it. If it seems rushed to you, then it's too short. Sorry to state the obvious . . .

The end of a story should be like the beginning, IMO: tightly focused and absent any extraneous material. 'Rushed', I think, generally means, 'Conflicts resolved in a pat fashion.'

I also second what Sunandshadow said above: repetition is death to audience involvement.

lbender · Apr 23, 2011

I'd write the initial, longer version first, then the shorter version. Then follow Euan's suggestion and set it aside to come back to later. Reread and see which fits better. I'd get them both on paper, or computer, now, though, while the story and plotline is clear in your mind.

Nick Blaze · Apr 23, 2011

Good points by all! As for the first post by sunandshadow, there's no doubt that's true. But war doesn't really work that way. I know I can make new and unique ways of destroying a few bases.

But I think everyone's right. I'll write both of the endings, then wait a while, reread and see if either feel right. If one seems good, I'll go with it and start editing. If they both seem wrong, delete and try, try again.

Jon Sprunk · Apr 23, 2011

If this is your first draft, I would just write as it comes to you. You can always add or subtract (and change entirely) later, but try not to second-guess yourself during the creation process.

Best of luck.

maestrowork · Apr 23, 2011

Just write and then you can decide, during rewrite, how best to end the thing. To me, 10K isn't short (that's 10% of the novel, or 40 pages). To me, a 20K ending sounds too long (that's 20% of the novel, or 80 pages) - that sounds more like the last Act itself.

Jonathan Dalar · Apr 24, 2011

Jon Sprunk said:
If this is your first draft, I would just write as it comes to you. You can always add or subtract (and change entirely) later, but try not to second-guess yourself during the creation process.

Best of luck.

This is good advice. I never try to gauge the length of a novel terribly much the first time around. When you try to do that, it tends to muck things up. At least it does for me.

Write the thing. If it's ten thousand words too long, trim from the entire novel, not the ending. This gives the ending the same pace as the rest of the novel, and that's a tremendously important part.

I've had beta readers who told me such-and-such a part of my novel felt rushed while other parts didn't. I have also had them report that parts felt boring and drawn out and others crisp and precise. Typically, the difference was my writing at different points in a revision or just going back to revisit or add a part of the thing.

Your readers can tell tone better than you can in your novel, because they're getting it all at once. It's easier to compare and contrast one part with another for them. Putting it all down the same the first time gives you a base to work from. Editing the rest as a whole, whether you have to take out ten or twenty grand, will do the whole novel better in the end.

At least that's what I've seen in my own work.

Phaeal · Apr 25, 2011

I greatly dislike rushed endings, and I see them all the time. I've been trying to start my run-ups to the climax about one-quarter of the way from the end of the novels.

I'd advise writing your ending long rather than short in the first draft. As you plan the second draft, think about how you can slope the narrative more and more steeply as you approach the last third/last quarter of the novel, when the slope should start to climb to a perpendicular at the climax.

Wow, what a metaphor. Here's a different one. Be sure to have through-threads in your tapestry, that is, threads that run all the way through and tie all the "panels" together. With a sudden switch from personal stakes to macro-stakes (save the world!), you'll be particularly prone to story sections that are hurriedly stitched together rather than organically connected.

Okay, that all makes sense, to me.

AlwaysJuly · Apr 25, 2011

Endings usually feel rushed to me when they no longer feel organic. They give that impression of something like "Oh hey! It's 5k out from the end, crap crap crap, deux ex machina to save the day!"

If you can do what your story needs to do in 10k, I don't think it will feel rushed. But I wouldn't worry about 10k or 20k at this point, I'd just write it how the story feels like it wants to be written and see what you've got...

WriteMinded · Apr 25, 2011

Nick Blaze said:
Good points by all! As for the first post by sunandshadow, there's no doubt that's true. But war doesn't really work that way. I know I can make new and unique ways of destroying a few bases.

But I think everyone's right. I'll write both of the endings, then wait a while, reread and see if either feel right. If one seems good, I'll go with it and start editing. If they both seem wrong, delete and try, try again.

Good plan. Having a similar problem myself. Everything I write turns to high word count. I'm just going to finish before I start agonizing about what to take out.

Let us know how it goes, which version you decide on.

Nick Blaze · Apr 25, 2011

Phaeal said:
I greatly dislike rushed endings, and I see them all the time. I've been trying to start my run-ups to the climax about one-quarter of the way from the end of the novels.

I'd advise writing your ending long rather than short in the first draft. As you plan the second draft, think about how you can slope the narrative more and more steeply as you approach the last third/last quarter of the novel, when the slope should start to climb to a perpendicular at the climax.

Wow, what a metaphor. Here's a different one. Be sure to have through-threads in your tapestry, that is, threads that run all the way through and tie all the "panels" together. With a sudden switch from personal stakes to macro-stakes (save the world!), you'll be particularly prone to story sections that are hurriedly stitched together rather than organically connected.

Okay, that all makes sense, to me.

I think the first metaphor made more sense to me.

To be honest, I think I started the slope about 1/4th of the way there. Unfortunately, there were a cliff or two and then some slight rises in between. I guess I'll need to even those out.

Endings usually feel rushed to me when they no longer feel organic. They give that impression of something like "Oh hey! It's 5k out from the end, crap crap crap, deux ex machina to save the day!"

If you can do what your story needs to do in 10k, I don't think it will feel rushed. But I wouldn't worry about 10k or 20k at this point, I'd just write it how the story feels like it wants to be written and see what you've got...

XD I can't say I'd ever pull a duex ex machina. So far it's looking like I can do it between 10k and 15k. Less than 20k, more than 10k. But I'm still going to write two different endings to see how it turns out.

Good plan. Having a similar problem myself. Everything I write turns to high word count. I'm just going to finish before I start agonizing about what to take out.

Let us know how it goes, which version you decide on.

There are some points in my novel where I knew I'd have to elaborate more, so the word count will essentially be even higher. But, I know there's some words to cut. I think I can get it all to about 100k or even a little less by the time the day is done. I hope.

Aylaa · Apr 25, 2011

In my experience lately most endings feel rushed. It's a good thing in a strange opinion. I like to use anime as an unusual guide. All their endings are rushed, and particularly left open. They tie together their conflicts, but their MC's are left with stories to tell.

I think its obvious why this is done, if its great there will be a season 2, if not it's done. So lend this to novels; If the novel is great, you got a series, if its not, well i can do an OVA later.

MJG_Write · Apr 25, 2011

I used to worry about my word count quite a bit and I initially had a very rushed ending on my current WIP. I changed it though and even though its a bit oonger, it makes for a better book,me thinks.

artemis31386 · Apr 25, 2011

I think those who said write the longer first and then shorten are giving good advice. I'd do that. It's sometimes easier to cut things than lengthen them.

Nakhlasmoke · Apr 25, 2011

artemis31386 said:
I think those who said write the longer first and then shorten are giving good advice. I'd do that. It's sometimes easier to cut things than lengthen them.

There is no one-size-fits-all advice.

I write short and fast, and then deepen and layer scenes in later revisions.

Writers must just find the method that works for them.

Matthew Colville · Apr 25, 2011

Nick Blaze said:
I'm 92k words into my WIP now. It's fantasy and its grown a little bit of of personal endeavors and more into the broader macrocosm of saving humankind from its own mistake.

A major plot point is yet to be introduced. The MC needs to lead an army to destroy the enemy, or, well, a few enemy strongholds and then the plot twist is unfurled. When it is, it pulls back into her personal view on the matter for a while, then back out to her overcoming her initial surprise and fear and saving humankind with the final battle.

I could do that with another 20k words and keep the novel at its normal pace, but there's no need to do that anymore. The MC has the resolve, has the resources and power, so I want to try and get this done in 10k or less.

I know movies often rush endings, so that a bunch of action, an explosion maybe, and then an emotionless ending. In no way do I want it to end in that fashion. I could speed up the battles, thus making the final plot twist less dramatic and then focus more on emotion after the chaos has ended.

Well, I plan to write what I write, which may be another 20k words. I'm sure I can cut it down. But before I do, I'd love to hear suggestions. When did a reader last say "man, that beginning/scene/ending was rushed" to you and why? What did you do to fix it?

I don't necessarily have an answer, but I have some advice. Worth about what you'd expect, I reckon.

Think of your favorite book, or your 3 favorite books. Or the first three awesome books that come to mind. Is the thing that made them awesome the ending?

I bet not. Endings are very very rarely what it's about, or memorable. What's important, what's way more important, is maintaining the inertia. If people are with you, they'll go where you lead and what they'll remember is the journey, not the destination.

Seems like you're asking; good pacing or good ending? Good pacing every time. "Keep the novel at it's normal pace" isn't necessarily good. Speed things up. Let the roller coaster dive into the splashdown. Don't maintain pace for the sake of maintaining pace.

The feeling of a "rushed" ending.

Nick Blaze

Jun-Ikkyu

sunandshadow

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Euan H.

Unspeakable

lbender

Nick Blaze

Jun-Ikkyu

Jon Sprunk

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Jonathan Dalar

Science fiction, horror and fantasy

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

AlwaysJuly

slugging through

WriteMinded

Derailed

Nick Blaze

Jun-Ikkyu

Aylaa

Uncharacteristic is my character

MJG_Write

WriteTeachSleep

artemis31386

All around miscreant

Nakhlasmoke

yes

Matthew Colville