Chapter Endings

CaroGirl · Oct 1, 2007

We always talk about how important FIRST lines are, the first line of the whole novel and first lines of each chapter. What about the last line; the one that's supposed to make our readers want to go on to the next chapter? It seems that should be important too.

What's the last line of one of your middle chapters? Let's pick chapter 8. Post the last line of your chapter 8.

The one from my current wip is:

I thought and thought, but aside from begging — which I already tried — I couldn’t come up with a way to stop it.

Sassee · Oct 1, 2007

Heh, this looks pretty weird out of context...

Consciousness was already slipping when he laid me down in the tub and whispered, “Sleep.”

sneakers145 · Oct 1, 2007

I like to leave off in the middle of conflict. Currently left off where a character is being interrogated by the police, and before she can really fully process her thoughts and finish she is medicated by a nurse and things go wonky. So you're left wondering what else she might have revealed and what she'll do/say if/when she gets to see the dead body...

David I · Oct 1, 2007

It felt good to be hungry again.

aadams73 · Oct 1, 2007

"How do you feel," she said slowly in a voice reserved for people whose family tree didn't fork, "about shock?"

I'm within spitting distance of The End.

JoNightshade · Oct 1, 2007

Er, chapter 8 and chapter 9 both end with two-word sentences. Sooo chapter 10 ends with:

“I’ll take care of this. Meet me in the library in half an hour. I’ll tell you everything.” He sprinted out the door.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 1, 2007

My ending line makes no sense without any context for the whole book or even the last few paragraphs.

CaroGirl · Oct 1, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
My ending line makes no sense without any context for the whole book or even the last few paragraphs.

Then pick a different chapter. Chapter 8 was just a guideline. Use a whole paragraph if one sentence is too little to convey meaning.

NeuroFizz · Oct 1, 2007

If one of the seven men in my most recent research report is the victim, my tie to a developing series of murders is curious, heading toward undeniable.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 1, 2007

Sorry, I misread what you were asking for.

Here's the end of chapter 23:

"You can face down vampires and other preternatural beings, fight demons and monsters without fear, and yet . . . ." She moved closer to me. "And yet, you have this charming shyness about you when a woman comes on to you."

a_sharp · Oct 1, 2007

What he wanted, he realized in the most rational core of his brain, was standing right before him, waving him away.

Stew21 · Oct 1, 2007

Chapter 8 - from first draft.

He did not have the convenience of just being that young immortal riding along, still age twenty, bronze from sun and confidence. He was still alive and I wondered if Oliver’s experience and adventure continued on, or if the war had taken it out of him.

Azraelsbane · Oct 1, 2007

Last lines from chapter 8 in the three novels that have chapter 8s at this point in time.

Elysian Flames: “I will die for you.”

Granite Windstarr: Unfortunately at that point in time I was still hung up on my usual tragic preoccupation-- revenge.

Untitled: "I won't torture her, Azrael." She didn't turn back to see his reaction. "That is a promise and a gift, because I love you."

ChaosTitan · Oct 1, 2007

Chapter Eight ends a flashback, so here's the last line of Chapter Nine:

Chalice Frost had one person in her life who just might drop everything and help—if I could convince him that I wasn't nuts.

Calla Lily · Oct 1, 2007

This is the end of chapter 9:

She managed not to slam the outer door.

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 1, 2007

I'm sure it makes no sense out of context.

“Then give her something solid. Something that’ll remind her of you.”

Azraelsbane · Oct 1, 2007

Devil Ledbetter said:
I'm sure it makes no sense out of context.

Makes sense to me, but considering the way my mind skews things, I doubt that's really what it means.

vfury · Oct 1, 2007

This is the last line from Chapter Six of CHASING RABBITS since I'm currently fixing Chapters Seven and Eight:

"In this case, the drawing of the Death card does mean a death: namely, yours."

ishtar'sgate · Oct 1, 2007

Last line of chapter 8 from The First Vial.

Katherine closed her eyes and drifted into sleep, unaware of the priest's pale brooding eyes regarding her from under hooded lids.

I like to close all my chapters with something that will draw the reader on to the next chapter. It doesn't have to be a cliffhanger but it has to entice.
Linnea

clockwatcher · Oct 1, 2007

"Sir, this room has already been checked out and because it's already past noon, we have to clean it for the next guest. If you're not paying for an extra night, you need to leave now."

sunna · Oct 1, 2007

End of chapter 7 on my current WIP:

"Yes," she said, wanting out of the small space; there seemed both too much and too little of it between them.

blacbird · Oct 1, 2007

Last line, chapter 8, Travels in America Deserta:

Dan Jack muttered something that was not in the English tongue.

caw

Gigi Sahi · Oct 1, 2007

Ch 8, last line:

It wasn't the world, but it was the best he could do.

Claudia Gray · Oct 1, 2007

This is fun. I always try to end chapters with a little bit of a hook, if I can.

Here are some from Stargazer, the novel I completed in early September:

Chapter Five:

Jared and I shared a look, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. But there was nothing to do but smile, say thanks, and climb in the van.

Chapter Nine:

And now there was only one more hurdle to cross, the most important one of all: my parents.

Chapter Eighteen:

The Wraith was angry, and it had come for me.

Chapter Twenty:

“I call upon the sanctuary of Evernight.”

Of course, any of these may change as soon as my editor gets ahold of them --

Jack Nog · Oct 1, 2007

“Because I’ve lived through it before. And I was the only survivor. I’m probably the only one in the world that remembers it.”

Chapter Endings

Living the dream

Momma Wolf

A Work in Progress

has finally arrived

Court Jester

Living the dream

The grad students did it

Court Jester

Somebody give me an A

Agony is defeat

Around

On hiatus

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Agony is defeat

Hearts the furrily challenged.

living in the past

Brain-farts are useful too.