Elements of a good denouement

Judg · Jan 16, 2008

I know, I know, we tie up loose ends, show the after-effects of the climax and all... That's what a denouement is.

But now that I'm finally writing it, I realize I've never given much conscious thought on how to do a good one. Does anybody have any good tips or things to avoid?

Otherwise I will just have to rely on my instincts and hope that my golden word syndrome has some small basis in reality.

SageFury · Jan 16, 2008

Hard to suggest without knowing the subject matter IMO.

I am an action person myself, can never go wrong with a good last fight scene =)

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 16, 2008

I thought a denouement was when the bride's father gives them a really big gift.

kuwisdelu · Jan 16, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
I thought a denouement was when the bride's father gives them a really big gift.

That's a dowry.

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 16, 2008

Judg said:
I know, I know, we tie up loose ends, show the after-effects of the climax and all... That's what a denouement is.

But now that I'm finally writing it, I realize I've never given much conscious thought on how to do a good one. Does anybody have any good tips or things to avoid?

Otherwise I will just have to rely on my instincts and hope that my golden word syndrome has some small basis in reality.

I used a little bit of imagery from my book's opener to bring things full circle, and was careful not to make the ending seem too pat.

Judg · Jan 16, 2008

Devil Ledbetter said:
I used a little bit of imagery from my book's opener to bring things full circle, and was careful not to make the ending seem too pat.

Ah! There's a good one. Relinking with the images and themes of the beginning, which are hopefully those of the story.

windyrdg · Jan 16, 2008

I think the idea of closing the circle is a good one. Revisiting some of the important themes in the story and recalling how they played out. Looking back and reflecting on how much things have changed since "then." Perhaps remembering those who died fighting the good fight. Think about how often they do this at the end of a movie.

KTC · Jan 16, 2008

Yes...close the circle. You want your reader to sigh...to me, that's the best sign of a good denouement. Maybe I'm a spazzy dreamer...but still. I like the idea also of slightly open...as if the reader can picture that cliche riding-off-into-the-sunset thing...(Please...this could be a metaphoric sunset...I don't mean literally. I hope you get my meaning.) Circle-Bow-Blossoming Outward.

josephwise · Jan 16, 2008

Depending on the tale, you could spend some time withholding closure. They've done all they needed to do. Bad guy is dead. Life goes back to normal. The characters are different people now. Meg's teaching again, and Otto was able to retire.

But whatever did happen to that cursed golf club?

I don't now, but I read a thing about a shipwreck a few months ago. No distress call. Just vanished into the choppy actic waves. I did some digging and one of the passengers was apparenlty Mr. Von Stern. You remember him. Archibald's assistant. Right. Well. There you have it, then.

Anyway, The Lord of the Rings used this. And it circled back, too.

JoNightshade · Jan 16, 2008

I too like to circle back to the beginning, or at least other parts in the story. I don't do this plot-wise... I tend to do it with the setting or other visual/physical objects in the story. Example:

At the beginning, MC 1 finds MC 2 working in the garden, which burns halfway through the book. At the end, MC 3 finds MC 2 back in the garden. (Garden being a symbol of growth here.)

About a third of the way in, a pivotal (dark) scene occurs in an indoor pool. In the epilogue, a happy, joyful scene occurs at an outdoor pool.

Neither of these settings really affects the plot a great deal, but they give a sense of closure or completion.

David I · Jan 16, 2008

Closure is important, but tie up no more ends than you need to. Too much neatness works against you.

Madison · Jan 16, 2008

Circling back is great, making closing comments on oh how much we've changes is fine, but cheese - well that's just plain bad. The overdoing of emotion (putting it into too many words instead of letting the reader feel it), the riding off into the sunset, the I see hope in the future can all be potentially cheesy, IMO. good if done well, but listen to the warning bells and be careful

maestrowork · Jan 16, 2008

Some stories are circular -- so closing the circle is a good way to end the book. Some stories, however, are linear. I look at the denouement like a coda in songs.... nothing too long, to complex, but ties the story nicely and give you a satisfying final kick. The climax has already happened -- it's time to relax a bit, nurse that glow, and smoke a cig. But it should be relevant to the whole story -- sort of like a reminder of what the story really is about... so your readers can have a last chance to reflect on what they just witnessed. It doesn't mean all the loose ends must be neatly tied up, but it should at least be satisfying, leaving not TOO many questions unanswered.

otterman · Jan 16, 2008

I also believe you should avoid making it too neat. Too many authors make that mistake and their books fail at this crucial stage. IMO the reader should be your partner. Give them enough to make the connections without being too obvious; the investment will be rewarding for them. As a reader, I like to reflect on how the cycle has been made, just as someone studies the brush strokes of a painting to see how the image was formed (I hope that didn't sound too pretentious but I can't think of a better way to express it). I feel good when a writer has the confidence in me to look for the connections myself. Keep it subtle, leave something to be discovered.

Judg · Jan 16, 2008

I definitely agree with leaving a few loose ends, or at least endings that open up new possibilities. I will be repeating an image or two, and flipping one or two, so that we're seeing its opposite.

Madison, I've already enlisted the help of one of my adult sons as a beta reader. I've told him he is my official cheese detector. If it gets past him, it will get past anybody!

Shady Lane · Jan 16, 2008

Don't put your most important scenes in an unfamiliar place.

Park them somewhere we've known and seen.

Judg · Jan 16, 2008

Shady Lane said:
Don't put your most important scenes in an unfamiliar place.

Park them somewhere we've known and seen.

??? Care to elaborate? If I understand you correctly, you're saying not to introduce any new settings. Makes sense.

Did I understand you correctly?

Oberon · Jan 16, 2008

A problem, one I have, is to learn when to let go. You can get so wrapped up in your characters you want to keep on going with them, see what happens next, even when what happens next contributes nothing important, and the story kind of ends with a whimper, petering out way past the ending. Same with favorite scenes, things you really enjoy putting your folks through, having fun or personal satisfaction (she really took that bastard out big time. Man, did I hate him!) when it fails to fit with the plot or theme, contributes little or worse, detracts. These things have all been said before, but it never hurts to remind ourselves.

Shady Lane · Jan 16, 2008

Sorry, I'm sparse.

That's basically what I mean, yeah. I'd say if you're going to introduce a new setting, do it in the first 2/3 of the book. And if you introduce new setting later, make them for little scenes...or, if you have a big scene in a new setting, make it a place that's highly anticipated.

There are obviously exceptions to this, but I think it helps the audience focus on the scene without the struggle to get acclimated.

I make more sense?

Judg · Jan 16, 2008

Yes, you make more sense.

I'm back on familiar territory for the denouement. The setting for the climax had only been seen briefly before, but it was quite well anticipated, I would think.

Judg · Jan 22, 2008

I had a late night epiphany while battling insomnia. (The epiphany actually worsened the insomnia, but at least it became more fun.)

I am writing the last chapter as if it were the opening chapter of a new story, with all its sense of something about to happen.

It's actually based on the Hegelian dialectic. Thesis calls antithesis into existence, which resolve into an antithesis, which becomes the new thesis and calls into existence a new antithesis...

I won't necessarily explicitly state what the future conflict will be, but knowing that it's there makes the whole process more interesting. And just incidentally, gave me ideas for a possible sequel.

Bufty · Jan 23, 2008

You guys are beginning to lose me.

I understand the denouement normally follows the climax and is the final explanation (if necessary), and resolution of any still-outstanding issues.

Where it takes place is dependent upon the individual story. In both my novels the tale ends with the characters back where they started but the 'denouement' per se is in the previous scene.

ink wench · Jan 23, 2008

Great topic! What I've found interesting is that, in every one of my novels (4 completed), if I have a hard time writing the denouement, it means the climax and the whole ending suck. When the denouement comes easily, I know I nailed the climax and the ending.

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