Monday 1 August 2016

Ending with a BANG!

with Enisa Haines

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You're immersed in a book, totally captivated by the characters, the plot and the setting, and then, wham! The ending comes. An ending that unexpectedly introduces new characters or a subplot never hinted at previously, that has a sudden change in tone or leaves many questions unanswered. It's endings like these that leave readers disappointed, frustrated and annoyed and losing interest in the writer.

That's not an outcome any writer wants. It's often said, "The first chapter sells your novel. The last chapter sells your next one." How do we ensure this? How do we give closure to the story in such a way that readers gasp out, "Wow!", sigh with awe and yearn for more?

Ask yourself these 5 questions:

1. Does the ending evolve naturally from the progress of the plot? The ending is not text simply tacked on to close the story. From the first page to the last, everything that happens occurs for a reason and that reason leads the story towards the ending.

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Example: To Hell and Back by Juliana Stone:
     'This wasn't the end for them. This was the beginning of something new and exciting, and for the first time in forever, it seemed, Kira was content.
     She was safe and she was loved.
     As Logan placed his palm against her belly and murmured, "I love you, little Dove," Kira felt as if she'd found her way         home.'




2. Is the story complete, the plot and sub-plots wrapped up and all loose ends tied? Reveal everything that needs to be explained.

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Example: Broken Open by Lauren Dane:
     '"I love you, too, Tuesday Easton, woman of my dreams,       artist, my beauty."
     "Yeah, that's nice." She sighed happily and when he fell asleep again, he knew he'd always have a place to return to.'






3. Does the story end with a cliffhanger? This is not advised for stand-alone novels but for novels that are part of a series. Any questions planted in readers' minds or left unanswered will have them waiting for the next book.

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Example: Dark Witch (Book One of the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy) by Nora Roberts:
'Deep in the woods in another time the wolf whimpered. The man inside it cursed. And with arts as black as midnight, slowly began to heal.
     Carefully, began to plan.'





4. Does the ending have a sense of surprise? An early detail, at first appearing trivial, can reappear and show the reader just how important it really is to the story.

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Example: Butterfly by Sharon Sala:
The first scene:
'If only she could become as small and insignificant as the lowly little worm, then maybe Clyde would never bother her again. And if she was as ugly as Clyde said she was, being invisible would protect her from offending people with her presence. It seemed like a good idea, and she even closed her eyes and tried to think herself small. But when she finally looked up, she was still China and the caterpillar was gone.'

The ending (after China sees herself for the first time in a mirror):
     '"So, is this a yes?" China asked.
      He started to smile.
     "It's a yes!" she crowed. "The man says yes!"
     "I don't know what happened to you, but whatever it is, I am  eternally glad."
     China kissed him soundly, savouring the truth in her heart.
"It was nothing," she said. "I just saw a butterfly."'


5. Does the story end with a last paragraph or line that moves readers emotionally and leaves them wanting to read on?


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Example: Cry No More by Linda Howard:
     '"I-uh-I'm Zach Winborn. Justin. Your son," he added, unnecessarily.
     Her face was wet, her eyes overflowing; the tears blurred his features. A sob burst out of her before she could stop it, and an alarmed expression crossed his face. Just as suddenly the sob turned into laughter, and she reached out and took his hand. "I've waited so long," she said, and drew him into the house.'



The examples above each answer a different question and yet each book ends with a bang. Each ending works! And that's what writers want.

Which endings work for you? What do you consider as 'do's and don't's' of last scenes? 

Love to love: discovering images on the wonderful World Wide Web. Like this one of handfasting - the wedding ceremony (where the term 'tie the knot' originated) popular in ancient times and now making a comeback.

Image courtesy of: www.luckyinlove.co.nz


Love to laugh: at the funny gifs (like the one at the top).

Love to learn: how to end my novels with a punch!

12 comments:

  1. Enisa, I'm so with you! I like the ending of the book to be about the characters I've had such an emotional investment with during the book, not the people set up for the next book in the series. Your examples above are fantastic, good examples of good writers with amazing endings. I think it might have been Jennifer Crusie who said that each book should always be able to be read alone, even if it's in the middle of a series. That way, if someone accidentally picks up the third book in a series, they won't get bamboozled with characters from the two previous ones, and the story can stand alone. And the ending is their happy ending, not someone else's intro. Although I do allow that Nora Roberts' enigmatic ending is fascinating, and probably doesn't detract from the romance. But then, Nora is the Queen of Romance and does everything right! Thanks for this great post.

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    1. Hi Malvina. Like you, I get so involved emotionally with the characters and love it when I get that "aaah!" moment at the end. Although, sometimes, I just don't want to let go and would love the story to continue!

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  2. Hi Enisa! As a reader, I want a book ending to leave me sighing 'Ahhh'; as a writer, I aim to leave my readers doing the same. I think coming up with a great ending is the hardest thing in writing a book! I spent much of yesterday writing and re-writing the last couple of lines of my current wip. Might have to take another look at those lines today after reading your post. :D

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    1. Hi Marilyn. We're on the same page with the 'Ahhh' moment. And, yes, getting it right is not an easy process. Good luck with working out the ending of your current WIP. I know you will come up with a fabulous one.

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  3. Hi, Enisa Haines!
    I prefer endings where everything to do with the main storyline is wrapped up nicely, preferably with a lot of emotion. The kind of ending where you hug the book to your chest and smile.

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    1. Hi Dee. I love those kinds of books. I especially love when everything is wrapped up in the last book of a series. (Because through each book I've met previous characters again and again and spent time with them).

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  4. Hi Enisa. Thanks for a great post. Endings are often overshadowed by beginnings so its nice to see endings getting the attention because they are so so important.

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    1. Hi Cassandra. Beginnings are important to catch a reader's attention for the first time. Great endings lure the reader to the next book so, yes, they are equally important.

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  5. Hi Enisa, great post. Since I only finished my third crime fiction novel just over a week ago, I can relate to wanting the ending to end with a bang... a punch... or something that doesn't disappoint at least. I re-wrote the ending many times trying to get it right because it is so important to leave the reader wanting to read the next book.

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    1. Hi Karen. Yes, getting the ending right is not easy but, when you get it, oh, it's a great feeling.

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  6. Hi Enisa, thanks for a fabulous post supported by great examples. I particularly like endings with a surprise. I want to read on. Immediately.

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    1. Hi Sharon. Endings with a surprise are great, aren't they? And when the ending gives you that 'ahhh' moment, I ALWAYS want to read on.

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