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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.
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Love to laugh: at the funny gifs (like the one at the top).
Love to learn: how to end my novels with a punch!
