 Horror/Scary: August 06, 2014 Issue [#6469] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: The Bad Ending Edited by: W.D.Wilcox  
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BAD ENDINGS
You ever find yourself devouring the pages of a fast-paced story only to have it fizzle out right at the end? I call that a 'soft ending': an ending that seems forced, or illogical, or not well-thought-out. I can name dozens of books I've read in my lifetime by famous writers that have left me feeling incomplete/ unfulfilled/ hanging. I won't name names, but you know who you are.
Now, crap like this really IRKS ME! I paid good money, and I want SATISFACTION!
When authors do this, what happens is, the reader won't buy their next book, or the next, and then they become gun-shy. You can never disappoint your fans; they will turn on you in a heartbeat. And yet, I've seen Stephen King and Dean Koontz do it on a regular basis. Oops, I said I wasn't going to mention any names. Well, they're an exception to the rule because they write vast amounts of literature, and every book can't be great, right? But their fans expect a higher level of professionalism, so they gotta perform.
All this is to say, you need to have the ending of your novel serve your plot. It’s where you bring to the spotlight all the reasons you wrote the story and all the passionate things you feel, which you infused along the way. Don’t get gimmicky at the last minute–get authentic. Speak from the heart and let that be what drives the writing of your ending. Let the reader see (show it, don’t tell it) how your protagonist has changed and what he’s learned.
This week, if you’re planning out an ending to your book, or feel maybe the one you have might not be quite right, think about your themes, motifs, and the heart of the story. Write a list of five possible scenarios for your ending that puts your character in a place and state of mind to be able to process what he’s learned. Show how he now looks at the world, himself, his family, his life. What has become important to him now, at this moment, that wasn’t before? What does he see as a powerful truth that he never saw before? Now that he’s arrived at his visible goal, he’s learned something significant, and if you can get that visually across, you’re likely to have a powerful (but not necessarily explosive) ending to your book that will stick with your readers for a very long time.
So, until next time,
billwilcox
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ALL'S WELL, THAT ENDS WELL
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DEAD LETTERS
StephBee 
Calls It In:
Bill, having worked 911 for LAPD, I've learned that running naked through the streets is one of two things #1 - mental illness (untreated) or #2 - really good illegal drugs (meth or PCP) Go figure, huh? 
blunderbuss
Writes:
Sometimes the greatest feedback (and the funniest) is when you have observed and later, for whatever reason, actually get to engage with the observed person. All your preconceptions can vanish in a moment! It's great for creativity though. I used observational skills to unravel a plot in one of my stories
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Michael Thomas-Knight 
Screams:
Hey, thanks for the plug Bill :)
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful 
Plugs:
Plenty of trouble out there.
"Dead Rising: Your Story" [18+]
Quick-Quill 
Reflects:
This is so basic I had to read it again just to refresh my mind. This week I had someone ask about giving too much description about a room. I said, "Close your eyes, step into the room and open them. name the first 5 things you see. Then look at them and say, which will become important to move the story?" The rocker that is moving with no one in it? The swaying curtain with shoes sticking out underneath? the cross on the wall askew? Mother's Bible lying open on the floor? What feeling do you get about this room?
Angus 
Touts:
Bill!!!
Thanks so much for that plug of my story! It made my day!!!
shaara
Trudges:
Well done. Don't forget the shoes. An instructor once told me that the shoes are a key to the character's personality. Imagine that runner in flip-flops or cowboy boots or brand new sneakers. The sound of the thump will be different. I can hear him/her coming my way.
Oh, is it raining? Is he sloshing along? Or is there that mysterious echo in the air from the fog-filled chill of dawn?
Great article. It sparked.
LJPC - the tortoise
Chortles:
Hi Bill! I think most people watching a man running naked might miss the fear or amusement on his face. I remember a story about a streaker at a basketball game wearing only a gorilla mask, and most observers said, "He was wearing a mask?"  Haha!
~ Laura
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