Tag Archives: writing endings

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Writing Tip #84

Pick an ending. Any ending. Yesterday, I was finishing a lovely short story that I was really into. Couldn’t wait to find out what happened. And then as I got to the final page, then the final paragraph, and then the final sentence:

WHAM.

And when I say, WHAM, I mean nothing happened.

I was left hanging. The knife was in the guy’s hand. Whom would he kill? Him? Her? Himself? No one? Guess what? We’ll never know…

As I wrote yesterday on Facebook, unresolved endings drive me nuts. It’s like making your favorite sandwich and then throwing it into the garbage.

I know there are those of you out there who like those open-ended novels and short stories, where the reader is allowed to use his or her imagination to fill in the blanks of what happens next. But for me writing is all about making choices. All along, authors have taken great pains to create characters who are authentic and compelling, plots that are intricate and plausible. Why on earth would they want to throw their hands up in the air at the end and say, “Okay, you decide, dear reader, what to make of all this. I’m done.”

I just don’t get it. As I wrote yesterday, I don’t need things to be all wrapped up in neat little bows. I’d settle for some aluminum foil with big gaping holes. Go ahead and end with a little teaser that sets up the sequel. No problem. Just give me something. Call me boring, but I need to know if it’s the lady or the tiger, a little bit of closure so I can feel satisfied. Like I just ate my favorite sandwich.

How about you? Do you mind — or even like — open-ended fiction?

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Writing Tip #73

A word about endings. I have a problem with endings, generally. I was reminded of this a few minutes ago while chatting with a friend of mine on the telephone, and we were talking about the series finale to HBO’s Entourage, which I wasn’t too fond of: Ari quitting his job to reunite with his estranged wife, Eric making up with a pregnant Sloan and Vince heading off to Paris to get married. It all seemed so… I don’t know, safe. And perfect. Boys get girls. Friends heading off into the sunset. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I felt let down.

Nor was I fond of the series finale of Lost (they were dead?!), or with the ending to The Hunger Games, which I felt was a nonending. Although I am a fan of the book and the entire trilogy, I thought the first book’s ending functioned simply to set up the second book in the series. I remember finishing the book and tossing it onto the sofa and groaning. Actually, I wasn’t all that thrilled with Catching Fire’s ending either. See what I mean? (I have 50 pages to go in Mockingjay; you can imagine my nervousness.)

I’m starting to think it’s me, the writer in me — I have a tendency to dream up my own little ending as I read a book or watch a film or TV show, and then often the REAL ending falls short of my expectations. Kind of like how you picture characters in your mind as you are reading a book and then are disappointed when you see the actors and actresses who have been chosen to play them. It’s never what you pictured.

Not that I don’t like happy surprises! Those are the best, particularly when I’m SURE I know what’s going to happen in a film or book, and then I’m totally wrong — but in a good way. The writers, instead of playing it safe, went above and beyond, into directions that were new and exciting.

Which brings me to my own ending for Baby Grand. For a girl who has a problem with endings, imagine writing one? The pressure!

Indeed, I know that writing an ending is a tall order — having to wrap things up in a way that feels complete, while leaving a few questions or teasers lingering, if you feel so inclined.

And I have no idea if I succeeded.

But all you can do — I think, all any writer can do — is write the ending you see in your head, be true to your voice and end your book in a way that feels right — satisfying — to you.

And hope that satisfaction extends to your readers as well.