tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post7015450795540516493..comments2024-03-29T02:05:58.692-06:00Comments on Book Dreaming: The EndShannon O'Donnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-63256130712775725182012-02-09T15:58:04.905-07:002012-02-09T15:58:04.905-07:00I'm not good with endings, either; my stories ...I'm not good with endings, either; my stories always seem to go out with a whimper.<br /><br />I don't mind if the main character dies in a story or there are still unanswered questions--it's "too good to be true" ones that really bother me.<br /><br />Good luck with your ending!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-4222264032548014652012-02-09T09:44:15.129-07:002012-02-09T09:44:15.129-07:00These are great. I think in #3's case though, ...These are great. I think in #3's case though, if there is going to be a sequel, a few unanswered questions are alright. But that's a preference thing. Some people hate cliffhanger endings, I love them. #4, I say if it's organic to the story and characters, then it's what must happen. We can't control the story just because we want it to end warm and fuzzy.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-74047824407834566662012-02-09T05:41:42.346-07:002012-02-09T05:41:42.346-07:00I will never agree with the authors argument for #...I will never agree with the authors argument for #4. If I wanted to read about real-life I'd pick up a newspaper and read the obituary! :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-13467280320639145882012-02-08T23:02:18.975-07:002012-02-08T23:02:18.975-07:00You're going to write a fabulous ending - I kn...You're going to write a fabulous ending - I know it.<br /><br />As far as your list goes, I think if you're writing a series, you have to give the reader a reason to buy the next book, but the main plot points need to be wrapped up. I think there are skillful ways to leave a couple of loose ends, but you have to do it well, otherwise you will end up ticking off your readership. I've read books that do it well, and I've read books that do it badly.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-72367629274228439522012-02-08T21:48:50.422-07:002012-02-08T21:48:50.422-07:00OMG endings! ENDINGS! They are so, so hard. It too...OMG endings! ENDINGS! They are so, so hard. It took me forever to figure out how to do even a passable job. Much easier to learning beginnings, and those are really hard. :) I agree with all your points, and my stars! Killing off the MC?? I'm an evil author, but that's just wrong.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-11699402177759460512012-02-08T17:16:43.306-07:002012-02-08T17:16:43.306-07:00Endings can be tricky. In my first book I ended wi...Endings can be tricky. In my first book I ended with a cliffhanger. I'll never, never, never do that again. Readers like satisfying endings.<br /><br />And the endings that go on and on are not for me.<br /><br />I hope I've found a happy medium. <br /><br />Good luck with your ending.Kathi Oram Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959149321213743448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-64495075501770460732012-02-08T12:19:50.398-07:002012-02-08T12:19:50.398-07:00I know you're going to rock your ending! (And ...I know you're going to rock your ending! (And then you can take a much deserved break, right?)<br /><br />I agree with all of those rules, except the last. Historical fiction often focuses on a real person and often the natural conclusion is the death of that person. It doesn't have to be, but there are a ton of great historical fiction books that kill off the MC.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-78674611325137858182012-02-08T12:03:26.002-07:002012-02-08T12:03:26.002-07:00I know you will find a way to nail the end. I'...I know you will find a way to nail the end. I'm half and half. I don't think all questions need to be answered in the book. I love THE GIVER, and refuse to read any of the "sequels" because I know how the book ended in my mind.<br /><br />I also don't agree that the MC can't die at the end. (Surprise, surprise, coming from me, right? ;)) I read a book recently where the narrating MC died and it was FABULOUS. Perfect. Exactly what the book needed. <br /><br />So yeah. I agree 50% of the time. Ha!Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-19948481809666218022012-02-08T10:01:51.875-07:002012-02-08T10:01:51.875-07:00My first ending, left things too unresolved, so I ...My first ending, left things too unresolved, so I had to fix that.<br /><br />I think, just like the beginning, you can end in the wrong spot. Either too soon or not soon enough. That's why this writing thing is so hard, there are no definitive answers.<br /><br />Good luck with writing The End.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-67595599418130528982012-02-08T09:50:43.160-07:002012-02-08T09:50:43.160-07:00If a book series is already completed before I sta...If a book series is already completed before I start reading, I'll sometimes cheat and look to see if the MC's name appears at the end. <br /><br />When the hero dies, it can be like saying goodbye to a beloved pet.Kimberlee Turleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04695299361596799423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-56902163176366932322012-02-08T09:18:08.288-07:002012-02-08T09:18:08.288-07:00I can't stand books where the MC dies at the e...I can't stand books where the MC dies at the end! I definitely feel betrayed when that happens. My endings tend toward the way too happy side--I need to keep you advice in mind!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00462382909938737612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-31393070965879647382012-02-08T09:06:26.908-07:002012-02-08T09:06:26.908-07:00Agree, agree, agree! With all of them. I like leav...Agree, agree, agree! With all of them. I like leaving one question though. I like to leave it to the readers fantastic (MG'ers have fab imaginations) imaginings. They see so much in their minds eye. Have a great day, bff. *waving*Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-44097665939672277862012-02-08T08:54:49.322-07:002012-02-08T08:54:49.322-07:00Good topic Shannon.
Killing off your MC is a di...Good topic Shannon. <br /><br />Killing off your MC is a difficult call. I think if the MC does get axed it puts more pressure on the author to defend why and make it work.Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-23614297646451011342012-02-08T08:51:31.019-07:002012-02-08T08:51:31.019-07:00So true. I can't imagine how hard it is to wri...So true. I can't imagine how hard it is to write. You want closure but I also having somethings left to the imagination and not wrapped too neatly.Tales of Whimsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938494589922620170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-32781906879398108222012-02-08T08:28:19.498-07:002012-02-08T08:28:19.498-07:00great post! reminds me of the quote you always hea...great post! reminds me of the quote you always hear at conferences:<br /><br />great beginnings are what sell your book. great endings are what sell your next book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-2223691784707561082012-02-08T08:00:09.669-07:002012-02-08T08:00:09.669-07:00You can do it, Shannon! Although endings are so ve...You can do it, Shannon! Although endings are so very tough. I'm still working on mine too. Number 3 is what I'm working through right now.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-39783227150764577812012-02-08T07:07:51.405-07:002012-02-08T07:07:51.405-07:00I've seen number 4 done well only once. It rea...I've seen number 4 done well only once. It really made the book incredible, though.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-42615197924934703302012-02-08T06:15:30.316-07:002012-02-08T06:15:30.316-07:00I think killing off your MC sometimes works - I th...I think killing off your MC sometimes works - I think! I can only think of classic texts though - like Madame Bovary and Sherlock Holmes (although he didn't really die...!). <br /><br />Thanks for this list though - definitely something to keep in mind when reaching The End! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-25004568332319031092012-02-08T06:09:01.646-07:002012-02-08T06:09:01.646-07:00I totally agree. A cliff hanger is different than ...I totally agree. A cliff hanger is different than leaving unaswered questions. I just fixed my novel so almost all the questions were answered!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-64546298146386530732012-02-08T04:47:55.648-07:002012-02-08T04:47:55.648-07:00Good luck with the rest of your revisions.
I agre...Good luck with the rest of your revisions.<br /><br />I agree with your list. An ending needs to resolve some main threads, but not all. Even if it's a series, there have to be some good resolutions. I've read the first of books destined to be a series, and have decided not to bother with the rest when the endings leave too much hanging. <br /><br />Killing off an MC is tricky. After all, it's about growth. Death isn't a very satisfying resolution. I've read one YA where it worked--there really was no other way to end it that would've felt right. But I was still bummed about it. <br /><br />Most endings aren't too trite. I've seen that in manuscripts I've critiqued more than books. <br /><br />Hope you find your satisfying ending!Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-32595717136662945402012-02-08T04:23:14.032-07:002012-02-08T04:23:14.032-07:00I know you're going to have an awesome ending....I know you're going to have an awesome ending. You can do it!<br /><br />The hardest part of the endings is the very end where everything's tied up but you want to go out with a bang. At least for me.<br /><br />I think for trilogies, unanswered questions are needed at the end. And I've seen debut authors like Andrea Cremer leave even their first books with a big cliffhanger that has worked well.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com