Comments on: The Trouble with Endings

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:30:34 +0000

Francine – some great advice there. Hadn’t thought about that re the middle and the ending being a new beginning. You’re right though! Might see if I can look at it in that light.
Wow, that IS speed writing. Excellent re your novel in 7 weeks! Good luck huh?

By: Francine

Francine — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:22:34 +0000

Hi,

Commiserations on endings - the butt of all evil in knowing when to let go.

Sorry for butting in on such a good run about iffy endings and sagging middles!

That's the thing with words, nip 'n' tuck and botox are not available, and padding-out is more likely to reward on word count satisfaction.

That said, to get lift and sense of suspense mid-way "think thriller writer" and how the middle is often the "turning point/the twist" and where, in a romance the main protagonists can begin to view each other in a different light and up the tempo.

As for endings, think new beginning, and like Heidi, I think epilogues are great! Ten Pages of loose ends maketh a tapestry.

Speed writing = a novel completed in seven weeks at this end. Done, revised, sent! Am now 6 chaps into historical started two weeks ago, 1st draft snipit on my blog. Hee hee, always up for comments! Skin like a rhino.

best

F

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:47:06 +0000

Maisey – good point! Lol!

By: Maisey

Maisey — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:32:21 +0000

Hah! Yeah, I’m on the fourth beginning for The Greek. Used to love beginning…but now that I know more…well, ain’t that how it is?

Jackie, I’m not either half your age. Don’t add nine years to yourself

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:10:39 +0000

Suzanne – yes, I know. I do write fast. But it’s a very first drafty first draft. Heaps of editing in other words!

Kerrin – if it’s any consolation my beginning took me ages too. But then I kind of hit my stride. And yeah, I do go quickly when I’m enjoying it. Hope your ending is enjoyable when you get to it – mine is actually not as bad as I thought. So far. 😉

By: Kerrin

Kerrin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:11:52 +0000

i can’t beleive you are at the end either! I’m still on chapter 1 of mine. i hate how slow i’m going. but i can’t seem to get them to move any faster. sigh. I’ve only written one ending and that was for my single title dirty draft LOL. that was fun. can’t wait for the end of this one! If only i could finish the beginning…

By: Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:21:03 +0000

You're nearing the end of the Frenchman?????? But surely you've only just started that story? I'm reeling from how quickly you write. And I'm incredibly impressed. Well done.

XX

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:11:29 +0000

Heidi – yes, I rush endings too. In fact, I’m rushing this one right now! I quite like them stewing in their own angst though – will give that some thought.
Ten page epilogue? Sounds cool! Y’see, I like reading ’em, I just get very impatient with having to tie everything up and don’t like writing ’em. But yours sounds fantastic. And I can see from what you’re saying there that I’ll probably have to do one for the Frenchman. Ah well. I guess I can manage it. Can’t wait to read yours!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:35:15 +0000

To be honest sagging middles are my big bugbear.

That said, I do have a tendency to rush the ending. Have discovered with my last few books that there's no harm in giving your characters a little breather in between that big black moment and their resolution. Let them sit and stew in their own angst for a while before tying everything up. Makes it more convincing (unless they've done their stewing already). Also, nothing wrong with a nice little epilogue to tie up any other loose ends you didn't quite get round to cos you were too focussed on resolving the emotional conflict.

My latest book (out in May) has a ten-page epilogue...!!

Basically because I had so many loose ends still to tie up. For example, my couple still happened to live in two different cities doing jobs they loved hundreds of miles apart. Plus because of who they were and their checked past history, they hadn't made a long-term commitment as such in their resolution scene, just a commitment to give their relationship a go because they'd both finally figured out how much they loved each other...

All depends on the couple I suppose how you handle it.. And whether you don't mind copping out with a ten-page epilogue!!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:31:30 +0000

Maisey – ah bah! 23, 24, you’re still half my age. 🙂 Lol! but you’re right. Sorry. One day you’ll enjoy it when someone assumes you’re a year younger than you actually are. Hee hee.

Lacey – no one likes sag. Or saggy endings. Sorry for spreading my ending dislike around!