Let a novel belong to various genres, how would you start thinking about the end of it? Happy one, sad gloomy one, mysterious one or anything else....
Because a novel had to end somewhere even though it may not be the last word of the story!!
Let a novel belong to various genres, how would you start thinking about the end of it? Happy one, sad gloomy one, mysterious one or anything else....
Because a novel had to end somewhere even though it may not be the last word of the story!!
Ops sorry ended not needed
This is how I needed my first book...
They all laughed. “Of course we’re with you,” said Erica.
“Always,” said Blue.
“Then we leave tonight,” said Jacob, “to begin the search to find the other six. We thought we had reached the end but instead this is just the beginning.”
“You’re not going to try and make some naff inspirational speeches are you?” said Lilly. “I don’t think I could bloody stand that.”
“Fair enough,” said Jacob. “But before we go I do have something to show you.” He stepped over to the dried fountain and reached into his pocket. “The old shopkeeper must have slipped this to me before the Guardie killed him,” said Jacob. He took a small, red leather case from his pocket and held it up.
“The vial,” said Erica.
Jacob removed the vial and held it up. “The last drops of hope,” he said, letting a tiny bit of liquid splash onto the fountain. The fountain immediately sprang to life and they all cheered. “While we still have hope,” said Jacob, “we still have a chance.”
THE END
The sense of an ending can be a pitfall for would-be authors. Many famous traditional and contemporary authors have failed at the last hurdle. There are many examples where novels would have been acclaimed as literary fiction, if only, the endings had been better.
Authors should give the same care, attention and effort to the ending as their superhuman efforts throughout their novel.
The hypnotic effect of sticking rigidly to a word count can also undermine an ending. (Do not worry about the word count. If it is necessary, cut earlier passages of text throughout your novel.) Another error is too rush the ending, or rush the ending in the excitement too cross the finishing line. (Don’t do it) After all the hard work that went into the earlier chapters, why rush now and ruin the outcome?
An ending should comprise the single-most-important ‘Landmark Event’ that your novel is about, and what it has been leading up too.
Also, do not spring a surprise on the reader that has not in some way been referred to earlier in the novel. An example in a 'WhoDunnit' would be saying the Butler did it, when there are no vague clues to his guilt in any of the chapters. You win, but you will have cheated the reader.
The final chapter or chapters should consist of a summing up of the protagonists growth and journey throughout the novel. What has he or she learnt? What does the future hole for the protagonist, his or her beloved, and the remaining characters?
Do not waffle-on too much after the final outcome. I am not a fan of epilogues. It would be better to write a sequel.
A good ending to a novel leaves the reader with more questions than answers and wants you to read on.