Sooner or later a writer comes to the end. Writing endings should be easy.
However, a story needs to have the right finale. That isn’t easy.
Different Genres, Different Endings
In a romance, the couple gets together at the end. In a mystery, the problem gets solved. For a thriller the ending is exciting.
Readers of each genre know what type of ending their story should have. If it doesn’t, the reader is disappointed.
Because a reader expects a certain type of ending, doesn’t mean the reader wants to know what the ending is. A story must be very, very good to make a reader not mind having a predictable ending.
How Does a Writer Know When to Stop?
There are two endings in a novel. One is the end of the action. The other is the end of the story.
For the first, the plot builds up to those last exciting moments. Often a dangerous situation rises to a climax. Will the main character survive?
Once the climax passes, all the pieces of the plot must be tied up. How did the detective arrive at the answer? What happens now?
The happy couple embraces. The detective explains. Someone saves the day. And everyone goes back to their lives. This is The End.
My Novel Is Ending
Writing endings is usually easy for me. I’ve created the story, the plot and know where it leads.
In the first draft the ending rolls onto the page. It doesn’t change much in other drafts because it fits the story.
This novel has problems. The rough draft has an ending. Fine. It sort of fit, but didn’t feel right. It felt contrived.
In this second, maybe third draft I found I had made a major mistake at the beginning of the third part of the story. No problem. I would correct the mistake and blend into the original draft.
There is now a completed new draft. And I am left writing endings for this new draft. And looking for a title.
