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Forums » Unfulfilled Writings » Those Darned Endings!
Author Post
Ivory Taint
Topic: Those Darned Endings!
Most of the time, when I write, I don't plan anything--I just let it go. Many times, I think that is the best way to do it because there’s more freedom in it. Kind of like the whole concept of free verse in poetry. Perhaps I’m just an unstructured soul. -shrugs-

When I try to plan, many times, I can’t think of an ending anyway, so, I assume it’ll probably be a failed attempt. However, of course, with the sudden burst of inspiration, I am compelled to write the work anyway. So, anyway, in the process of writing the story, it’ll be flowing all nicely and everything because I think "Ooh! Creative storyline! Man! What a cool plot twist! It’s a wonder I didn’t think of that when I was trying to plan!"

Then, when I'm trying to wrap it up, I hit this steel wall. Either my mind goes completely blank or I'll come up with something that doesn't at all work with what I have written. Then I get discouraged and I either end up finishing it with a crappy ending, starting over with a new idea, or just giving up on it completely.

So that's how it is for me with endings. They can be fun but they're a pain, pain, pain! Because in a story, I like strong, solid endings and unfortunately mine usually come out weak. Or in some cases not at all. :/

And don't get me started on beginnings...! –shakes head-

#1 Feb 27th 2007, 2:11pm
Will Sachiksy
You might try just thinking of what you want to convey in your story, whether it be a message or atmosphere or laugh, and write with that in mind. The ending should fit with your basic idea. You can always change what you want to convey, but keep in mind what that change will do to the rest of your story.

Or you could write the ending and then write to it. That's what a lot of mystery writers do.

Better, finish your first draft, and then after you finish revising earlier sections, figure out how best your piece should end after you've made the changes.

#2 Feb 27th 2007, 4:46pm
Ivory Taint
Thanks a bunch for your advice; I have taken heed. I will try the methods you suggested.

Quite interesting--especially the concept of writing the ending first. The idea had never crossed my mind...

#3 Feb 27th 2007, 6:17pm
Will Sachiksy
Only problems with writing the end first might be either syncing the story up at the end (easily fixed with revision) or not knowing how you want the work to end.
#4 Mar 01st 2007, 4:13pm
Agent Awesome
I have the same problem. I can write everything else perfectly fine, except for the ending. And then, if I do manage to finish a story all the way from start to finish, I begin to second-guess the way I began the story, because it doesn't seem to do the rest of it justice. It is really quite frustrating.
#5 Apr 21st 2007, 2:24pm
Will Sachiksy
My biggest problem is the middle, actually. Most often I either figure out the beginning or the ending early on (sometimes both), but I don't know how I want to connect one to the other. Like the short story I'm working on now, for example.
#6 Apr 28th 2007, 6:57am
LadyWhen
I used to have a lot of trouble with plotting, but I kept trying to...some of the results were not good at all. Then, eventually, it started to work for me. I think it's just a matter of time and getting your brain to work that way.
#7 Jun 10th 2007, 1:16pm
Fooberman
In my writing, the experience is that once I REALLY understand the characters and the situation I know what they have to do. To give an example of something I wrote somewhere else, as I struggled with how the story would end I realized that the tension in the narrative not only didn't need to be resolved, but needed to not be resolved (and that the main character HAD to kill himself).

I suppose if that sort of advice worked for most people (immerse yourself in the story and the characters until you discover the necessity of their choices) then it would be advice more people would give...

Foobs

#8 Jul 19th 2007, 7:51pm
LadyWhen
I agree that if you really know your characters, then it's much easier to figure out how it should end. I had no idea how I would end this one story; then after I had studied my characters and really got to know what they were about, I knew that so-and-so would go home, but such-and-such would keep traveling. The first character had resolved their problems and could return to their family, but the second's journey was far from over. So, instead of trying to force that person's story to resolve, I left it open. That could provide an opportunity for a sequel, but there doesn't have to be. It was complete on its own.
#9 Jul 23rd 2007, 2:44pm

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