tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post8908209422582566115..comments2024-03-28T06:16:39.508+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: THE END IS NIGHNicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-14440981455888745262010-01-23T19:55:37.458+00:002010-01-23T19:55:37.458+00:00Thanks for a really useful post - I am editing the...Thanks for a really useful post - I am editing the last chapter of something at the moment. I wouldn't have known what I'd written was a 'second ending' without reading this! I just got to the exciting bit I thought was the ending, where somebody was saved at the last minute from being thrown down a disused mineshaft near Auchterderran, then realised there were lots of loose ends sheilamcperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444979085877277654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-47873543004641369732010-01-23T08:16:57.131+00:002010-01-23T08:16:57.131+00:00Wow I'm so glad I found you. Thank you for sha...Wow I'm so glad I found you. Thank you for sharing your info with us.Edith Sitwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06285290281321313881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-70794128811543385212010-01-22T20:09:05.945+00:002010-01-22T20:09:05.945+00:00There have been some books that I've read and ...There have been some books that I've read and upon reaching the end, gasped with admiration at how the authors have "tied it all up". Some have resonated for years after. So thinking out loud as it were (and agreeing with you Nicola!) the ending is just as important as the beginning as well as a strong middle. If a novel falters in between these points, hopefully you've grabbed David John Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01524610087056533062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-31769401986940496502010-01-22T10:23:28.862+00:002010-01-22T10:23:28.862+00:00Nicola, you absolutely have to tell us your HP end...Nicola, you absolutely have to tell us your HP ending.<br />I think that if you know your book is going to be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster it must influence the degree of sentimentality you lash onto the ending. Because if you don't do it - they will.Jo Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863749932391225653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-49663598484377991822010-01-22T10:11:08.636+00:002010-01-22T10:11:08.636+00:00This is a great piece, Nicola. I noticed, a few ye...This is a great piece, Nicola. I noticed, a few years back, there was a tendency for some thriller writers to leave things just dangling - I think it was part of a movement to reflect the fact that in life things are left dangling - but as a reader of the genre I felt cheated.<br /><br />I'm also glad you made the point about starting endings earlier than the final chapter - one of the Dan Hollowayhttp://www.yearzerowriters.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-75920499370299030472010-01-22T09:43:00.095+00:002010-01-22T09:43:00.095+00:00That's really interesting - and I have to say ...That's really interesting - and I have to say Emma's point about second endings was particularly pertinant to me - I've been fretting about my endings (children's books) because I feel they go on too long after the big climax, tying things up but with no more major action scenes. I don't want to leave the ends hanging and I can't work out how to wind them up before the K M Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09801740095715755112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-75171390994626487062010-01-22T09:08:13.560+00:002010-01-22T09:08:13.560+00:00Jo and Thomas - glad it helped.
Jo, Susie, Christ...Jo and Thomas - glad it helped.<br /><br />Jo, Susie, Christine and Theresa - re the HP book: I did have to write an imaginary ending for it for a newspaper, the day before the book came out, and that was FUN!<br /><br />Christine - yes, it's that being "true to the story" that's the main thing. We have to have confidence in what we've done up to that point.<br /><br />DJ Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-34152107367160572092010-01-22T08:59:01.529+00:002010-01-22T08:59:01.529+00:00Rosalind - I'm not surprised that you don'...Rosalind - I'm not surprised that you don't all like the same ending! I'd be surprised if you all liked the same books, to be honest. It's such personal taste, isn't it?<br /><br />Jo - well, if it involved chocolate...<br /><br />Emma - you make such a good point about absolutely the wrong way and reason for a "second ending". No, readers really will have to do Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-68738331386477885922010-01-21T23:11:59.974+00:002010-01-21T23:11:59.974+00:00Nicola
Great post about second endings.
Emma, gr...Nicola<br /><br />Great post about second endings.<br /><br />Emma, great thinking and absolutely right. <br /><br />You can't please all of the people all of the time. So, why not please yourself? Harry Potter is a case in point. Did she really need to draw such a hard line under THE END? But it does help the younger readers move on.<br /><br />Being true to the story is the key I think,CC MacKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09903422375744085705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-38042452195109999292010-01-21T22:40:56.506+00:002010-01-21T22:40:56.506+00:00I often find my endings take a lot less space than...I often find my endings take a lot less space than I plan, not the build up to them, but the actual finale. I get to a certain point, then realize I don't need to add any more. It's done.<br /><br />Not to get all fancy schmancy, but you don’t mention the dénouement. I think you mean something slightly different with second ending, which seems to be more about bringing supporting parts ofD.J. Morelhttp://www.djmorel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-73339297111506071172010-01-21T22:36:42.281+00:002010-01-21T22:36:42.281+00:00I liked hearing the perspectives on second endings...I liked hearing the perspectives on second endings! It's nice to know it can be done well. Emma, your comments about why the second ending is written were quite helpful. <br /><br />Right now, my MS has a second ending. I'd been concentrating on getting the ending right, and not paying attention to what I'd done. The ending (endings?) need to be edited like crazy, but perhaps I can Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-81379177086427341522010-01-21T22:02:00.108+00:002010-01-21T22:02:00.108+00:00This is a great post.
I had to admit that I was n...This is a great post.<br /><br />I had to admit that I was nervous about the ending of the last Harry Potter book. To keep myself from cheating by reading the ending in advance, I read the book from beginning to end, on and off for about seventeen hours, until I completed it. That was a satisfying ending to a wonderful series.Theresa Milsteinhttp://theresamilstein.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30014688609871077732010-01-21T19:56:27.008+00:002010-01-21T19:56:27.008+00:00The first reader to come back to me after finishin...The first reader to come back to me after finishing my WIP said, 'Great story, but I don't like the ending.' This post has helped put that in perspective, so thank you! I might even get up tomorrow.Thomas Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987047131104943571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-33808920982193717532010-01-21T18:48:49.115+00:002010-01-21T18:48:49.115+00:00I'm chuckling to myself, Jo, because I knew th...I'm chuckling to myself, Jo, because I knew the Harry Potter Epilogue would make an appearance. <br /><br />There was a great divide amongst fans whether the Epilogue was a nice closer for the series or if it was just too neat and tidy. I think there would have been a big backlash if JKR hadn't included a chapter like the one she did. The HP fandom has always wanted to know every last Suzie F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-54963703170402175512010-01-21T18:38:26.200+00:002010-01-21T18:38:26.200+00:00Oh, this post helped so much. Thank you. I've ...Oh, this post helped so much. Thank you. I've written an ending to my book, and I haven't been entirely satisfied with it, and now I think I know why. :D<br /><br />Thank you!<br />JamieJamieKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13160684316112779014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-848252436280354302010-01-21T18:23:59.611+00:002010-01-21T18:23:59.611+00:00Thanks Nicola for your reassuring thoughts as ever...Thanks Nicola for your reassuring thoughts as ever.<br /><br />Do you know - I don't anguish over my endings. A triumph for me as I anguish over everything else.<br />I like to have reconcilliation but hope that the reader has been enthralled enough with the premise that they wonder how the characters will continue in the next phase of their life.<br /><br />I love that feeling when the Jo Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863749932391225653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-14196818681878915862010-01-21T18:00:42.840+00:002010-01-21T18:00:42.840+00:00I've never written an ending that I am happy w...I've never written an ending that I am happy with. I don't like things to be too neatly tied up but it's difficult to get the balance right and often there's not enough of a sense of resolution. You've given me some interesting things to think about, thanks Nicola!<br />When I was a child I used to love "choose your own adventure" books where there were not only Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-89980831104631058682010-01-21T17:42:57.427+00:002010-01-21T17:42:57.427+00:00Emma: I loved your comment! That is some great f...Emma: I loved your comment! That is some great food for thought for our own WIPs :).<br /><br />Nicola, thank you for the tips & insight! I am a lover of 2nd endings, simply because I don't want the story to be over yet. Great example of this is Lord of the Rings (SPOILER!!!) where they go to the Grey Havens to see everyone off, but then we still wonder what will become of Sam, and Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-27717213889362448312010-01-21T17:37:20.698+00:002010-01-21T17:37:20.698+00:00Another great post, thanks.
I enjoy second endin...Another great post, thanks. <br /><br />I enjoy second endings too, but haven't come across alternate endings before.Deborah Carr (Debs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03223653554549707595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-92164970188094973542010-01-21T17:06:54.110+00:002010-01-21T17:06:54.110+00:00Another thoughtful, helpful post.
I, too, love to...Another thoughtful, helpful post.<br /><br />I, too, love to read second endings. <br /><br />The best books for me, of course, are the ones where I wished "The End" hadn't happened at all, since I wanted to spend just a little more time in that world.Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-40023490656300112752010-01-21T17:05:03.639+00:002010-01-21T17:05:03.639+00:00I like surprise endings but love it when everythin...I like surprise endings but love it when everything isn't just spelled out in a tidy conclusion. I say leave room for the reader's imagination and interpretation. I want to ponder and think about the ending long after the read. I guess I like the ending to tease me a bit as to drawing some of my own conclusions. Is this making sense? I guess I better end this why you are still thinking, Debra Harris-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08890783290789005185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-72136475195644339512010-01-21T17:00:02.306+00:002010-01-21T17:00:02.306+00:00I've seen books with alternate endings, presum...I've seen books with alternate endings, presumably to keep everyone happy. <br />MAKE UP YOUR MIND Mr Freeling!<br /><br />Actually, it irritated me - but I've considered it myself :-)steeleweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02077739629921574784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-26072747212845738592010-01-21T16:51:42.542+00:002010-01-21T16:51:42.542+00:00Great post as ever, Nicola.
I'm about to perp...Great post as ever, Nicola.<br /><br />I'm about to perpetrate a second ending for the first time (following?), and I'm nervous of it, because there's all the difference in the world between the kind you describe (and which I hope I'm doing - a sort-of flourish or farewell wave as the cast troop off stage), and the kind I see in students' work. <br /><br />There, the novel emma darwinhttp://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-62024599647938754942010-01-21T16:33:33.722+00:002010-01-21T16:33:33.722+00:00God, I love you! Thank goodness I live 3000 miles ...God, I love you! Thank goodness I live 3000 miles away otherwise I could embarass myself and you with too much adoration (although it could involve lots of chocolate and wine).<br />What great timing!<br />I am struggling with the ending of my current WIP. I know how I want to end, it;s just getting it there without taking short cuts or straying from the direction the book has been heading Jo Treggiarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417288480274268189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-79673140859777282542010-01-21T16:08:53.810+00:002010-01-21T16:08:53.810+00:00It's interesting to isolate and think about th...It's interesting to isolate and think about these things, beginning, endings... Thank you for another helpful post.<br /><br />In my book group we often disagree quite vocally about whether the ending of our book for that month was good or not. We're a group of friends. You'd think we'd like the same sort of thing but not when it comes to endings.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.com