You be the Judge
I participated in the Muse Online Writer’s Conference last week. It was fabulous, overwhelming, thought provoking and just plain fun. There were loads of helpful workshops offered by generous and knowledgeable folks. Children’s author, Margot Finke, conducted a workshop on How to Make Sure Your Book ‘Hooks’ an Editor. She presented a cornucopia of helpful advice, links and direct feedback but one thing she said really resonated with me. (I’m prefacing here) ‘Make sure you keep hooking the reader throughout the story. Make sure your chapter endings hook the reader to want to continue reading.’ That was when the clapper clanged in my head and it has been resounding ever since.
What are my chapter endings like? Here are the last sentences from the first 10 chapters of my contemporary mg wip, SAVE THE LEMMINGS! I’m still in the midst of heavy revision in this ms, so it is a good time to pull it apart like this. Yes, they are out of context but they are final sentences nonetheless.
1. “My pleasure, Mrs. Hemple.” Natalie skipped back to her stool.
2. “Yeah, you can say that because you won’t have to spend the weekend in a house that smells like cat pee and moth balls.”
3. Mrs. Hemple’s attention was drawn away from their table when a paper airplane sailed past.
4. Natalie groaned.
5. She turned into her classroom then stuck her head back out, grinning. “And I made mine.”
6. “Thank you, Mr. Jasper,” Natalie said.
7. When it was finally her bedtime she laid in bed for a long time grinning and imagining what it would be like to have Father’s company agree to make the units.
8. She hung up the phone and blinked back tears.
9. Natalie’s eyes widened in fear as she realized she was stepping down the same path as Mr. Jasper.
10. “Thanks Tamilla!” Natalie flung her arm over Tamilla’s shoulders and they went to collect Aunt T and head home.
You be the judge. Which last line grabs your interest the most? Why?