Topic of the Week - The End of All Things

[jer_bear711]

(I figured considering the topic, a Lord of the Rings reference was more appropriate than a song. (Which reminds me, it's been a year since I've watched those movies. Getting the geek itch. Anyway...))

eclectic_writer offered a well-timed question last week:

The topic o' the month currently is how to begin one's books - what about where to end them

Comments

[miladyinsanity]

As a reader, I'd like to know that you, the author, has some ending in mind, and it's not going to drag on forever.

I'm willing to pick up a third book after a relatively weak second book if it's The End of the series (not necessarily the world, I understand that) but if it looks like it's going to be on-going, good bye. Period.

Personally, I haven't lasted beyond book 3 in a series recently, other than a few authors whose writing I love beyond reason (I'd even pay good money for grocery lists in-between releases). I'm going to pick up Ilona Andrews' Magic Mourns, but past experience makes me leery.

As an unpubbed writer, I avoid series whenever possible. I don't want to get stuck into the trap writing books 2 and 3 when book 1 hasn't even sold. It's just not a productive use of my time.

I am writing a book 2 at the moment though, but since book 1 doesn't yet exist, I may just pretend that book 1 doesn't exist forever.

[anywherebeyond]

As a reader, I expect the major plotline in the book to be resolved by the end. I have abandoned many, many series that waste an entire book on exposition and introduction, ending just when the story is getting started.

I'm not going to waste my time on the second book- that author has now taught me that I can't trust them to give me a satisfying read contained in itself.

As a writer, I end a book when the major plotline is resolved, and the end mirrors the beginning- whether they come full-circle, or end up in opposing places, they must be balanced. So as a writer, I guess my answer is... when the story's resolved, and it feels good. That's nice and scientific, right? :)

-Saundra Mitchell

[swan_tower]

I do think there's something to the notion that the length of a book/series/etc influences the length of the denoument. When you think about it, a five-book series, or even a really fat book, probably brought in more secondary characters and side plots (otherwise that length would collapse for lack of things to hold it up), so there will be more bits the reader is invested in and wants resolution to.

But as a reader I cannot stand (and as a writer I do not write) endings that tie absolutely every last thread off. I can say from experience that the most time-consuming part of a sewing project is often the finishing of seams and other fiddly bits: they make the whole thing stronger and nicer-looking, but it takes forever, and if a book does the same thing then I get bored. The ending needs to have some momentum, and it needs to be as compelling as the rest of the story was. Watching a good story peter out because the author's crossing every t and dotting every i is a tremendous disappointment.

[miladyinsanity]

I see what your saying, and for me, it boils down to 'Life's messy.'

[megancrewe]

As a reader, I like to feel that the main problem of the book has been dealt with, that all the major issues have been resolved (or at least to see that they are moving in a clear direction toward being solved), and that there are a few loose ends that let me imagine that the characters and their world might continue beyond the end of the book. (I don't like endings that are too neat with everything tied in a bow

[tom_gallier]

I read mostly series, so I expect to have some minor plotlines go unresolved. Like the orginal Star Wars movie, my favorite ending for a book is "Kill the Death Star. Hand out medals. Cue credits."

Like Megan said above, standalones need more to tie up the loose ends. I personally don't need much more, though.

I personally, find writing the ending the hardest part of the novel. Beginnings are tough, but there's the excitement of the "new shiny" to keep my interest up. By the end of a book, I've known the end for about 5 billion years, and I frequently just want to get it over with so I can move on to the next New Shiny.

A flaw in my character, no doubt.