Preventing a Kick in The Rear

[tracy_d74]

Writers and readers talk about opening lines. No, not pick up lines.  Although, my personal favorite is: “Did it hurt?  When you fell from heaven?”  I mean, how can you not stare in disgust…um, awe…at the person who uses that line?  But I digress.  My point was to make sure you’re thinking about first lines of a story.  We all have favorites: “

Comments

[bogwitch64]

Wow, you really like butts! (Especially Ethen's. ;) )

This is great! And funny. And very, very true. Nothing sucks more than a flat butt...um...ending. A great opening line might make me smile, but a great end line makes me tingle.

[tracy_d74]

:-P (Please don't pull out your Freudian Dictionary.)

I can handle a good opening and slow build..I get my feathers in a bunch if the ending sucks. But endings that have the perfect line or image..they just linger...days later you recall the image or phrase...PRICELESS.

[misha_mcg]

A disappointing end can be devestating (no thanks, Lost). I think Boneshaker's ending was a little disappointing. A let down after all that build up. A better ending was The Black Company, where there are cool hints of something more, but he's tied up all the important things for you.

[tracy_d74]

I hate disappointing endings. You get all ready for something great...and then...and then...you ...I get caught up in the "Why would you have a new POV?" or "That character would NEVER do that" or "What was the point to this story?" I hate that. I can handle a slow beginning better than a lackluster ending.

[tracy_d74]

I agree with that. It is money making venture. I think some stories are meant to be ONE book, but will be made into three, four, or five. It drives me bonkers.

[ext_314784]

Ame always gives me a hard time about reading the ends of books before reading the entire book. But do you want to know the truth? I do not read the entire ending. I swear, I really only want to read the last line. And 99% of the time the very last line will tell you nothing about how the story ends as far as who lives, who dies, or how an overall problem is resolved. But what it does tell you is what tone the book ends on. And that is what I care about. Does the book end on a happy tone, a mournful tone, a hopeful tone?
Personally, yes I am a sucker for a happy ending, but more importantly I love a HOPEFUL ending.

my favorite last line of a novel is

"Darling," replied Valentine, "has not the count just told us that all human wisdom was contained in these two words, - 'Wait and hope'?" --Count of Monte Cristo

[tracy_d74]

Oh, that is a good last line.

Yes, the last line is often not WOW! Sometimes it is. Last line perfection is harder to achieve than first line perfection...IMHO. But the tone...that is the key.

I only what a happy ending if it fits with the tone of the book, it's real. Like Hunger Games. If that book would have ended with Katniss all happy and kissing and hugging on Peeta...I would have been pissed. The tone of the entire series was too dark. But it did show there was hope, people do go on living...in their brokeness they live on. It's not rainbows and doves...but appropriate. Breaking Dawn felt too rainbows and doves to me, but hey, it's a book about sparkly vampires. :) Pride and Prejudice...Perfect. Happy and Perfect. :)

[tracy_d74]

Oh! I always read the last paragraph of a book...typically before I even purchase it. I am looking at the tone (and who is left in the end). :-)